| What is CIAP? |
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| On March 5, 2001, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality was designated as the state’s lead agency to plan how millions in federal grant money will be spent on protecting, improving, and studying the Coastal ecology. In late 2000, the United States Congress passed the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) to share revenues from offshore oil and gas exploration with seven coastal states that are naturally most affected by the environmental impacts of offshore exploration. |
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| How much did we get? |
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Mississippi’s share of the $150,000,000 funding package is just over $24,000,000. Other states sharing the funds, based on an allocation formula, are Alabama, Alaska, California, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. A complete breakdown of state shares is attached.
Under the program, Mississippi’s three Coastal counties will share 35% of the total grant from Congress, with that 35% being shared based on a formula in the law. The counties are responsible for deciding how they will spend their share, subject to certification for compliance by the lead agency and the Governor. The remaining 65% of the grant is being spent on any projects that are consistent with the law. The state’s plan may include grants to government agencies, local governments, non-profit organizations, and universities. Up to 23% of the total sum of money may be spent on actual infrastructure projects. |
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| Who is involved? |
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State agencies collaborated with the DEQ to write the State Plan.
Those state agencies include: |
| The Department of Marine Resources |
| The Secretary of State |
| The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency |
| The Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks |
| The Department of Agriculture |
| The Forestry Commission |
| The Mississippi Department of Health |
| The State and the three Coastal Counties also collaborated and worked with EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program located at the Stennis Center. |
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| How is the money being spent? |
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The legislation identifies several categories of authorized uses of the grant funds. Other links on this site will explain fully.
In general, allowed uses include: |
| activities that conserve, restore, enhance or protect coastal or marine habitats, and coastal water quality |
| watershed protection |
| assessment |
| research |
| mapping and monitoring of coastal or marine resources and habitats |
| establishment of protected areas |
| conservation associated with population changes |
| protection and restoration of natural coastline protective features |
| identification, prevention and control invasive of harmful non-native species |
| address the impacts of growth and development on coastal or marine natural resources |
| encourage sustainable fisheries practices |
| promote research, education, training and advisory services on marine resource uses and management |
| conserve, protect and restore wetlands |
| address damage to fish, wildlife or natural resources |
| implement federally approved comprehensive conservation management plans |
| onshore infrastructure projects and public services needs |
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| Contact |
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Robbie Wilbur
State CIAP Cordinator
Post Office Box 20305
Jackson, Mississippi 39289-1305
Office: (601) 961-5277
Fax: (601) 961-5715 |