Baton Rouge, La. — The Water Institute of the Gulf in conjunction with the U.S. Business Council on Sustainable Development (US BCSD) recently held a meeting to establish a Gulf Coast Industrial Infrastructure Task Force, encouraging companies to collaborate and develop viable measures for protecting industrial infrastructure that is facing significant environmental risks. The meeting was held on Friday, August 5, at the Greater Lafourche Port Commission Office Building in Galliano, Louisiana.
The meeting, attended by over 60 participants representing a large combination of companies, industry associations, consultants, and environmental groups, included a series of presentations and discussions on developing a practical forum for addressing environmental issues facing the Gulf Coast and its complex infrastructure network. With infrastructure at risk of being damaged or destroyed by increasingly stronger tropical storms, sea-level rise, subsidence, and other environmental threats, the Institute and US BCSD aim to provide a forum for bringing business leaders together to discuss these risks to their operations, find common interests, and take action to address the risks.
“We look forward to the opportunity to provide relevant applied research and technical expertise to the private sector that underpins our coastal economy as we have done for the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority in the public sector,” said Charles “Chip” Groat, President and CEO of The Water Institute.
The proposed Task Force would be organized as a Regional Water Synergy Project managed by the US BCSD and the Institute, involving several guiding principles:- Members would include any companies with coastal infrastructure from Mobile to Corpus Christi wanting to join.
- Affiliate members would include any trade associations, service providers and NGOs wanting to join.
- Each company would pay an annual membership fee.
- The duration of the Task Force would be ongoing to meet any identified needs.
For more information of the Task Force and its organizational structure and benefits, please click here.
If you are interested in participating in the Gulf Coast Industrial Infrastructure Task Force, please contact Kai Midboe at kmidboe@thewaterinstitute.org.
About the Water Institute of the Gulf
The Water Institute of the Gulf is a not-for-profit, independent research and technical services resource for resilient coasts and sustainable water systems worldwide. The work of the Institute helps ensure livable communities and a thriving economy and environment. For more information, visit www.thewaterinstitute.org.