For Immediate Release: August 31, 2009
Contact: Chris Macaluso
(225) 342-3968
chris.macaluso@la.gov

BATON ROUGE -- The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities continue to seek letters of support from non-government organizations, local and parish governments, civic organizations and concerned individuals for efforts aimed at expediting coastal restoration and protection work by the Army Corps of Engineers.

The letters will be accepted through September 7, 2009. All letters will be presented to the Louisiana Congressional Delegation at meetings in late September along with a list of proposed concerns and solutions regarding current regressive, bureaucratic processes that are delaying the construction of large-scale coastal restoration projects.

The second draft of those concerns and solutions was released in early August and reflects suggestions made by both invited panelists who have extensive experience with coastal restoration and protection efforts and the general public at meetings conducted in late July. It can be read by clicking here.

Letters of support for state-led efforts aimed at expediting coastal restoration and protection work by the Army Corps of Engineers can be emailed to info@lacpra.org or kyle.graham@la.gov. Please mail letters to the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities, 1051 North Third Street Suite 138, Baton Rouge, La. 70801.

For more information about Louisiana's coastal restoration and protection efforts, please contact Chris Macaluso at (225) 342-3968 or by email at chris.macaluso@la.gov.

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 Louisiana Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration, 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.