Office of Coastal Management

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 21, 2005

Baton Rouge, LA – Federal, state and local officials gathered at the State Capitol today to call for unity in seeking a 50 percent share of offshore oil and gas revenues to finally provide a continuous revenue stream for coastal protection for Louisiana. 

At a press conference focused on the combined interests of coastal restoration and hurricane protection for the state, Congressman Charlie Melancon urged national distribution of a petition asking the White House and Congress to fulfill the promises made by President Bush in his Jackson Square address to rebuild Louisiana “higher and better”. The petition is being circulated by Parishes Against Coastal Erosion (PACE) and the America’s WETLAND Campaign, whose representatives outlined how interested citizens and organizations can submit the petition online or help with gathering signatures. 

"Louisiana deserves our fair share of what we contribute to our nation's economic security,” said U.S. Representative Charlie Melancon (D-LA). “In light of our recent tragedies, that need is even more profound. If we had a fair share of the energy royalties we contribute to the federal treasury as other states do, we could begin to rebuild south Louisiana and protect ourselves with stronger levees and a restored coast.”

Dr. Robert Twilley, director of LSU’s Wetland Biogeochemistry Institute also announced an international summit on coastal restoration that will bring top scientists from throughout the world to Louisiana to advise the state on its coastal protection master plan. 

Today’s press conference included top leadership from the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and the Louisiana Recovery Authority.  

“Offshore revenue sharing is critical to effectively restoring and protecting our coastal wetlands,” said Sidney Coffee, Chairwoman of Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and Executive Assistant to the Governor for Coastal Activities. 

“The integration of hurricane protection and coastal restoration is necessary for the success of our state’s long term recovery and rebuilding efforts and will serve as the guidepost for comprehensive coastal protection efforts for generations of Louisianans to come,” explained Coffee.

“We are not looking for a handout,” said Scott Angelle, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.  “Onshore states already share 50 percent in federal revenue for natural resource production and Louisiana just wants its fair share.”

“Because of our ports and energy supply, it is actually in the nation’s best interest to help restore New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.  The payback to the nation will eventually far exceed the cost, but there can be no payback without coastal protection,” said Angelle.

Today’s petition launch is the second phase of an effort that kicked off just 5 days before Hurricane Katrina hit Southeast Louisiana, called the “Save America’s WETLAND – Write Now!” initiative.  It was designed to mobilize the public and inspire people everywhere to write friends, family members and decision-makers around the country to educate them about the importance of saving coastal Louisiana.  Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit Louisiana, the initiative will now include the petition to rebuild Louisiana and provide full coastal protection. 

“There is much to be done, but any comprehensive rebuilding effort for Louisiana must include a plan to protect and restore our wetlands,” said Valsin A. Marmillion, Campaign Manager for America’s WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana.  “I urge everyone to sign this petition and join the thousands of individuals and hundreds of civic leaders, conservation organizations and businesses that understand the vital role healthy wetlands play in storm protection for Louisiana,” continued Marmillion.

The petition can be accessed and signed online at Parishes Against Coastal Erosion (PACE) website, www.paceonline.org and through the America’s WETLAND Campaign website, www.americaswetland.com. The petition is an extension of an initiative launched by the Governor on August 29, 2005 called, “Save America’s WETLAND Write Now”, and is supported by PACE, the National Wildlife Federation, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Environmental Defense, Restore America’s Estuaries and the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. 

The America's WETLAND campaign was launched by the State of Louisiana in order to raise national awareness of the impact the state's wetland loss has on the state, nation and world.  By educating the public about the emergency situation created by the state's land loss and the region's world ecological significance and importance to national economic and energy security, the campaign aims to gain support for its efforts to conserve and save coastal Louisiana.

The initiative is supported by a growing coalition of world, national and state conservation and environmental organizations and has drawn private support from businesses that see wetlands protection as a key to economic growth

To find out more about America's WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana, visit www.americaswetland.com.