For Immediate Release: April 11, 2007
Contact: Chris Macaluso
(225) 342-3968
chris.macaluso@la.gov

CPRA to Vote on Final Draft of State Coastal Master Plan at April 12 Meeting

BATON ROUGE -- The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority will meet Thursday, April 12 at 9:00 a.m. in House Committee Room 6 in the State Capitol Building in Baton Rouge to consider the approval of the final draft of the state's comprehensive master plan for coastal restoration and hurricane protection.

The CPRA must approve the final draft of the plan before it can be submitted to the state legislature for approval or disapproval on April 30.

Thursday's meeting will be the last public meeting conducted by the CPRA before the beginning of the legislative session.

Jon Porthouse, project manager for the planning team charged with writing both the state's master plan and annual plan, will present the text of the final draft to the CPRA and outline any changes made to the plan since the CPRA's last meeting on February 6.

Comments from the public at large, as well as scientific review teams and stakeholder organizations made since the second draft was released have been incorporated into the final plan.

The public comment period for second draft of the master plan ended April 2. The CPRA Integrated Planning Team conducted four public hearings February 26-March 1 across Coastal Louisiana to gather stakeholder input while taking comments by email and telephone as well.

The CPRA must approve the final draft of the plan before it can be submitted to the state legislature for approval or disapproval.

Also on the agenda, LSU Coastal Biochemistry Professor Dr. Robert Twilley will speak about the scientific review of the master plan.

Representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers will present an overview of its LaCPR plan as well as update the progress of hurricane protection projects in Southwest Louisiana and in the New Orleans area.

A complete agenda is listed below.

For more information, please contact Governor's Office of Coastal Activities Information Director Chris Macaluso at (225) 342-3968 or by email at chris.macaluso@la.gov.

CPRA MEETING
Committee Room 6
Louisiana House of Representatives
State Capitol
April 12, 2007 - 9:00AM

I. Call to Order (Sidney Coffee)

II. Installation of New and Re-Appointed Members (Denise Fitzgerald)

III. Roll Call (Coffee)

IV. Old Business
A. Presentation of Comprehensive Master Plan Presentation and Corps of Engineers LaCPR Plan (Jon Porthouse and Karen Durham-Aguilera)
B. Presentation of FY08 Annual Plan (Jon Porthouse)
C. Presentation of Final CIAP Plan (Dave Fruge)
D. Science Review of Master Plan (Dr. Robert Twilley)
E. Discussion and Approval of Master Plan, FY08 Annual Plan and CIAP Plan
F. CPRA Organization and Program Management Structure (Coffee)

V. Corps of Engineer Reports / Updates
A. Southwest Coastal Louisiana Hurricane Protection (Mark Wingate)
B. New Orleans Hurricane Protection Update (Karen Durham-Aguilera)

VI. New Business
A. Coastal Forestry Recommendations (Mr. Paul Frey and Dr. Len Bahr)
B. CPRA Memorandum of Understanding with the Netherlands, Province of Zeeland (Jon Porthouse)
C. CPRA Working Groups (Coffee)

VII. Announcements

VIII. Public Comment
IX. Adjournment

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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.