By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / Febuary 1, 1999

VACHERIE – St. James Parish’s coastal resources management programwas brought in line Wednesday with its neighbors’ programs.

Operations Director Jody Chenier reported that the Parish Council approved a revised coastal resources ordinance, as demanded by federal authorities.

Often, Chenier explained, projects such as major pipeline constructions had to contend with a checkerboard of rules and regulations in each parochial jurisdiction. “There really was no continuity between differentparishes,” Chenier said.

At the same time, the newly approved ordinance addressed mitigation guidelines for the first time. Though the program was established in thelate 1970s, Chenier continued, there never were clear, established procedures for mitigation plans on any project affecting wetlands.

“We didn’t really address it before,” he said, adding the parish simply went on a case-by-case basis with no consistent guidelines.

In other activity: The Parish Council approved its 1998-99 road improvement program, making use of grant money received late last year.

R.J. Daigle and Sons Contractors Inc. of Geismar won the contract toimprove 29 streets in unincorporated St. James Parish.”We hope to start in the next 30 to 45 days,” Chenier noted.

The Parish Council also heard reports on the Head Start program and the Louisiana State Women Employment Training program.

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