CONTACT:
Karen Turni Bazile, Executive Assistant to the President
St. Bernard Parish
504-278-4280 or 504-874-0980
Groups Launch
Campaign to Finish Closure and Restoration of MRGO
Public urged to take action, pressure feds to
finish the job
St. Bernard Parish officials and a broad
coalition of environmental, social justice and neighborhood
groups launched a public action campaign this week to ensure the
controversial Mississippi River Gulf Outlet is finally plugged
and that the formerly protective wetlands it helped destroy are
restored as Congress directed.
The officials and activists were in front of the St. Bernard
Parish Government Complex Monday, giving out yard signs and
decals after a press conference as part of an event to raise
awareness about the need to keep lobbying federal officials to
restore the coast and finish the project to close the MRGO.
“It was a great opportunity for numerous agencies and
organizations to speak with one voice with the clear message
that the MRGO must be closed completely and that wetlands
restoration and hurricane protection are paramount to this
region’s viability and the country’s protection of its natural
resources,” said St. Bernard Parish President Craig P. Taffaro
Jr., who also passed out yard signs.
“The main purpose is to get the signs out and get the people to
email the president,” said Carlton Dufrechou, executive director
for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. “The MRGO is being
plugged and now we need to take care of the coast. Twenty
thousand acres of wetlands have been lost due to the channel.”
Dufrechou said it will cost $35 million to close the channel and
an additional $400 million to rebuild the wetlands in the area
known as the funnel between eastern New Orleans and St. Bernard.
Last week the Corps started down the path
Congress laid out by officially deauthorizing the MRGO and
stating that it expected to plug the channel before the start of
the 2009 hurricane season. Louisianans are now being asked to
take action to ensure the channel is plugged on time and that
the White House and Congress keep the Corps focused on restoring
the MRGO-damaged wetlands that used to protect New Orleans and
St. Bernard.
Citizens can help in several ways. Visit a new web site at
www.MRGOmustGO.org, learn more about the effort and send a
personalized email to the White House to make sure this critical
work gets done.
