The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) has awarded a $1,352,581 Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) grant to Baldwin County, Ala. The grant provides for the acquisition of property in the southeastern part of the county, which will provide public boating access to Perdido Bay.

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.

“We fully support the efforts of coastal communities to preserve their valuable coastal and marine environment and to promote education and awareness of important conservation activities,” said BOEMRE Director Michael R. Bromwich. “CIAP-funded projects like this are crucial to the ongoing restoration and preservation of our fragile coastal ecosystems and are a legacy for future generations.”

The grant will be used to reimburse Baldwin County for the 2010 acquisition of 5.3 acres of coastal property in Lillian, Ala., located approximately 15 miles off the Alabama Gulf Coast. This property provides access to the northern portion of Perdido Bay, allowing visitors to experience the natural coastal environment and develop an understanding and appreciation of conservation and preservation activities along the coast.

CIAP received $250 million in appropriated funds for each of the Fiscal Years 2007-2010, to be disbursed to six eligible OCS oil and gas producing states: Alabama, Alaska, California, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

Tags: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management