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A Cooperating Organziation of:
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Parishes Against Coastal Erosion Inaugural Meeting
December 31, 1969
Press Release Issued By: Jefferson Parish Department of Public Information
On September 13, 2003, Parishes Against Coastal Erosion (P.A.C.E.) held its first inaugural meeting to discuss the role of Parish and local governments in the fight against coastal erosion. Speakers at the meeting included U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, Jefferson Parish Council Chairman Aaron Broussard, Deputy District Engineer for the U.S.A. C. O.E. John Saia, and Louisiana Governor's Representatives Sidney Coffee and Karen Gautreaux.
P.A.C.E. is a recently formed organization designated to specifically address the erosion problems in the coastal parishes of Louisiana and has become an active partner in the 'America's Wetland' campaign to save coastal Louisiana. Participants in the meetings included elected officials from parishes, cities and the federal government and local Port Commissioners, Chambers of Commerce, etc.
At the meeting a number of topics were discussed and positions were taken by the organization on issues related to coastal erosion. The following positions were taken by P.A.C.E. on specific topics:
1. Constitutional amendments on October 4, 2003, election dealing with State Coastal Restoration Funding (P.A.C.E. endorses Amendments 1 and 2). Several proposed changes to the Louisiana Constitution concerning coastal restoration are being proposed in the October 4, 2003, state-wide election. P.A.C.E. members reviewed the amendments and decided to endorse amendment #1 which dedicates mineral settlement monies and amendment #2 which dedicates tobacco settlement monies to coastal erosion. Aaron Broussard, Chairman for P.A.C.E., stated 'If these amendments pass, they will send a clear message to Washington and the rest of the country that we in Louisiana are committee to do our part to save the nations valuable coastal wetlands, and we now expect our fair share of Federal dollars to help address the national problems.'
2. U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2003 (Energy Bill HR6). (P.A.C.E. endorses proposed amendment to Energy Bill to provide federal funding for coastal restoration). The U.S. Senate recently amended language into the Senate version of the Energy Bill provides more than 200 million a year to fund restoration projects in Louisiana. P.A.C.E. reviewed the amendment to the Energy Bill and decided to endorse the amendment. U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu states 'We can talk all we want, and we can plan all we want, but if we don't have the money to actually make these coastal restoration projects real, they will just remain on the drawing board.'
3. P.A.C.E. creates standing committees of the whole to review and provide input on the 14 billion dollar U.S.A. C.O.E. Louisiana Coastal Area Plan (LCA) and in local zoning and police powers initiatives to address coastal marsh losses. Aaron Broussard, Chairman of the P.A.C.E., states 'P.A.C.E. needs to review the U.S.A. C.O.E. restoration plan for our parish's coast line and provide local government input. Parishes, cities and towns have a moral obligation to undertake a review of their present laws governing development, zoning and permitting in their respective parish's coastal areas to determine if there are such sufficient regulations to protect the coastal marshes in their respective jurisdiction.'
To find out more about P.A.C.E.'s efforts to create a local government effort to save coastal Louisiana, contact Chairman Broussard at (504) 736-6615.
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