Coalition Responds to Jerome Zeringue’s Resignation from Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

Coalition Responds to Jerome Zeringue’s Resignation from Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

Chip Kline, current deputy director of Governor’s Office of Coastal Affairs, named successor

(NEW ORLEANS – January 26, 2015) Last week, Governor Bobby Jindal announced that Chip Kline would replace Jerome “Zee” Zeringue as chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Kline is currently the deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities.

National and local conservation organizations committed to coastal Louisiana restoration – Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation issued the following statement in response:

“Louisiana is suffering a coastal erosion crisis, and in recent years the state has made strong advancement toward the goals of stopping land loss and rebuilding land along the Mississippi River Delta. Zee’s leadership was key in keeping the implementation of the 2012 Coastal Master Plan moving forward this past year. He has been a tireless advocate and champion for Louisiana and the people who live and work on the coast. We thank him for all of the progress made toward restoring and protecting the delta – and the people, wildlife and jobs that call coastal Louisiana home. We wish Zee well in his future endeavors and hope he will remain engaged in coastal restoration efforts.

“We welcome Chip Kline as the new CPRA chairman and look forward to working with him and his team as they continue to implement the state’s master plan. His experience and knowledge will be an asset to our coast as he transitions in this new position. We have confidence he will keep the Coastal Restoration and Protection program on track and will uphold the commitments made by his predecessors. We look forward to building on past achievements and advancing coastal restoration efforts even more in the future.”