For Immediate Release: Aug. 31, 2009
Contact: Miki Teer
(225) 342-7307
miki.teer@la.gov
REMINDER: OCPR Regional Stakeholder Workshops (RSWs) Set For This Week
Baton Rouge - The Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration (OCPR) is creating Regional Stakeholder Workgroups (RSWs) which will provide guidance and input for planning efforts, including the development of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority's (CPRA) Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 Annual Plan and other future efforts.
The RSWs will fulfill a unique function that is not currently met by any other regional group. One of the first objectives of the RSWs will be to provide input and guidance on how to create a sustainable coast. This input will help frame decisions in the upcoming 2012 CPRA Master Plan update as well as future annual plans.
The RSWs will also function as a medium between the state and regional coastal interests by communicating concerns to OCPR for consideration in decision-making and communicating planning decisions or proposals that affect a given region to interested stakeholders.
OCPR is creating three RSWs, representing regions of the coast corresponding to the following coastal Louisiana Planning Units described in the 2007 Master Plan:
· Mississippi River RSW- Planning Units 1 and 2;
· Terrebonne/Atchafalaya RSW- Planning Units 3a and 3b; and
· Southwest Louisiana RSW- Planning Unit 4
The first set of meetings will be held:
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
University Of New Orleans
Lindy C. Boggs International Conference Center, Room 236
2045 Lakeshore Drive, Room 236, New Orleans, LA
Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, Meeting Room 1
346 Civic Center Boulevard, Houma, LA
Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Lake Charles Civic Center, Jean Lafitte Room
900 North Lakeshore Drive, Lake Charles, LA
At the conclusion of the RSW meeting, the Office of Coastal Management (OCM), will conduct a meeting to seek input from stakeholders and the general public regarding what scientific and socio-economic parameters should be considered in conducting a science based study of the adequacy of the inland boundary of the Louisiana Coastal Zone and whether it should be updated.
OCPR appreciates all stakeholders' interest in preserving and restoring Louisiana's coastal heritage and natural environments and invites all interested to participate in the RSWs. If you have any questions, contact Mr. Karim Belhadjali (karim.belhadjali@la.gov; 225-342-4123).
For more information on the RSWs, visit http://www.lacpra.org/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&nid=67&pnid=4&pid=52&fmid=0&catid=0&elid=0
For more information about Louisiana's ongoing coastal restoration and hurricane protection efforts, please contact Miki Teer at 225-342-7307 or by e-mail at miki.teer@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.
