Latest news with #CPRA
American Press
5 days ago
- Business
- American Press
Eligible homeowners urged to take part in elevation project
Eligible homeowners are being encouraged to take part in a state-managed property elevation project and raise their homes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a public meeting on Thursday to update homeowners on the Southwest Coastal Home Elevation Project. The goal of the project is to reduce hurricane storm surge damage risks by elevating and/or floodproofing thousands of residential and business structures in Calcasieu, Cameron and Vermillion parishes while prioritizing environmental and ecosystem restoration. The pilot project, funded at the state and federal levels, is authorized to spend about $1.8 billion to raise about 3,000 properties, said Darrel M. Broussard, senior project manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District. On average, it costs about $250,000 to $300,000 to raise a home to the 100-year flood elevation on average. They are currently working with a pool of $455 million to elevate 800 to 1,000 structures to the 100-year base flood elevation and anticipate having these funds obligated by 2028. The initial investment is funded 65 percent through federal government grants; The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) provides a 35 percent cost share. The partnership between the USACE and the (CPRA) began as a flood control project to mitigate coastal storm flooding that involved levees. But, levees would not have been feasible for the area, he said. 'We looked at putting levees around this area. … It's so flat. It's so spread out. The cost to put a levee to surround everything was just not cost-effective.' By elevating individual homes, the project is non-structural, meaning utility infrastructure does not have to be installed. A total of 3,462 properties were identified as eligible structures through a 2016 feasibility study. Eligible structures were broken down into priority groups. Properties were prioritized based on how low the structure sits and the socioeconomic status of the area. A total of 300 people have signed up so far, and USACE has already begun to elevate eligible properties. One elevation has already been completed in Lake Charles. The first contract for home elevation construction was awarded to Wingate Engineers LLC of New Orleans last year for $4,997,880. Broussard said the second contract should be finalized by the end of the year for home elevations beginning in February 2026. The Southwest Coastal Home Elevation project is voluntary and covers the cost of raising homes three to 13 feet, depending on the property's initial elevation, and the utility and structural adjustments. Temporary relocation for property owners, upgrades and hazardous material remediation are not covered. Homeowners of eligible properties were sent letters by the project team, but eligibility can be confirmed online at
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Landry names new executive director of Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Gov. Jeff Landry named Michael H. Hare as the new executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Friday morning. According to the governor's office's announcement, Hare is the founder of WILDHARE Solution LLC. He advises clients entering the environmental markets industry. He has served as the director of government affairs and business development at RES. 'Michael has years of experience in coastal restoration, and I am confident that his leadership and commitment to our State make him well-suited to lead CPRA,' said Landry. Hare said he looks forward to working with the coastal community on protection and sustainability projects. 'We must remain united as a coastal community and maintain our sense of urgency to confront the challenges along our coast,' said Hare. The former leader of CPRA, Glenn Ledet, was named the new secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development in June. 'We'll lose a national asset': Advocates push for Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion to move forward Latest News Arrest made in deadly shooting of 'American Idol' executive, her husband in California Baton Rouge man arrested, accused of stealing $170K from infirmed mother Live coverage: Noem says US electrical grid is vulnerable at Hill Nation Summit Senate narrowly advances $9 billion spending cuts package World's oldest marathon runner dies at 114 after being hit by a car Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
$3 billion restoration project to restore Louisiana's eroded coast terminated. More here
On Thursday, July 17, the state of Louisiana canceled a $3 billion coastal restoration project that was being funded by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The project, which would repair the Gulf's disappearing coastline, was viewed by Jeff Landry as a hinderance to the state's way of life, while conservationists consider it an urgent response to the effects of climate change. The termination of the project means that Louisiana could lose over $1.5 billion worth of unspent funding, and may potentially have to repay the $618 million that was already used to begin building, AP News reported. Louisiana cancels $3 billion coastal restoration project. What this means for the Gulf Coast Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CRPA) reached an agreement with the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group to officially terminate the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project, according to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. "The decision follows CPRA's determination, as the Lead Implementing Trustee for the construction of the sediment diversion, that the project is no longer viable due to multiple factors, including costs, permitting concerns, and ongoing litigation. Based on CPRA's determination, the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group signed a resolution to reduce the project budget to match funding that has already been dispersed," reads a news release from the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Originally planed as a large-scale restoration project, the sediment diversion was devised to reconnect the Mississippi River to the Barataria Basin, with the intent to rebuild marshes in Plaquemines Parish. The project was aimed at rebuilding more than 20 square miles of land over a 50-year period in Southeast Louisiana in order to combat rising sea levels and coastal erosion along the Gulf. CPRA determined that construction of the project, as it was approved in 2023, is no longer viable at this time and, instead, CPRA is pivoting to reinstate the Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Medium Diversion Myrtle Grove with Dedicated Dredging project, which offers similar restoration benefits, according to CPRA. As part of the cancellation process, the authorized budget has been reduced from $2.26 billion to $618.52 million, reflecting funds that have already been disbursed. Through this, CPRA plans to use the funds for activities related to closing out the project, requiring monthly updates to the Louisiana Restoration Area Trustees, says CPRA. The unused project funds will be made available for future Deepwater Horizon restoration activities within the Louisiana Restoration Area through the restoration planning process and approval by the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group, according to CPRA. Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Ganett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@ This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Did Louisiana cancel coastal restoration project? Why was it canceled? Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Can new coastal protection leader reverse Louisiana's disappearing coastline crisis?
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has appointed a new leader charged with preserving what's left of the state's rapidly disappearing coast. Michael Hare takes over as executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, which oversees an ambitious 50-year, $50 billion master plan to preserve and perhaps restore portions of the Louisiana coastline. Hare replaces Glenn Ledet, who Landry recently appointed as his secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development. Hare has worked in both the government and private sectors related to coastal protection and environmental issues. 'Michael has years of experience in coastal restoration, and I am confident that his leadership and commitment to our state make him well-suited to lead CPRA," Landry said in a statement. Hare said Louisiana's land loss crisis must be urgently addressed "to protect and sustain our culture and way of life for future generations." Louisiana has lost about 2,000 square miles of coast during the past century. That rate could accelerate with rising seas levels and more frequent and severe storms pounding the state from the Gulf of America unless Louisiana can stem the tide with effective restoration projects as it also increases levee protection. "We must remain united as a coastal community and maintain our sense of urgency to confront the challenges along our coast," Hare said in a statement. Securing sufficient money for such projects will become more difficult when the multi-billion dollar settlement from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill expires in 2031. But last year voters approved an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution expanding the dedication to the CPR Fund to add federal money the state receives from offshore wind, solar and other alternative or renewable energy sources generated in federal Gulf waters off of the state's coast. Such money could come from federal lease sales, operating fees and other agreements. And earlier this month future funding for Louisiana coastal protection and restoration was boosted in President Trump's "Big, Beautiful" tax and spending bill by up to $50 million annually from offshore revenue. More: Louisiana voters approve amendment to Constitution aimed at restoring disappearing coast Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Gov. Jeff Landry appoints leader to save Louisiana's disappearing coast
Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HC stays allotment of 3,000-sqm Cuffe Parade plot for a private school
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court last week stayed the Maharashtra government's allotment of a 3,000-square-metre plot at Backbay Reclamation, which was reserved for parking lots, to a nonprofit for the construction of a school. HC stays allotment of 3,000-sqm Cuffe Parade plot for a private school A division bench of justices GS Kulkarni and Arif Doctor passed the order on a petition filed by the Cuffe Parade Residents Association (CPRA), claiming that the allotment was illegal and contrary to several legal requirements. CPRA, through its honorary secretary Preeti Bedi, had challenged a September 2024 government resolution (GR) allotting the plot, which was reserved for parking lots in Mumbai's Development Plan 2034, to the Jain International Organisation for setting up a primary and secondary school. The plot was recently vacated by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd, which was using it while constructing the underground Aqua line. 'There is a great need for a parking area in the locality and the petitioners have been addressing letters to the collector to ensure that the said plot, which was recently vacated by the MMRCL, was duly walled/fenced, protected from encroachments and allowed to be used for parking of vehicles,' stated the petition. It added that residents learned that the plot had been allotted to the nonprofit only after it set up its board at the site, stating that the state government had handed it over to them in September 2024 to build a school. When the petition came up for hearing on June 26, CPRA's lawyer, senior advocate Aspi Chinoy, argued that the allotment was illegal and arbitrary, and amounted to a 'colourable exercise of powers' by the authorities involved. He added that residents of the area were being robbed of the plot's benefits by allotting it illegally and contrary to several legal requirements. Chinoy said the plot, which is reserved under the Development Plan, could not have been allotted to a 'private body' and, that too, on the conditions as set out in the allotment letter, which required the allottee to get the reservation of the plot changed. 'Prima facie, we are of the opinion that there is substance in the contention as urged on behalf of the petitioner,' the court said, while staying the implementation of the GR. It restrained the Jain International Organisation from taking any further steps on the plot.
