For Immediate Release: Sept 30, 2009
Contact: Chris Macaluso
(225) 342-3968
chris.macaluso@la.gov
CPRA Chair Issues Statement Regarding Removal of Landrieu-Vitter Amendment from Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
BATON ROUGE -- Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Chairman Garret Graves issued the following statement regarding the removal of the Landrieu-Vitter Amendment from the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. The amendment was unanimously approved by the Senate but was rejected by a House and Senate conference committee on Wednesday.
"Today's rejection of Landrieu-Vitter amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill is very disappointing. However, this does not change the position of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. We stand united with Jefferson Parish, the City of New Orleans the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, and the Southeast Louisiana Levee Authority-East in insisting that only the best flood protection projects be built on the outfall canals in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish. The failures of flood walls along these outfall canals during Katrina were responsible for up to 80 percent of the flooding in New Orleans during the storm. We will only sign a project agreement with the Corps that fully preserves all options to achieve the best flood protection for Jefferson Parish and New Orleans.
It's unfortunate that our federal partners did not learn all the lessons taught us by Hurricane Katrina. There's a significant difference between the least expensive option and the best option. We will not support the least expensive option when there are more technically sound options available.
We are very encouraged by the news that President Obama is planning to visit South Louisiana in October. We remain confident that the federal government will ultimately make the right decision when it comes to protecting the lives and homes of the people of our state."
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.
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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 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.
