Louise "Toot" Marie Chiasson Fremin
October 7, 2008
Marie "Grum" Hartman Hebert
October 9, 2008
It’s always important for neighbors to help each other, but no two neighbors need each other more than the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program and the petroleum industry.
Since 1991, the two have been working together to bring awareness to coastal restoration. The partnerships are in large part because the wetlands are needed for the petroleum industries to do their job.
“I think they see that restoration will protect their own infrastructure such as the pipelines, production facilities, roads, ports and everything else,” Kerry St Pe’, Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program director said. “We need the wetlands to protect that infrastructure from a storm surge. With hurricanes entering the Gulf every year, it’s a necessity.”
With wetlands eroding nearly every day, St. Pe’ expressed gratitude for the petroleum industry, which he said has really stepped to the plate to bring awareness to the problem.
However, he said it’s the job of everyone to carry it out.
“It means a lot,” he said of having the industry so involved. “The Estuary Program depends on partnership. It takes everyone working together to get the restoration done. It’s not just scientists. It’s scientists, the people that work here, live here, play here. It’s everybody. It’s everyone’s job to make this happen. The petroleum industry has been a large part of that.”
Whether it’s Shell Oil, Chevron-Texaco or Mid-Continent Oil and Gas, all have done their part to better the wetlands, both locally and along the Gulf Coast.
“The petroleum industry is a member of our 45 group management conference to help manage and restore the wetlands,” St. Pe’ said. “They have been part of the effort since the beginning.”
Not only are they involved in restoring Louisiana’s coast, but surrounding Gulf States as well.
In 2005 the Environment News Service reported that Chevron took on a project to restore coastal wetlands at a Port Arthur, Texas refinery.
The report also said that they have constructed over 85 acres of Texas estuarine marsh and 30 acres of coastal wet prairie designed to enhance critical ecosystems used by birds, fish and other wildlife.
Plans are also in effect for them to construct a low water control structure and multiple culverts that will be used to restore historic hydrology and reduce salinity fluctuations within Texas’ Lower Neches River.
Locally, they have contributed money to the estuary program to build greenhouses to raise plants to transplant along the coast.
Shell has also donated over $100,000 for the restoration effort and support and has been actively involved in preserving Louisiana’s coast since the 1990s, a spokesperson for the company said.
In a press release, the company said that restoring the wetlands helps protect their workforce, which is largely based off the coast.
“The viability of Louisiana’s coast is important to all of us,” Shell President John Hofmeister said. “Because this is an area where Shell customers, stakeholders, and employees live and work, and because we are committed to our social responsibility to protect and preserve Louisiana’s natural assets.”
Shell Pipeline also donated funds to help BTNEP construct a marathon park bridge in Fourchon, which is scheduled to open soon.
During the annual “La Fete d’Ecologie” festival, the petroleum companies set up booths and give donations to help educate the people about the importance of restoring the wetlands.
They are also actively involved in the “America’s Wetlands” campaign, St. Pe’ said.
“The petroleum industry is involved an awful lot and throughout the year,” he said. “They understand the importance of wetlands not only to the coast, but to their industry as well. We are grateful that they have been as great contributors as they have been.”
St. Pe’ just hopes that the petroleum industry’s latest effort to restore wetlands and save south Louisiana’s coast is the start of bringing universal awareness to the issue.
Teamed with Shell Oil, Chevron-Texaco and Mid-Continent Oil and Gas, the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program continues to make inroads in drawing attention to south Louisiana’s coastal erosion problems. * Photo courtesy of BARATARIA-TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM
