Lafayette, LA - US Congressman Charles Boustany, (R-Southwest Louisiana) today announced four grants totaling $1.3 million from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) to develop infrastructure and prevent erosion along the Louisiana Coast. The funds are made available through the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP), created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 with strong support from Congressman Boustany.

“These funds will be used not only to maintain our treasured coastline, but to educate the public of its importance as well,” Boustany said.“Protecting our marshes, ensuring goods and services can safely be transported throughout our communities, and allowing the public to enjoy our resources are among my top priorities for Louisiana.”

According to BOEMRE, the four grants are:

·   $469,416.41 to reconstruct or rehabilitate four roadways in the Intracoastal City area of Vermillion Parish. Facilities located along these roadways provide a substantial amount of commerce for the local coastal community and support OCS activities.

·   $441,999.50 to construct and widen Charlie Field Road near Erath in Vermillion Parish, an important link connecting Louisiana state highways 14 and 331. This connection will provide an alternate route to Henry Hub, a natural gas transmission infrastructure facility critical to offshore energy production.

·    $47,950 for the design and planning of an open air educational outreach pavilion and nature trail in Henderson along the eastern shoreline of Bayou Amy in central St. Martin Parish. The Bayou Amy Trail and Education Pavilion will teach visitors about conservation in the area and showcase natural features along the trail and in area waterways.

·   $350,000 for Phase I of a multi-phase project to prevent continued erosion and repair breaching along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway caused by Hurricane Rita. The project includes the engineering, design and identification of land rights in the marsh areas surrounding Horseshoe Lake in southern Calcasieu Parish.

Since taking office, Congressman Boustany has been a vocal advocate for coastal restoration in Louisiana. He took the lead in the response to Hurricane Rita in 2005 and continues to be the voice the people of coastal Louisiana as the state recovers and rebuilds.

###