The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has extended the deadline for submitting proposals for projects to be funded by the new Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP). The original deadline was March 8th, and the new deadline will be May 22, 2006, according to DNR coastal officials.

The deadline extension reflects recent notification by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) of their revised schedule for providing CIAP guidance to the affected coastal states and local governments, and for accepting Coastal Impact Assistance Plans for review. MMS proposes to publish final program guidance in September 2006, and will begin accepting plans for review in October.

The state, however, intends to aggressively encourage MMS to accelerate that schedule, so that its Plan can be submitted earlier.

CIAP was authorized by Section 384 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and will provide an estimated $540 million in federal funding to Louisiana and its coastal parishes during fiscal years 2007 through 2010. To obtain CIAP funds, the state must submit an acceptable Plan to the Secretary of the Interior. The Plan will identify projects to be supported with the funds that will go to the state and the coastal parishes at a 65/35 percent cost ratio.

CIAP funds can only be used the following purposes: 1) conservation, restoration and protection of coastal areas, including wetlands; 2) mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife and natural resources; 3) planning assistance and the administrative costs of compliance; 4) implementation of a federally approved marine, coastal, or comprehensive conservation management plan; and 5) mitigation of the impacts of OCS activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects and public service needs. No more than 23 percent of the funds received by the state or a parish for any fiscal year can be used for administrative costs or other specified costs.