MMS Approves Texas Coastal Impact Assistance Program Plan
Federal Grants Will Help Texas Restore and
Protect Its Shoreline Environments
WASHINGTON
– Minerals
Management Service Director Randall Luthi today signed the Texas
Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) Plan, making available more
than $48 million through Federal grants to the State and 18 counties
to restore and protect their shoreline environments.
“The Minerals
Management Service welcomes the opportunity to fund these vital
projects for the State of Texas and 18 of its coastal counties,”
Luthi said. “Restoring and protecting natural coastal resources is
fundamental to the CIAP mission.”
Luthi joined Texas
General Land Office Deputy Commissioner Jody Henneke in a signing
ceremony at the Port of Corpus Christi, ten miles southwest of
Pelican Island, a project site included in the plan. The state is
now eligible to submit grant proposals for CIAP projects involving
conservation, restoration, and protection of natural coastal
resources.
Created by the
Energy Policy Act of 2005, CIAP disburses $250 million annually for
four years, 2007 – 2010, to six eligible Outer Continental Shelf oil
and gas producing states – Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama,
Alaska, and California. The first phase allocated $48.6 million for
each of the fiscal years 2007 and 2008, to Texas and 18 Coastal
Political Subdivisions (counties). The plan submitted by Texas
detailed projects that would be completed using the FY 2007
allocation.
CIAP funds are
allocated to each producing state and eligible counties based upon
allocation formulas prescribed by the Act. Each eligible State is
allocated its share based on the State’s Qualified Outer Continental
Shelf Revenue (QOCSR) generated off its coast in proportion to total
QOCSR generated off the coasts of all eligible States. Allocation
for the first two years of the program was completed in April 2007;
the second allocation for fiscal years 2009 and 2010 will be
calculated in Spring 2009. The states and counties are eligible to
receive the funds from the previous years as long as they have an
approved CIAP plan.
Texas became the
third state to receive approval from MMS for its CIAP plan.
Louisiana and Alaska both have approved plans.
MMS will post
Texas’ Grant Program Announcement on
www.grants.gov today. The announcement provides instructions
and guidance on the submittal process for CIAP grant applications.
Funding is made available to the State and counties when the grants
are awarded.
Texas’ plan
contains 136 projects covering the first year of the program. Each
project must comply with one of five authorized CIAP uses: 1) the
conservation, protection, or restoration of coastal areas, including
wetlands; 2) mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural
resources; 3) planning assistance and the administrative costs of
complying with CIAP legislation; 4) implementation of a
federally-approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation
management plan; or 5) mitigation of the potential impact of
offshore oil and gas activities through funding of onshore
infrastructure and public service needs.
“We are confident
these projects meet the requirements of the program to further the
State’s efforts to restore, enhance and protect its natural coastal
resources,” said Luthi.
The allocation of
the $48.6 million will be divided with 65 percent of the funding,
$31.6 million, going to the State of Texas and 35 percent, $17
million, being split among the 18 coastal counties. See the table
below for county distribution.
Texas Coastal
Political Subdivisions
CIAP Fiscal
Year 2007 and Fiscal Year 2008 Allocations
Coastal Political
Subdivisions (CPS) Percent of Allocation
Total Allocation
Aransas
3.73% $ 634,820.87
Brazoria
6.52% $
1,108,432.29
Calhoun
5.15% $
875,420.50
Cameron
5.41% $
919,400.98
Chambers 4.06% $
690,649.95
Galveston
9.20% $
1,564,825.01
Harris
19.42% $
3,302,941.42
Jackson
2.55% $ 433,034.07
Jefferson
7.98%
$1,357,323.43
Kenedy
5.13% $ 871,961.35
Kleberg
3.66% $
622,563.42
Matagorda
7.50%
$1,274,996.58
Nueces
5.08% $
863,247.03
Orange
4.33% $
737,196.04
Refugio
2.32%
$ 395,340.19
San
Patricio
2.42% $ 411,011.32
Victoria
2.68% $ 455,275.71
Willacy
2.87% $ 488,480.56
Total Texas
100.00%
$17,006,920.73
You may also submit comments via email to “sale220@mms.gov
Contact:
Caryl Fagot 504-736-2590
MMS: Securing Ocean Energy & Economic Value for America
U.S. Department of the Interior
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Last Updated:
01/12/2009,
03:36 PM
Central Time