Office of Conservation
CONSERVATION BILL PASSES U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE, COULD MEAN ALMOST $300 MILLION A YEAR FOR LOUISIANA
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) was voted out of the U.S. House Resources Committee yesterday by a vote of 29 to 12. The bill could mean up to $300 million a year for Louisiana and would go far to restore the state's coastal wetlands, disappearing at the staggering rate of 35 square miles a year.
NOAA FISHERIES AND LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES JOIN TO RESTORE BLACK BAYOU FISH HABITAT
Federal and state officials announced the award of the Black Bayou hydrological restoration project to Luhr Brothers Construction of Alexandria, La. The restoration of Black Bayou is a fisheries habitat project funded through the Breaux Act, a 10-year-old campaign to protect and restore coastal Louisiana's natural resources. The restoration is a joint project of the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA fisheries) and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Holly Beach Project Topic of Community Meeting May 22
Proposed coastal restoration work for Holly Beach in Cameron parish will be discussed at a public meeting on Tuesday, May 22 at 1 p.m. at the Cameron Parish Policy Jury office. Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) coastal officials will facilitate the meeting, reviewing proposed and future plans.
Office of Conservation's Underwater Obstruction Removal Program gets Gulf Guardian Award
The state's Underwater Obstruction Removal Program has received recognition by the Gulf of Mexico region for "excellence in restoring Louisiana's coastal marine waters." The removal program is operated by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Office of Conservation and has just completed its third year.
FRITCHIE MARSH RESTORATION PROJECT COMPLETED
The La. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and its federal sponsor, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), have recently completed a wetlands restoration project in St. Tammany Parish.
Oyster Leases in Barataria Renewed
Secretary Jack Caldwell of the Department of Natural Resources requested today that his counterpart at the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, James "Jimmy" Jenkins, Jr., reinstate the oyster leases located within the Davis Pond Cumulative Impact Area due to the overwhelming success of the Davis Pond relocation program. As of the deadline on Thursday, 60 of 64 oyster lessees had been heard from, either by phone or in writing, who had agreed to participate in the program. The vast majority of these were opting for the purchase option, while a much smaller group were planning to select the relocation option.
German engineer returns home after working with Conservation office
Ulf Larres never appeared to be out of place as he reported to work each day for three months at the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources' building. From November 1st to January 31st, he happily showed up at 8 am to begin his work as an inspector with the Injection and Mining division of the Office of Conservation. With a master's degree in mining engineering from the Technical University of Aachen in Germany in addition to his special training from his own workplace –Oberbergamt Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Larres worked quite comfortably with co-workers in charge of approving permits, inspecting oil and gas facilities and other related environmental programs of the agency.
DNR GEOLOGIST ELECTED TO NATIONAL BOARD
Dr. Madhurendu B. Kumar, Geologist Supervisor with the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Office of Conservation has recently been elected Treasurer of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG). As an officer of AIPG, he will serve on the National Executive Committee until 2002.
DNR reports restoration projects along coast now listed for Phase One
Eight coastal restoration projects listed on the state's Priority Project List 9 (PPL9) have reached the first phase of implementation. State coastal officials say that means budget approvals for all engineering and preconstruction work are now complete.
LOUISIANA TO RECOVER ADDITIONAL MINERAL ROYALTY INCOME
Federal legislation repealing the "net receipts sharing" practice of the Minerals Leasing Act will mean more money for states to spend on education. Louisiana anticipates getting back over $40,000 per year to be used for schools and education.