Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Charles Boustany, Jr., (R-Lafayette) announced that more than $26.8 million for projects throughout Louisiana’s Seventh District was included in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for FY 2008, which passed the House of Representatives today.

Key among the approved spending measures is an appropriation of $250,000 to initiate the next stage of the Southwest Coastal Louisiana Hurricane Protection study.  The Corps of Engineers has already completed the reconnaissance phase of the study and found it to be in the federal government’s interest to continue with the project.  The funding will allow the Corps to move forward with this study, which will determine the hurricane and flood protection needs of Southwest Louisiana and gauge the feasibility of constructing a levee in Southwest Louisiana.  

“It is imperative that we develop a comprehensive hurricane protection strategy for Southwest Louisiana,” Boustany said.  “Obtaining this money takes us another step closer to a solution.”

The bill also provides more than $16.1 million for dredging in the Calcasieu River Ship Channel, which has a significant impact on energy resources throughout the United States.  Dredging is necessary to facilitate commerce in the channels and ensure the safe transfer of goods to and from the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals being constructed in the area.

“The coastal waterways are a critical component of our region’s economy,” Boustany said.  “This funding gives us the opportunity to dredge the channels to enhance their function and allow for commercial growth in the energy industry.”

Other projects include:
•    $200,000 to investigate the bottleneck on the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway system at the Calcasieu Lock, which is causing delays in transportation and interstate commerce

•    $2 million to complete the Dredge Materials Management Plan for the Calcasieu River, which will determine how to utilize dredged material to help rebuild nearby wetlands

•    $5.57 million to undertake dredging operations along the Freshwater Bayou

•    $1.685 million to continue ongoing repairs along the Mermentau River

•    $60,000 to maintain operations along the Bayou Teche and Vermillion River

•    $750,000 to fund the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Gulf Petro Initiative, which will demonstrate how the U.S. could increase domestic oil reserves without increasing the number of oil and gas wells or conducting new exploration in environmentally sensitive areas

•    $209,000 to maintain operations along the Bayou Teche