45-Day Comment Period and RESTORE Act Background

On April 20, 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig launched the largest offshore oil spill in United States history. The Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) established the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund in the U.S. Treasury Department whereby 80% of the civil penalties paid after July 6, 2012, under the Clean Water Act in connection with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill will be deposited into the Trust Fund and invested. The Act directs 35% of the funds deposited into the Trust Fund to Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, 23 Florida Counties and 20 Louisiana Parishes, including Jefferson Parish, based on a formula described in the Act. Direct component funds may be used for programs, projects, and activities that restore and protect the environment and economy of the Gulf Coast region. For more information on the RESTORE Act, see the following links.

• U.S. Department Of The Treasury - RESTORE Act

• RestoretheGulf.gov - History of the RESTORE Act

• RESTORE Act - Direct Component Guidance and Application

As a prerequisite for receiving Direct Component funding, each applicant must submit a multiyear plan to cover a period of time during which projects could be undertaken with funds available from the Trust Fund. The multiyear plan must include the Multiyear Implementation Matrix, a map showing the locations where the work will be performed, and the narrative description.

On July 27, 2016, the Jefferson Parish Council authorized the Draft Multiyear Plan to be advertised as available for public review and comment. The Draft Plan includes engineering, design, permitting, bid package and construction, as funding allows, for Gulfside and Bayside Shoreline Breakwaters at Grand Isle, Louisiana.

Jefferson Parish Government has released for public review and comments its Draft Multiyear Plan describing projects that could potentially be funded with RESTORE Act Direct Component funds available to Jefferson Parish as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. As of March 31, 2016, Direct Component funds available to Jefferson Parish are $2,347,375.04 from the Transocean and Anadarko Penalty and Interest Payment Deposits. This funding is just one of the many sources of funding associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. It is anticipated that an additional $11 million in Direct Component funds will be made available to Jefferson Parish over the next 15 years once Clean Water Act fines against BP are finalized.

The Draft Multiyear Plan is also available for review from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday, excluding holidays, at the Jefferson Parish Ecosystem and Coastal Management Department
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., Suite 310, Jefferson, LA 70123.

There will be a 45-day public review and comment period before the Plan is sent to the U.S. Treasury Department for acceptance.

Written comments may be submitted to the following:

By writing to:

Jefferson Parish Ecosystem and Coastal Management Department
1221 Elmwood Park Blvd., Suite 310
Jefferson, LA 70123

Or

By E-mail: JPCoastalZone@JeffParish.net

Or

By Online Form:   Click Here