NEW ORLEANS – On Monday, June 20, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell will highlight ongoing restoration efforts along the Gulf Coast following the Deepwater Horizon tragedy. Secretary Jewell will tour the Barataria Preserve Unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Marrero, La. to see first-hand progress on projects to create healthy wetlands by filling in more than 16.5 miles of canals.
On Tuesday, June 21, Jewell will visit the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana to make an important announcement regarding Gulf Coast restoration and tribal youth work crews. As chair of The White House Council on Native American Affairs , Jewell works to improve interagency coordination and expand efforts to leverage federal programs and resources available to tribal communities.
The announcement is part of ongoing efforts by Interior and its partners to restore the Gulf Coast following the April 20, 2010 Macondo well blowout and the massive oil spill that followed in the Gulf of Mexico. Last fall, the U.S. and five Gulf States reached a historic settlement with BP to resolve the civil lawsuit over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The global settlement resolved the governments’ civil claims under the Clean Water Act and natural resources damage claims under the Oil Pollution Act, as well as economic damage claims of the five Gulf States and local governments. Taken together, the global resolution of civil claims is worth $20.8 billion, and is the largest settlement with a single entity in U.S. history.
Event #1:
Who:
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
What:
Airboat tour of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (pooled press)
When:
Monday, June 20, 2016
2:45 PM CDT – Tour begins
Where:
Louisiana Tour Company (Airboat Operator)
9706 Barataria Blvd.
Marrero, LA 70072
Event #2:
Who:
Sally Jewell, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
What:
Gulf Coast Restoration press announcement with Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana
When:
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
10:45 AM CDT – Media check-in
11:00 AM CDT – Press announcement
11:30 AM CDT – Service project & photo/b-roll opportunity
Where:
3548 Chitimacha Trail
Charenton, LA 70544
Media:
Credentialed members of the media are encouraged to RSVP here.
Source: Department of Interior
