U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., yesterday celebrated the passage and signing of the RESTORE Act with a five-stop coastal Louisiana tour to highlight the positive impacts of the new law on the state’s parishes and local communities.
The RESTORE Act, which was introduced by Sen. Landrieu and will dedicate 80 percent of BP penalties paid under the Clean Water Act to the Gulf states for ecological and economic restoration, was approved by the Senate and House last week and signed into law by the President on Friday.
Sen. Landrieu visited Jean Lafitte, Thibodaux, Lafayette, Lake Charles and Bell City to talk about the RESTORE Act’s benefits, to thank all the Louisianians who dedicated time and energy to this massive effort, and to celebrate with constituents this landmark achievement for the state and the nation.
“The RESTORE Act is a tremendous step forward in jumpstarting critical coastal restoration in Louisiana after the worst environmental accident in our nation’s history. This tremendous victory would never have been possible without the broad support of environmental, wildlife and business groups in Louisiana and throughout the Gulf Coast, ” said Sen. Landrieu. “ The RESTORE Act will soon begin bringing billions of dollars into the Gulf Coast – this is a historic moment for Louisiana.”
Funds from the RESTORE Act may be used to help pay for projects outlined in the state’s 50-year, $50 billion Coastal Master Plan, which includes 109 projects designed to “ improve flood protection for families and businesses, recreate the natural processes that built Louisiana’s delta, and ensure that our coast continues to be both a sportsman’s paradise and a hub for commerce and activity. ” Each parish visited by Sen. Landrieu during her coastal tour has projects prioritized in the state’s coastal plan.
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Dredging Today Staff, July 10, 2012