For Immediate Release: Feb. 10, 2009
Contact: Chris Macaluso
(225) 342-3968
chris.macaluso@la.gov
CPRA Releases Draft 2010 Annual Plan; Conducting Public Comment Meetings Feb 17-19
BATON ROUGE -- The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, on Tuesday, released a draft of the "Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Plan: Integrated Ecosystem Restoration and Hurricane Protection in Coastal Louisiana."
The draft plan identifies a host of coastal restoration and hurricane protection projects that will receive funding during the 2010 - 2012 fiscal years from a variety of state and federal funding sources. All projects identified in the draft plan are integral components of Louisiana's overarching Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast which was approved by the state legislature in 2007.
The draft 2010 annual plan can be viewed on the CPRA website at http://www.lacpra.org/draftannualplan2010 .
The following public hearings have been scheduled to receive comments and recommendations regarding the draft plan:
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 3:00pm
Belle Chase Auditorium
8398 Highway 23
Belle Chasse, LA 70037
Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at 3:00pm
Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government
Council Chambers
Government Tower Building
8026 Main Street
Houma, LA 70360
Thursday, February 19, 2009 at 2:00pm
Carnegie Memorial Library
411 Pujo St.
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration officials will be on hand at each meeting to answer questions about the draft plan.
Comments can also be sent by mail to the Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration, attention Karim Belhadjali, P.O. Box 44027, Baton Rouge, LA. 70804-4027. Comments will also be accepted by phone at (225) 342-4123 and by email at info@lacpra.org.
The last day to submit public comments is March 27, 2009.
All public comments will be considered before the writing and submission of a final plan for approval by the CPRA in advance of the 2009 legislative regular session which is scheduled to begin April 27, 2009. Once approved by the CPRA, the fiscal year 2010 Annual Plan will then be submitted for approval by the legislature.
For more information about the CPRA's Fiscal Year 2010 Annual Plan and Louisiana's ongoing coastal protection and restoration efforts, please contact Chris Macaluso by email at chris.macaluso@la.gov.
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The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority's mandate is to develop, implement and enforce a comprehensive coastal protection and restoration master plan. For the first time in Louisiana's history, this single state authority will integrate coastal restoration and hurricane protection by marshalling the expertise and resources of the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation and Development, and other state agencies, to speak with one clear voice for the future of Louisiana's coast. Working with federal, state and local political subdivisions, including levee districts, the CPRA will work to establish a safe and sustainable coast that will protect our communities, the nation's critical energy infrastructure, and our bountiful natural resources for generations to come. The CPRA of Louisiana was established by Act 8 of the 1st Extraordinary Session of 2005.
