Grant will Fund Project for Road Improvements, Access to Oil Facilities

NEW ORLEANS – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today announced that it has awarded a Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) grant for $63,600 to Iberia Parish, La., for the development and administration phase of a planned project to make repairs and improvements to Admiral Doyle Drive, an airport access road in New Iberia, La. 

Created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, CIAP provides funding to the six Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas producing states to conserve and protect the coastal environment. CIAP is an ongoing program with grant funding that is allocated based on the offshore energy revenues collected by the United States. 

“CIAP is a valuable program that continues to provide important assistance to states and coastal communities,” said BOEMRE Director Michael R. Bromwich. “With these grants, we are able to partner with the state of Louisiana and its coastal parishes to restore and preserve our fragile environment with effects that will last for generations to come.” 

Grant funding for the pre-construction portion of the project will include the administrative, development, planning and engineering costs for the design and permitting of the proposed project. The construction phase will include the overlay and realignment of approximately 1.75 miles of Admiral Doyle Drive, which provides access to Acadiana Regional Airport. 

The project will improve access to OCS oil- and gas-related facilities in this geographical area and reduce the negative effects of heavy traffic. It will also provide safer driving conditions for industry-related and other vehicles en route to Iberia Parish business locations. The proposed project location is approximately 30 miles southeast of Lafayette, LA.