THIBODAUX, LA (AP) — Steady funding for the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program likely will be renewed following unanimous support in both chambers of Congress for estuary programs nationwide.
The Courier’s Meredith Burns reports the congressional support signals the National Estuary Program, which expired in 2010, will be reauthorized.
The Louisiana program has been receiving about $600,000 a year through continuing resolutions in Congress. It's one of 28 similar environmental programs around the nation funded through the National Estuary Program.
BTNEP, established in 1991, works to preserve and restore the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary, a 4.2 million-acre region between the Atchafalaya and Mississippi rivers encompassing all of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.
Susan Testroet-Bergeron, BTNEP's executive director, says reauthorization would secure payments for five years and make it easier to plan.
In separate bills, U.S. House put up $27 million for the nationwide program and the Senate bill set aside $26 million. Now the bills need to be reconciled in the House before moving onto President Obama's desk.
"We're appreciative that Congress has made us a real part of their budget and finds us of value," said Testroet-Bergeron.
The reauthorization comes as BTNEP prepares to review and update its comprehensive conservation and management plan that has been in place for 25 years.
