State Considering New Policies for Coastal Areas & Other Water News

Here are the latest news stories in local and national water policy to watch for in March. Louisiana and our coastline were also covered significantly this past month, with articles in The Atlantic and a collaboration between The Times Picayune and  The New York Times that you can find under “More Louisiana Water Headlines.”

Scroll to the end for a list of water events and deadlines to keep on your radar, including the Water Challenge. Save your seat for March 21st!

In The News

CPRA Board Approves Coastal Program Annual Plan 
Source: The Times-Picayune, CPRA
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board approved the FY 2019 Annual Plan for coastal restoration and protection projects amounting to $566 million, including 2 projects in the planning phase, 42 projects in design, and 21 projects that will begin or continue construction. The Board’s approval means that the plan makes its way to the state legislature on March 12. Other updates include a two-year budget compromise that will result in an additional 5-7% of GOMESA funding, the oil and gas revenues which make up a significant portion of funding for the Coastal Master Plan and is facing a shortfall. 

State Considering New Policies for Coastal Areas
Source: The Advocate, The Lens
The state’s Office of Community Development (OCD) is developing a report with recommendations on how communities in southeast louisiana should adapt to coastal erosion and sea-level rise. OCD and its partners have hosted community meetings in Terrebonne, Lafource, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. John the Baptist, and St. Tammany as part of the LA SAFE planning process, resulting in approximately 70 “recommended policies” related to stormwater management, housing and development, transportation, education, the economy & jobs, and culture & recreation. State officials have stated that mandatory resettlement in high risk zones will not be pursued, but are exploring limiting development in the most vulnerable areas. The report is expected to be released later this year, articulating the state’s regional framework, recommended policies and projects, and pilot projects and plans for each of the six most affected parishes. 

Bayou Bridge Pipeline Construction Halted 
Source: Times-Picayune
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order to the Bayou Bridge pipeline construction, ruling that the Army Corps of Engineers was “arbitrary and capricious” in  “concluding that a more detailed analysis was not needed before determining that the project’s environmental effects could be legally offset by the company buying credits equivalent to more than 2,000 acres of damaged wetlands at mitigation banks located in different ecological areas miles from the pipeline route.” The use of mitigation banks and charges by environmental groups that the pipeline’s construction does irreparable harm to the Atchafalaya basin will be considered when the case goes before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

Flooding And The Threat of Chemical Contamination
Source: The New York Times
When contending with increasing flood risk, communities need to consider the threat to facilities that handle toxic chemicals. An analysis by the New York Times found more than 2,500 sites that handle toxic chemicals located in flood prone areas across the United States. When examining the 21,600+ facilities listed under the federal Toxic Release Inventory, it found that more than 1,400 are in high risk flood zones; Federal law, and most state and local governments, do not require these sites to take additional precautions against flooding. Taking action to prevent chemical contamination in the event of a flood is particularly necessary along the Gulf Coast, given the concentration of oil, gas, and petrochemical industries in areas at risk of sea level rise. 

More Water Headlines

• Fortified But Still In Peril, New Orleans Braces For Its Future: Our Drowning Coast
• Left to Louisiana’s Tides, A Village Fights For Time
• Insects Feast On Louisiana Wetlands, Inviting The Gulf In
• How Humans Sank New Orleans
• What’s Left Out Of $80 million in New Orleans Drainage Repairs
• New Report Says FEMA Badly Underestimates Flood Risk
• Could Mississippi River Change Course?

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

• The Water Challenge 2018 | Mar. 21 from 6:30-8:30PM; Propeller’s annual pitch competition awarding $15k to businesses, nonprofits, and individuals with ideas to improve urban water, coastal environments, and the local water economy. Come out and vote for the $500 Audience Favorite! The Water Challenge presented by the Greater New Orleans Foundation is sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co. and supported by Entergy Corporation. RSVP
• Tulane Environmental Law And Policy Summit | March 9-10; The summit includes talks from scientific and legal experts on aspects of environmental law and policy. Topics this year include climate change, issues associated with relocation for indigenous communities, pre-disaster mitigation, wastewater treatment and wetlands assimilation, and the Louisiana Coastal Master plan. REGISTER
• Hiring Business/Operations Manager at Public Lab | Deadline ASAP; The Public Lab for Open Technology and Science is seeking an individual to oversee the management and coordination of fiscal activities. Refer to the link for the full job posting. APPLY
• National Mitigation Investment Strategy Comments | Deadline March 11; The National Mitigation Investment Strategy has been drafted to guide mitigation activities and risk management across the nation in response to costly natural disasters. The Strategy is based around improved collaboration between government agencies, respect for local expertise, encouraging private and non-profit mitigation investments, and making data- and risk-informed decisions. Public comments on the draft National Mitigation Investment Strategy are due by March 11, 2018. COMMENT
• Science Policy Fellowship Applications | Deadline March 14 ; The Science Policy Fellowship provides an opportunity for scientists to put their apply their graduate research and gain on the job experience and mentorship to address the Gulf Research Program’s four initiatives: healthy ecosystems, thriving communities, safer offshore energy systems, and capacity building. Fellows receive a stipend to work for one year at federal, state, local, or non-governmental environmental, natural resource, oil and gas, and public health agencies in the Gulf of Mexico region. Applications are due March 14, 2018. APPLY
• Coastal Stewardship Award Nominations | Deadline March 23; The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana is accepting nominations for their annual Coastal Stewardship Awards, which will be presented during the State of the Coast Conference. Awards are for individuals and organizations that have dedicated themselves to conserving and restoring Louisiana’s wetlands and nominations are due by March 23, 2018. NOMINATE