BOEMRE Awards $530,462 in Grants for California County Projects

Grants Aim to Reduce Water Pollution and Protect Resources

CAMARILLO, Calif. – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) announced today that it has awarded three Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) grants totaling $530,462 to the California counties of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo for programs to reduce water pollution and protect sensitive habitats.

Created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, CIAP provides funding to the six Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas producing states to conserve and protect the coastal environment. CIAP is an ongoing program with grant funding allocated based on the offshore energy revenues collected by the United States.

“This program is an important tool in helping our coastal states protect and preserve the treasures of our coastal environment,” said BOEMRE Director Michael R. Bromwich. “The funds support projects that strive to reduce the effects of human activity on water quality and sensitive habitats.”

The three grants will support the following projects:

·         $311,483 to complete a regional multi-species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the coastal community of Los Osos, located in San Luis Obispo County. The Los Osos HCP is a community-wide, endangered species protection program that will balance the preservation of threatened and endangered species and sensitive habitat with planned development in Los Osos.

·         $118,981 to develop a restoration plan for the Pismo Creek Estuary in San Luis Obispo County. The plan emphasizes protecting water quality and quantity; flood management; erosion control; and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat through voluntary and collaborative measures, community education, outreach and restoration projects.

·         $99,998 will support a Santa Barbara County pilot program to reduce water pollution from businesses in coastal areas. The program will include multiple approaches to business education and outreach on storm water pollution prevention.

CIAP received $250 million in appropriated funds for each of the Fiscal Years 2007-2010, to be disbursed to six eligible OCS oil and gas producing states: Mississippi, Alabama, Alaska, California, Louisiana and Texas.

A complete list of CIAP grants to California and coastal counties can be found on the BOEMRE website at: http://www.boemre.gov/omm/pacific/enviro/CIAP.htm.

Contact: BOEMRE Public Affairs-Pacific