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Baton Rouge, LA - Louisiana's coastal marshes protect much of the nation's oil and gas infrastructure and, as that land continues to disappear, the onset of what could be the most dangerous hurricane season in years, threatens that infrastructure and America's energy security.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season - which runs from June 1st through November 30th - will likely have above-normal levels of activity. NOAA predicts as many as 11 to 15 tropical storms, 6 to 9 hurricanes and 2 to 4 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher) will hit the Atlantic and Gulf Coast during this season.

Louisiana"s wetlands serve as protection from hurricanes and storm surges for more than two million people living in the coastal zone, including the City of New Orleans. However, this area known as America"s WETLAND is disappearing. When America"s WETLAND faces hurricane seasons such as this, an area of world ecological significance and strategic economic importance to our national energy security is put at risk.

"There is a direct link between safety and the buffer zone Louisiana"s coastal wetlands provide," said Secretary Jack Caldwell, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.

"An acre of protective wetlands can lower storm surge by one foot," Caldwell said. "As we continue to lose up to 25-35 square miles of coastal wetlands each year, large population centers like New Orleans, as well as America"s energy infrastructure, become more exposed and more vulnerable to a direct hit by a hurricane."

As wetlands and barrier islands disappear, the oil and gas infrastructure along the coast becomes exposed to open Gulf conditions. As a result, wells, pipelines, ports, roads, and levees key to energy delivery are threatened.

A recent study by Dr. Greg Stone, associate professor at Louisiana State University"s Coastal Studies Institute, modeled the impact of a large storm. The study compared the traumatic consequences that could be experienced today with those of 40 years ago, when land protected pipelines, energy installations and cities from powerful storm surges.

"Good science protects people and, in this case, our scientific modeling should cause concern. What used to stand between high Gulf of Mexico storm waters were acres and square miles of land that have steadily been lost," said Stone.

"The threat to our state and nation"s energy infrastructure comes from a combination of storm surge and topping waves created by hurricanes. A Category 3 hurricane that created a wall of water 15 feet high in 1950 could be 12 feet higher today because the island speed bumps are disappearing," Stone added.

The America"s WETLAND campaign, announced by Governor Foster last fall at a meeting of the Southern Governors" Association, is designed to raise public awareness and to gain support for efforts to save coastal Louisiana. The initiative is supported by a growing coalition of world, national and state conservation and environmental organizations and has drawn private support from businesses that see wetlands protection as a key to economic growth.

To find out more about the America"s WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana, visit www.americaswetland.com.

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For more information, or to set up an interview, contact:

Scott Samson, Account Executive
Pacific Visions Communications
202.387.8550 or 703.582.1997

Sidney Coffee, Public Affairs Director
Office of the Governor/Coastal Activities
(225) 342-4844