La. loses ruling for FEMA funds

The state of Louisiana's five-year effort to obtain $586M from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to pay for restoration of damages to the barrier island system, along the Gulf Coast caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, was denied by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Jan. 29. The 16 barrier islands are part of the federal John H. Chaffee Coastal Barrier Resources System. The state’s lawsuit to obtain the funds was filed in 2013 by the Department of Natural Resources. The state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) oversees the lawsuit, which Louisiana contends that federal law provides environmental protection to the national barrier island system and makes Louisiana eligible for restoration aid when damaged by hurricanes. FEMA turned down the state’s request in 2015. The state appealed to an arbitration panel, which came to the same conclusion as FEMA. On Jan. 29, the court upheld the panel’s ruling. CPRA believes Louisiana is entitled to public assistance for its barrier islands and “intends to pursue all avenues of recovery” for restoration. (Source: NOLA.com 01/31/18)