Last week, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority announced it will receive $75.8 Million in oil and gas revenue sharing from federal offshore waters.
The 19 coastal zone parishes will receive $18.9 Million, bringing Louisiana’s total to $94.7 Million. Louisiana’s total share is $11.9 Million greater this year than the amount received in 2018 which was the first year for the major disbursement of outer-continental shelf revenue under the phased-in Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA).
“This funding is critical to our efforts to restore and protect our coast,” said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. “It will allow CPRA to construct hurricane protection and coastal restoration projects that will better protect our communities, help restore our coast, and make our state more resilient.”
“This is an overall increase of 14.4 percent over last year,” said CPRA Chairman Chip Kline. “With oil prices and leases on the rebound, we could see additional dollars in coming years, and we are actively working with our congressional delegation to raise the cap on the total amount we could receive in peak years.”
Bren Haase, Executive Director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority noted that, “the $18.9 Million portion shared by coastal parishes is slightly above a $2 Million increase from the funds received last year. While these funds go directly to the parishes, we look forward to working with them on their priorities, and ensuring the lines of communication with CPRA are open to help move their projects forward.”
The U.S. Dept. of the Interior under the direction of Secretary David Bernhardt oversees GOMESA and all energy activity in the outer continental shelf.
“The increase in disbursements shared directly with the Gulf producing states and local communities are a direct result of production made possible by sound energy policy that removes barriers to responsible development,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “Under President Trump’s leadership, Interior continues to deliver on the promise of advancing American energy security and economic prosperity.”
Congress passed GOMESA in 2006 to address the need for coastal protection, conservation, restoration, hurricane protection and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetland losses. Additionally, it is intended for funding of federally approved state-level coastal management plans.
The total disbursement:
State of Louisiana (CPRA): $75,782,553.46
Assumption Parish: $624,301.84
Calcasieu Parish: $1,006,346.20
Cameron Parish: $1,294,393.87
Iberia Parish: $993,921.56
Jefferson Parish: $1,571,308.46
Lafourche Parish: $980,198.20
Livingston Parish: $783,550.00
Orleans Parish: $1,299,392.45
Plaquemines Parish: $1,856,690.72
St. Bernard Parish: $892,386.94
St. Charles Parish: $666,344.39
St. James Parish: $582,115.69
St. John the Baptist Parish: $629,068.20
St. Martin Parish: $704,743.85
St. Mary Parish: $833,307.13
St. Tammany Parish: $1,030,784.21
Tangipahoa Parish: $752,643.60
Terrebonne Parish: $1,450,355.84
Vermilion Parish: $993,785.17
Total: $94,728,191.78
Story by CPRA
