What's in Gov. Edwards' $350 million coastal plan? Protecting LaPlace, levee repairs, more

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced plans Wednesday for spending about $350 million in coastal dollars, including money to accelerate a nearly half-century-old project to protect LaPlace and nearby areas.

Most of the money – nearly $300 million – is from a federal revenue source of offshore oil and gas money called the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, or GOMESA.

The other $55 million, including dollars for the long-delayed $760 million West Shore Lake Pontchartrain hurricane protection project, is state surplus money that requires legislative approval. Local and federal officials announced in August that they hope to finish that levee system by 2023, with federal funds accounting for 65 percent of the pricetag.

Edwards said that, in the next 12 months, $120 million in federal dollars will be spent to protect lives in south Louisiana. "This is a threat to two million people who live and work along the coast," he said.

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