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Louisiana Governor Welcomes Federal Councils on Environmental Quality Leadership to Louisiana

Louisiana – Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards welcomed the leadership of the United States Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council and the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to Louisiana, where they toured key infrastructure projects, met with environmental justice and energy transition leaders, and engaged with the Governor, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, and several Cabinet officials as they discussed ways to advance key Louisiana projects.

The Permitting Council and CEQ leaders are in Louisiana to meet with experts on the ground to learn how to best support infrastructure initiatives outlined in the Governor’s Climate Action Plan and Coastal Master Plan. They met with environmental justice community leaders who serve Louisianans, including vulnerable communities of color, to discuss how to rebuild more inclusively. They also met with scientists and business leaders involved in the state’s efforts to transition to a clean energy future and strengthen coastal resilience.

The Permitting Council and CEQ participated in a flyover tour to see the coastal wetland ecosystems and communities that will benefit from the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton sediment diversion projects, which are featured on the Federal Permitting Dashboard. A key component of the visit was a meeting with the Governor, during which the Permitting Council and CEQ discussed the implementation of the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, as well as how Louisiana can best position itself in relation to federal priorities such as equity, climate, and workforce.

“Our partnership with the federal government allows us to move forward critical infrastructure projects that will make Louisiana’s communities safer and more resilient, and I am pleased to welcome the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council and White House Council on Environmental Quality to tour two major infrastructure projects in our state,” Gov. Edwards said. “These key projects will help build and restore wetlands, offering better protection to Louisiana’s coastal communities. Coordination with the federal government will help ensure that we have the resources and contacts we need to deliver these critical projects to Louisianans. I’m thankful that President Biden has prioritized transparency, accountability and partnership in the large-scale infrastructure projects happening in our country.”

“Working closely with state and local partners is key in the effort to transform our nation’s infrastructure,” says Christine Harada, Executive Director of the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. “The work going on here in Louisiana is a team effort that will not only restore our natural resources but will also make communities and the people who live in them more resilient from natural disasters and other environmental threats. Working side-by-side with leaders like Governor Edwards and Mayor Cantrell truly showcases the great things that can be achieved when the federal government empowers state and local leaders with the resources they need to invest in the future.”

“We’re grateful for the partnership with Governor Edwards and Mayor Cantrell to ensure that the historic investments from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law reach communities in greatest need, change lives for the better, and create good-paying union jobs,” said White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory. “The coastal restoration projects under way in Louisiana are proof that investments in America’s lands and waters provide massive returns in the form of storm protection for communities, clean drinking water for families, healthy and abundant fish and wildlife, and build a better America.”

The Permitting Council, established in 2015 under Title 41 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41), is a one-of-a-kind Federal agency tasked with improving the transparency, predictability, and outcomes of the Federal environmental review and authorization process for certain large-scale critical infrastructure projects.

The Permitting Council works to ensure that the environmental review of major infrastructure projects is predictable, by providing a forum for resolving complex issues, ensuring transparency and accountability to the American people, and facilitating efficient collaboration and coordination among the various agencies involved in the effort.

Permitting timetables for projects covered by the FAST-41 program include all required federal permits and reviews. This data is available on the Federal Infrastructure Permitting Dashboard. The Dashboard is an online project tracking system that provides transparency and accountability throughout the permitting process.

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) established the Council on Environmental Quality in 1969, and it advises the President and develops policies on climate change, renewable energy, environmental justice, federal sustainability, public lands, oceans, and wildlife conservation, among other things.

Information About the Projects

Harada and Mallory visited the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton Sediment Diversions, the state’s two planned sediment diversion projects.

Once completed, the Mid-Barataria and Mid-Breton projects will help redirect water and sediment from the Mississippi River in order to build and maintain coastal wetlands damaged by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, as well as mitigate the effects of storm surge, sea level rise, and subsidence.

The federal permitting and reviews of these projects have been coordinated by three consecutive Presidential administrations thanks to the Federal Permitting Dashboard. According to the dashboard’s schedule, the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion project is expected to receive a permit decision this year.

Visit coastal.la.gov to learn more about Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan and ongoing efforts to restore the state’s coast.

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