Washington, D.C.—U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., MD (R-Southwest Louisiana), announced two Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP)grants totaling $432,750 to St. Martin Parish and Cameron Parish. The grants, awarded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation & Enforcement (BOEMRE), were presented to St. Martin Parish to fund Phase I of the Beau Bayou Swamp Hydrologic Restoration Project and to Cameron Parish for the additional costs acquired during construction of the 2010 West Big Burn Bridge Restoration Project.

“Protecting our coastal wetlands is crucial to Southwest Louisiana,” Boustany said. “Every element of these ecosystems is critical to their survival. I will continue to fight in Washington to restore and rebuild these wetlands and protect them for future generations.”

The first grant provides $340,960 to St. Martin Parish for the first phase of the Beau Bayou Swamp Hydrologic Restoration Project, which restores fisheries habitats and the overall ecology of the area. The second grant will give $91,790 to Cameron Parish to reimburse the additional project and construction expenses from the West Big Burn Bridge Restoration Project.

Boustany remains committed to the restoration of the Gulf Coast and has worked for coastal restoration and protection throughout his time in office. He secured funding for previous long term plans for coastal restoration and worked with the Corps of Engineers, state and local officials and stakeholders to expedite these plans.

The grants are part of the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP), which distributes funds from offshore mineral royalties to rebuild wetlands and coastal protections. The CIAP was authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 with Boustany’s support.

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