New Plan Provides Millions for Coastal Improvement

New Greenways, flyways, boat launches and wetlands protection are on their way to the Gulf Coast. MPB’s Phoebe Judge reports on the multi-million dollar program.

Mississippi is poised to receive 120 million dollars for coastal projects over the next four years. The funding comes from the Coastal Impact Assistance Program, or CIAP. CIAP was created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, when Congress authorized funds from oil and gas revenue to be distributed to oil and gas producing states to mitigate the impact of that activity. 129 various projects have been initially approved for Mississippi all with the goal of preserving and protecting the coastal areas says Eileen Angelico a Public Affairs Officer with the Interior Department’s Mineral Management Service,

“These include everything from conservation and protection of the shoreline and of the habitat of the fisheries and birdlife along the coast. The projects were designed and developed by the state and coastal counties because they know best what is needed to both protect and restore the coastline.”

Bill Walker is Executive Director of Mississippi’s Department of Marine Resources, he says this money will make a significant difference,

“It means a lot it gives us an opportunity to at least begin some of the restoration projects that we have been wanting to start since hurricane Katrina.”

Mississippi is one of six states eligible to receive CIAP funds. For MPB News, I’m Phoebe Judge in Gulfport.