The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host five public meetings to advise the public of the process that the state will use to formulate the plan required by the recently authorized Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP).  The new program was authorized by Section 384 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and will provide a total of $540 million in federal funding to Louisiana during fiscal years 2007 through 2010.

At the public meetings, DNR coastal officials will review the plan development process and the evaluation criteria to be used to help funding priorities. The meetings are intended to assist agencies and entities avoid identical project submittals, encourage joint proposals, and outline organized steps in the process and in setting priorities.  According to DNR Office of Coastal Restoration and Management Project Manager Greg Grandy, the state will accept project proposals through March 8, 2006.

Coastal Impact Assistance Program funds can only be used for one or more of 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 parish for any one fiscal year can be used for administrative costs or other specified costs).

For questions or comments, please contact CIAP Project Managers Will Norman or Greg Grandy at the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources at (225) 342-7308.