BELLE CHASE, La. (AP) — The federal government has canceled $5.9 million in disaster loans given to Plaquemines Parish after Hurricane Katrina.

Parish President Billy Nungesser says in a statement the action was taken by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Nungesser says the parish now must repay the remaining $3 million of $8.9 million in special community disaster loans it received after the 2005 storm.

Nungesser says he plans to try to get the remaining amount forgiven.

Congress last year changed the formula the FEMA uses to determine whether loans can be forgiven, and local government agencies throughout the region have had their loans partially or completely canceled.

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