Port Fourchon will remain busy, executive director says LLOG

April 2015, Issue 2, Volume 19
Port Fourchon will remain busy,
executive director says
By: Aaren Gordon, The Courier Staff Writer
P
ort Fourchon, the main
service hub for the Gulf of
Mexico oilfield, will remain busy
despite uncertainty in the oil
industry, its executive director
said Tuesday. “What we do know
is our future really is bright. We
just need to hunker down and hold on to what’s going
on right now, because there’s still development in the
port. There’s still demand on our property. We’re at
100 percent capacity every day. Every time we grow,
we’re still at 100 percent capacity,” Chett Chiasson
told the South Central industrial Association.
Chett Chiasson is the Executive Director
for the Greater Lafourche Port Commission
(GLPC), which runs Port Fourchon and the
South Lafourche Leonard Miller, Jr. Airport.
While U.S. benchmark crude oil closed Monday at
$43.88 a barrel, its lowest point in nearly six years
and more than 60 percent lower than the high of
$115 a barrel in June, Chiasson is taking a cautious
approach about the industry that fuels the local
economy. The deepwater oil industry in the Gulf is
“moving rapidly,” he said. “What we do know is that
there are 11 brand new rigs that will be coming to
the Gulf in the next year, but we have 13 contracts
coming up within the next year. So, you see there’s
not going to be a net gain, there may be a net loss or
at least that,” he said.
A probable slowdown in development could have
a short-term effect on the port, he said. “I’m having
to look at my budget and say, ‘OK, what are we still
going to do? What can we maybe stand to slow
down a little bit?’ So it takes some moving around
and changing a little bit, but we know it’s going to get
continued on page 3
www.sciaonline.net
LLOG begins production in Gulf
By: Aaren Gordon, The Courier Staff Writer and edited by
Jane Arnette
ovington-based LLOG Exploration announced
crude oil and natural gas production has begun
at its second field in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.
It has a location in Golden Meadow, as well.
The Delta House field in the Mississippi Canyon
area is about 130 miles south of Houma and in about
4,500 feet of water. Delta House is the second FPS
that LLOG has brought online in the last four years,
joining LLOG’s first FPS, Who Dat, which began
production in 2011. The first Delta House discovery
was made in 2012 and LLOG has now successfully
drilled eight wells in the Delta House area.
Production is expected to build to a daily rate of
100,000 barrels a day and 240 million cubic feet
of gas in the next few years, Rick Fowler, LLOG
vice president of deepwater projects, told South
Central Industrial Association members.
“It’s a pretty big deal for LLOG certainly and
for industry. There are not too many new floating
production systems coming on these days,” Fowler
said. The project came online in three years, while
the average for deepwater Gulf of Mexico projects
is around eight years, Fowler said. The production
platform will process resources from five fields.
“It separates oil from gas from water and gets
it to shore,” Fowler said. The total project costs
$2 billion, Fowler said.
The Delta House project, a joint venture in the Gulf
of Mexico with Blackstone Energy Partners, and its
co-owners, the entities managed by Ridgewood
Energy (which includes Riverstone designated
ILX affiliates), Red Willow Offshore, LLC, Calypso
Exploration, LLC, Deep Gulf Energy II, LLC, and
Houston Energy successfully initiated production
from the Delta House floating production system
(FPS) at Mississippi Canyon 254 in 4500 feet of
C
continued on page 5
1
A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT...
This will be my last President’s Message since the next Communiqué will be published following our 2015 Installation Banquet and the General Membership meeting
in May will be my last meeting as President where we will hear from OMSA Executive Director Ben Billings.
I have enjoyed this year as president with the many activities, events and issues addressed. We began my tenure with a dynamic retreat where our board members
discussed the future of SCIA. Of course, one of our primary issues remains workforce development and our role in developing the Jump Start initiative for technical education classes as primary course selections. Dr. Earl Meador, chancellor at Fletcher and SCLTC presented the technical components and direction for these schools
which are in line with the SCIA objectives. Subsequent to that meeting, we continue to work with Dr. Meador to enhance a maritime program for the region and state.
Our legislative luncheon was well attended and well received. The luncheon was held at Copeland’s where we covered issues relevant to our region and our industry
with our legislators. We also formed an EPA Task Force, headed by Simone Maloz and Joni Tuck, to combat abusive EPA regulations that would have a dramatic effect on our industrial base if implemented. Relevant information is on our website at www.sciaonline.net. We continue to present quality workshops, with attendance
reaching well over 100 members, with the next two workshops being on EPA and HR.
We held a Business Roundtable with NOIA and Port Fourchon hosting more than thirty people from Virginia who came here to learn about the oil, gas and marine industry since the East Coast is conditionally expected to open its waters in the Atlantic by 2021. Several of our SCIA board members also attended our annual Scalise
Energy Roundtable, co-hosted with Port Fourchon. It was an excellent opportunity for business leaders of our area to discuss the importance of the South Louisiana
oil & gas industry to the entire country with Representatives from other States. A total of ten congress men and women, both Republican and Democrat, were part of
the event. This is an event that SCIA will continue to champion. On that same day we held our annual crawfish boil, which was a huge success. We sold a record 800
tickets and had over 750 in attendance. Thanks to the committee for making everything perfect and to Big Al’s for great crawfish.
Also, our Jane Arnette joined past SCIA president & founding member Kerry Chauvin, Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet and Dr. Earl Meador on a trip to
Phoenix to participate in an economic development program with GNO, Inc, BRAC and One Acadiana. We also participated on several levels with the Terrebonne
Parish SparkFest, an economic program for entrepreneurs. In May, several members will be traveling to Baton Rouge for the Oil & Gas Day at the legislature.
Our annual SCIA Installation of Officers and Awards Banquet will be held on June 11, 2015, with featured speaker Skip Bertman, LSU’s legendary baseball coach and
athletic director who will bring even more enthusiasm to an already enthusiastic group of people.
I want to thank all of you for your support this past year. I especially want to thank the board of directors and committee chairs for their incredible support. It has been
a good year and I look forward to SCIA’s continued success.
Robert Clemons
SCIA PRESIDENT
SCIA Officers, Board of Directors and Staff
Robert Clemons
President
Edward Bouterie
Director
Oneil Malbrough
Travis David
Exec. Vice President Vice President
Cory Kief
Director
Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jane Arnette
Chris Bollinger
Director
Charles Theriot
Treasurer
Bill Blanchard
Secretary
Lori Davis
Advisor
Paul Danos
Director
Assistant Director . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathy Doiron
Committee Chairs
Annual Banquet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edward Bouterie
Crawfish Boil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shane Thibodeaux
Golf Tournament . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Keli Dantin
ICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Willard Robison
IGA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Simone Maloz
Henri Boulet
Workforce Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nicol Blanchard
Communiqué Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jane Arnette
SCIA Communiqué is a monthly publication of the
South Central Industrial Association
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Port Fourchon will remain busy,
executive director says (cont.)
there and come back strong, and we’re going to be
prepared for that,” he said. The port is will continue
its expansion, Chiasson said. “The future is Slip D,”
he said.
The port should receive its permit for the new
slip next week from the Corps of Engineers and
will advertise for bids on a dredging contract. It will
create about 10,000 additional linear feet of waterfront
property and 300 acres of land to develop.
Chiasson said the port is waiting on approval from
the office of the assistant secretary of the Army to
begin a feasibility study on deepening Belle Pass,
the port’s entrance from the Gulf.“Every port wants
deeper water. Port Fourchon is no exception,” he said.
“We’re not looking to bring in containers, we’re not
looking to compete with LNG terminals or anything
like that. We want to continue to service better the
deepwater oil and gas industry. We’re trying to stay
ahead of the curve. As these vessels get larger,
their draft restrictions get larger and we need to be
able to meet that demand into the future.” Oilfield
companies have been asking the port commission to
lower their rental rates so they can cut spending to
compensate for lower oil prices. Chiasson said the
commission will have a special meeting Wednesday
to decide what kind of rental rate assistance can be
offered.
“The point is we understand there is some issue
in the industry right now because of the oil prices
and we’re going to have to look at that. ... Our
tenants are being pressed by some of the operators
to cut costs and that trickles down to us,” he
said.
Subsequent to this meeting, Chaisson announced
a reduction in rent for port tenants based on current
oil prices.
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SCIA Legslative Luncheon
Scalise Energy Tour
U
By: Aaren Gordon, The Courier Staff Writer
nder the leadership of SCIA president Robert
Clemons the Bayou Region legislators joined
us at Copeland’s for the annual SCIA Legislative
Luncheon. This event was designed for various
community leaders and professionals to present to
the legislators on the issues relevant to each cause,
which is also part of the SCIA strategic plan.
L
Each person presenting had 5 minutes to present.
Topics focused on consideration for the upcoming
legislative session. Those presenting in order are
listed below:
A. Education:
1. Bruce Murphy - Nicholls State University
2. Earl Meador - Fletcher Technical Community College
and SCL
3. Nicol Blanchard - Jump Start
B. Parish Government:
1. Charlotte Randolph
2. Michel Claudet
C. Levee Districts:
1. Mitch Marmande & Reggie Dupre - Terrebonne
Levee District
2. Windell Curole - South Lafourche Levee District
3. Dwayne Bourgeois - North Lafourche Levee District
E. Coastal Restoration and Water issues
1. Simone Maloz - Restore or Retreat and state
committee
2. Ben Malbrough - Lafourche Fresh Water District
F. Infrastructure:
1. Henri Boulet - LA 1 Coalition
2. Dustin Malbrough - I-49 Coalition
3. Danny Walker - North South Corridor under a new
name
G. Ports
1. Chett Chaisson was unable to attend from Port
Fourchon
2. David Rabalais - Terrebonne Port Authority
3. Mac Wade - Port of Morgan City
ocal business people and Republican
representatives from Congress who toured Port
Fourchon’s Galliano operations center agree that
federal regulations need to be reined in. “It’s the same
suffocating regulations that you’re seeing across
the board, whether it be the Affordable Care Act or
the EPA,” said Robert Clemons, president of South
Central Industrial Association and vice president
and COO of Houma-based SEACOR Marine.
Clemons was part of a tour U.S. Rep. Steve
Scalise, R-Metairie, has been conducting since he
was elected to the House in 2008, and this year he
was joined by nine other members of the House of
Representatives.
U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, said the
disconnect between the federal government and
local interests is evident. “We’ve lost 1,900 square
miles of coastal wetlands. Ninety percent of those
were caused by the Corps of Engineers. I’ll say that
again. They caused those. Yet when you try to come
out and restore some of the land they caused loss,
they’re making you pay for wetlands impact. The
whole thing makes no sense whatsoever,” Graves
said.
H. EPA
1. Joni Tuck - Co chair of SCIA EPA Task Force
I. LA. State Senators Comments:
1. Senator Brett Allain
2. Senator Norby Chabert
3. Senator Gary Smith
J. LA House of Representatives Comments:
1. Rep. Gordon Dove
2. Rep. Joe Harrison
3. Rep Lenar Whitney
4. Dee Richard
4
continued on page 5
www.sciaonline.net
Scalise Energy Tour (Cont.)
Chuckie Cheramie, commissioner with Greater
Lafourche Port Commission, said regulations
are “killing him” as a mariner and small business
owner. “The Coast Guard is regulating us to death.
It’s getting the point where it is putting a shortage
on our labor force. If we don’t get our captains,
there will be no ports,” Cheramie said.
Rep. Larry Bucshon said his home state of Indiana
is seeing the effects of over regulation. “Indiana is a
big agriculture state so all of us are working to improve
that, just like you. So it’s across the government, the
regulatory climate is just stifling,” he said.
Scalise said the Regulations From the Executive
in Need of Scrutiny Act will be reintroduced. The
act would give Congress the power to approve or
reject any new federal rule with a $100 million or
more impact on the economy to prevent excessive
regulations and hold the executive agencies
accountable.
“Well if those new rules are going to have an impact
on the economy, shouldn’t they first go through the
elected representatives of the people if it’s a good
rule? Why should an unelected bureaucrat go be
able to post costs on you that make it harder for
you to actually hire people?” Scalise said.
Several on the tour expressed concern about a
proposal by President Barack Obama’s administration
to reorganize the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security
Act to spread offshore royalties across the country
instead of distributing money to Gulf states as the
law provided.
“We made a very specific point when the
House passed the budget just a few weeks
ago to make it clear that the revenues that are
produced and shared in each state will be able
to stay in those states ensuring this is protected
in our budgets,” Scalise said.
Also a concern was the Federal Flood Risk
Management Standard, outlined in an executive order
from
Obama
in January. It
establishes
stricter building
standards
for
projects
receiving
federal money
in flood plains.
www.sciaonline.net
“If that’s the case, what does that do to the East
Coast who’s trying to develop an oilfield? What
does that do to us as far as coordinates go or
the Mississippi River?,” said Cory Kief, director of
business development for Crosby Tugs in Galliano.
“If that’s the case, we’re going to continue to
have trouble getting funding for highways and
anything, whatever the federal government is
spending.” Lafourche Parish President Charlotte
Randolph brought up the Environmental Protection
Agency’s proposal to change ground-level ozone
standards. “The parish is about 100 miles long.
They’re blaming Port Fourchon for higher levels of
ozone, yet the monitor is 90 miles away. It is most
unfortunate we are dealing with it locally in almost
every industry. That’s one of those issues Congress
doesn’t have a finger on, because it’s happening
without your input,” Randolph said.
Bucshon said Congress is looking at legislation and
court challenges to address that. A partial solution
to agencies “getting in the way” is engagement,
Scalise said. “We need to get the country more
engaged to see what they’re trying to do,” Scalise
said, because it’s federal regulations that cause a
10 percent increase in an electricity bill.
Also on the tour were Republican U.S. Reps.
Buddy Carter of Georgia, Barbara Comstock of
Virginia, Paul Cook and Mimi Walters of California,
Richard Hudson of North Carolina, Tim Walberg of
Michigan and Ryan Zinke of Montana.
LLOG begins production in Gulf
(Cont.)
water. LLOG will continue to ramp up production in
the coming months. The development plan calls for
the company to have eight wells online by year end
2015. The FPS is designed for peaking
capacity of 100,000 barrels of oil per day and 240
million cubic feet of gas per day.
The company has five wells online so far, he said,
but plans to have three more by the end of the year.
LLOG President and CEO Scott Gutterman said this
will double the company’s production. “That’s quite
a future,” Fowler said.
5
The Blame Game - An Ancient Past Time and BP
By: Aaren Gordon, The Courier Staff Writer
T
here is no doubt why Dr. Neil Farber’s book, The
Blame Game, become a best seller. After all, the
book teaches the “rules, techniques and advance
strategies of this ancient past time.” One will learn
about the target of blame, which is “the scapegoat,
the stooge, the donkey.” Dr. Farber tells us “wars,
wildfires, terrorism and talk shows are all to blame…
and someone is to blame for all of those!” That
would be called the chain of blame that could go all
the way back to the cavemen. After all, didn’t they
invent the wheel?
Five years ago a major catastrophe occurred in
the Gulf of Mexico called the Deepwater Horizon
oil spill. Today, five years later, BP is still being
blamed for everything that has happened in the
Gulf. Admittedly, BP was involved in this serious
unfortunate accident. BP was found to be negligent
leading to a bitter blame game, continual criticism
and more lawsuits.
Subsequently, BP has paid the dues with over
$28 billion in response, clean up, claims, restoration
and government payments. They have provided
$179 million to the four coastal states of Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama and Florida for tourism, and
millions to the seafood industry. Additional funds
have been dispersed to assist people affected by
the moratorium, which was created by the federal
government, not BP.
SCIA was fortunate enough to begin working with
BP long before the infamous oil spill. Through our
Work It! Louisiana program, we transported over
350 students from the entire region to the Houma
BP Training Center to learn about career paths in
the oil and gas industry. We continue to do this
program at the Fletcher BP Petroleum Technology
Building, which was funded by BP. For me, this is
a major investment in the youth of our region by
fostering the development of the industry where
we make our living. They are helping us “grow our
own” workforce.
The commitment of the oil and gas companies
to our region is amazing. It is a unified effort to
assist this area by supporting education, coastal
restoration and many charitable organizations. We
are so fortunate to have them as our partners.
6
Let’s stop being the big bully! We cannot continue
playing that ancient past time game of blame. It is
no longer about BP or the oil companies. All of the
critical issues have been addressed and initiatives
are in place to deal with the circumstances. Now,
let’s move on! It is about our region, state and nation
standing on our own and moving forward.
We have gotten through this rough time so
we should become robust, quit making excuses
and move forward. We are strong-willed resilient
people in our region. We are a houseful of clever
entrepreneurs who have weathered the storms,
coastal issues, the oil crash of the eighties and
more. Stop hitting us with those word sticks so
we can serve our communities to the best of our
ability.
The oil and gas industry is who we are. Louisiana is
the staging ground for the Gulf of Mexico operations.
We are fueling America. In fact, the Gulf of Mexico
has kept America globally competitive for decades.
Just what would they do without us? Really!
We must stand tall. Who in this big wide world
could possibly respect a nation who does not support
and help its own? We must remain competitive but
fair. No more excuses. No more blame. Let’s take
advantage of every opportunity by continuing to be
the gateway of the oil and gas industry.
I love the smell of gasoline and oil. It is wonderful.
It says so much to me. It defines who I am and who
we are. I am proud. Stand with me and show your
support for an industry that has given so much to
the entire world.
www.sciaonline.net
U.S. President’s Budget Targets LA
P
resident Obama released his $4 trillion budget—
and in it, he took subtle, but direct aim for Louisiana
by suggesting monies pledged to Louisiana be
redirected away from our coast. While this act was
largely symbolic because it would literally take an
Act of Congress to reverse the funding dedication,
it insults all those in coastal Louisiana and across
the nation who have fought tirelessly for decades to
restore our coast, community and culture.
The legislation dedicating future offshore royal
revenues to Louisiana that was already enjoyed by
other producing states such as Wyoming came as a
result of the 2006 Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act
co-sponsored by then-US Senator Mary Landrieu, and
is otherwise known as GOMESA. While Louisiana’s
fight for our “fair share” was supported by friends
from across the nation, it was no easy feat to pass
the revenue-sharing bill. With this budget proposal,
the President and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell
want to share these GOMESA funds with “all” states;
however, not “all” states helped pass GOMESA, and
some actively fought against us. Additionally, “all”
states that want to share in this funding certainly do
not want to accept the risks—and rewards—of being
an oil and gas producing state. GOMESA simply
represents Louisiana’s return on investment for
producing 20% of oil and gas supply for our nation.
Some may argue Louisiana is already getting our
“fair share” after limited funding flowed following the
hurricanes and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill.
Both of those one-time funding streams came in
response to a natural or man-made disaster on our
coast—the costly damage was already done, and
to no fault of Louisiana. And while significant land
loss has occurred along our coast, it is still not too
late to restore and protect our irreplaceable region.
GOMESA represents the only significant source of
long-term, recurring federal funds desperately needed
to implement the State’s $50 billion master plan for
coastal restoration and protection. Underscoring our
commitment to the coast and before Louisiana ever
received one dollar of GOMESA funding, the people
of Louisiana dedicated GOMESA funds to coastal
restoration and protection through a constitutional
amendment crafted and rallied by Senator Reggie
Dupre, who knew these funds were urgently needed
to restore and protect his home within of the Barataria
and Terrebonne Basins.
www.sciaonline.net
Louisiana has made our investment in this nation
by choosing to be an oil and gas producing state,
and GOMESA represents our return on investment.
Louisianans have dedicated the money, and
ourselves, to ensuring we restore and protect
America’s Wetlands—and we cannot let anyone take
that away from either us, literally or in theory. We
stand behind our Congressional delegation as they
put an end to this egregious suggestion, and ask
you to do the same.
7
LCTCS Solutes 50 Businesses in the State - Locals receive recognition
BP
BP is a continued
supporter
of
Fletcher Technical
Community College.
BP’s
$4
million
donation to the
Fletcher Foundation
is
the
largest
contribution to date
within the Louisiana
Community
&
Technical College System, making the company’s
partnership a model between higher education and
industry.
BP has invested a total of $5.2 million in Fletcher’s
Integrated Production Technologies program.
The company serves as a representative on the
program’s advisory board as well as the Fletcher
Foundation Board of Directors. BP is making sure
that better science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) education is available at every
level within the state.
Louisiana is the center of BP’s Gulf operations,
and according to recent figures the company has
spent more than $1 billion with over 375 Louisiana
companies. BP and Fletcher are working together
to produce the safest and best trained deepwater
production operators within the Gulf of Mexico
region.
years, it is their dedication and loyalty to the college
that creates significant impact for students.
K&B Industries delivers threading, tubular,
engineering, manufacturing and customer inventory
services and has been a true supporter of Fletcher.
With this ongoing partnership, resources are being
developed to produce well-trained and highly skilled
machine tool operators in the South Louisiana
region.
K&B
K&B Industries has been a continued and valued
supporter of Fletcher Technical Community College.
This particular company began over 40 years ago
and has become a true staple in the South Louisiana
region. To date, K&B Industries and its owners
have contributed nearly $100,000 to Fletcher. The
company donated a $350,000 Mori Seiki Lathe in
order to enhance educational materials for use in
Fletcher’s machine tools program.
K&B Industries serves as a representative on
the advisory board for the machine tools program
and the Fletcher Foundation Board of Directors
Executive Committee. This partner is significantly
involved in assessing the program’s curriculum
and the development of an ever-changing need for
training tomorrow’s workforce. While K&B Industries
has made significant financial contributions over the
TETRA Technologies
TETRA Technologies, Inc. is a valued partner of
Fletcher Technical Community College. TETRA is
a geographically diversified oil and gas services
company with operations on six continents, including
the Gulf Coast in Louisiana.
Through the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s
Incumbent Worker Training Program (IWTP), TETRA
utilized Fletcher to train over 3,000 of its employees
with over $3.3 million in grant funding. The IWTP
is designed to benefit business and industry
by assisting in the skill development of existing
employees and thereby increasing employee
productivity and the growth of the company.
8
LeBeouf Bros. Towing
LeBeouf Bros. Towing has utilized South Central
Louisiana Technical College (SCLTC) as a training
resource through the Louisiana Incumbent Worker
Training Program. The IWTP is designed to benefit
business and industry by assisting in the skill
development of existing employees and thereby
increasing employee productivity and the growth of
the company.
LeBeouf Bros. Towing, LLC is a privately held
inland tank barge company which specializes in
operating unit tows. Located on the Gulf Intracoastal
Waterway at Mile 49 near Houma, LA the company
has been able to partner with both SCLTC and
Fletcher campuses to use training facilities that were
centrally located for the company’s employees.
The IWTP grant provided funds for SCLTC to
accommodate the workforce needs of the company
in an affordable way, benefitting the south Louisiana
region.
MORE TO COME IN
ANNOUNCED BY LCTCS
NEXT
ISSUE
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Senior
Lending
President,
BayouOfficer
Region
BEN
HYMEL
435 Corporate Dr., Suite 102
Houma, LA 70360
985-879-7152
985-879-7154
Member FDIC
12
www.sciaonline.net
LA New report shows Gulf environment returning to pre-spill conditions
Scientific studies underscore the Gulf of Mexico’s resilience and recovery
HOUSTON – In the five years since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, scientific data and studies are showing
that the Gulf environment is returning to its baseline condition, according to a new report BP released today.
The Gulf of Mexico Environmental Recovery and Restoration report also indicates that impacts from the spill
largely occurred in the spring and summer of 2010. The report is based on scientific studies that government
agencies, academic institutions, BP and others conducted as part of the spill response, the ongoing Natural
Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process or through independent research. While individual studies
are helpful, they tell only part of the story. This report, a wide-ranging compilation of reputable studies by
respected researchers, provides a broader overview of the state of the Gulf environment.
The data and studies summarized in this report are encouraging and provide evidence that the most dire
predictions made after the spill did not come to pass,” said Laura Folse, BP’s executive vice president for
response and environmental restoration. “The Gulf is showing strong signs of environmental recovery, primarily
due to its natural resilience and the unprecedented response and cleanup efforts.”
The report also looks at the large-scale, BP-funded early restoration projects to speed the recovery of
natural resources in the Gulf that were injured as a result of the spill.
The report finds that:
• Available data does not indicate the spill caused any significant long-term population-level impact to
species in the Gulf. For example, NRDA data do not reveal ongoing adverse impacts to bird populations
linked to the spill beyond the initial, limited acute mortality in 2010. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) data show that fish populations are robust, and commercial landings generally
have been consistent with pre-spill trends and ranges. Findings published by a group of researchers,
including scientists working with the NRDA trustees, show the accident did not affect most deepwater
coral communities.
• Several key factors lessened the spill’s impact. The spill took place in deep water, far offshore and in a
temperate climate, allowing the oil to break down. The type of “light” crude oil involved in this spill also
degrades and evaporates faster than heavier oils. At the same time, the massive offshore response and
shoreline cleanup – for which BP spent more than $14 billion and workers devoted more than 70 million
personnel hours – mitigated the damage. And the Gulf, which contains many natural oil seeps and
robust populations of oil-eating microbes, is extraordinarily resilient.
• Affected areas are recovering faster than predicted. For example, in 2010 the U.S. Coast Guard
documented 86 miles of marsh that were categorized as heavily oiled. And by early 2014, after the
response effort as well as natural attenuation, just 0.7 miles remained heavily oiled and were recovering
naturally.
• Injured natural resources are being restored in an unprecedented fashion. In 2011, BP voluntarily agreed
to spend $1 billion on these projects to expedite the restoration of natural resources in the Gulf while the
NRDA process was ongoing. No company has ever undertaken a program of this scale before or since.
As of December 2014, BP and the federal and state natural resource trustees had agreed on 54 early
restoration projects totaling about $698 million.
The NRDA is the process through which the U.S. government, state agencies and BP conduct studies to
identify injuries to natural resources resulting from the Deepwater Horizon accident, as well as the best way
of restoring injured resources and the amount of money required to do so. This ongoing NRD assessment
is the largest environmental evaluation of its kind ever conducted, spanning nearly five years and costing
around $1.3 billion to date. BP also has committed to pay $500 million over 10 years to support independent
research through the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative.
In addition to those costs, BP has spent more than $28 billion on response, cleanup, early restoration and
claims payments.
www.sciaonline.net
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SCIA News Bits!
John Deere celebrates 50 years
It was 1965 . . . . the average American income was $6,957 and a
new house could be bought for $20,000. This was also the year that
Cameco Industries was established, manufacturing equipment
for the world sugar cane industry. So what has the past 50
years brought to Cameco and ultimately John Deere?
With a sugar focus and diversity as a forte, Cameco steadily
grew in the 60’s and 70’s into a major player in equipment
manufacturing.
During its early years, Cameco was
dedicated to the sugar cane industry, but it wasn’t long before
it opened a small marine yard to capitalize on the oil boom
in South Louisiana. Unfortunately, shortly after the marine
yard opened, the early 1980’s saw a downturn in the sugar
and oil industry. As Cameco maintained its focus on sugar,
it also continued to explore other products and industries.
The forestry industry was a new venue that appeared to
have a spot in it, and the company began to manufacture a
tree harvester in the mid 1980’s. John Deere recognized
the potential of this product and approached Cameco about
designing and manufacturing the tree harvester exclusively for
them a few years later. This is when the relationship between
Cameco and John Deere developed deep roots and led
Cameco to further diversification of equipment manufacturing.
In 1995, John Deere and Cameco entered into a joint venture to
build Field Sprayers. In 1998, with Cameco Industries exhibiting
successful products and an excellent workforce, John Deere
recognized the value and fully acquired the company. The name
remained Cameco for 7 years and in 2007 the company’s name
officially changed to John Deere Thibodaux.
Today John Deere Thibodaux continues to be the industry
leader in sugar cane harvesting equipment. It also builds
several pieces of equipment for John Deere’s construction
division and is known throughout Deere and Company for its
customer focus, flexibility and fully engaged employees
Industry & technical colleges team up to fill shortage of
commercial drivers
Edited by Jane Arnette
By Aaren Gordon, The Courier Staff Writer
J.J. Buquet noticed a staggering amount of ads for
commercial driver’s license drivers when he was looking
through the newspaper last July. “We were having a ter-
14
rible time trying to keep up drivers in our company, and I
began to scratch my head saying, ‘What’s going on?’” Buquet said. “Clearly, there’s just not enough supply to meet
demand in this skill set.” Buquet, president of Buquet Distributing, realized he wasn’t the only one in need of drivers.
Buquet said the need for CDL drivers has been felt as a result of industrial expansion and levee construction in the region. “There is a shortage because of the huge demand for
drivers within industry. And it’s in part being driven by oilfield
service industry soaking up a lot of those drivers,” Buquet
said. Being the area’s Budweiser/Anheuser-Busch wholesaler requires Buquet’s company to have 15 tractor-trailers
running every day, each requiring a Class A CDL driver.
“We’d been going through a tremendous amount of turnover.
We’d been raising wages and shorting work weeks too,”
Buquet said. Buquet said one of the components central to
this shortage and relative to south Louisiana is the levee
system. The Morganza-to-the-Gulf levee system “has finally
gotten some money to build levees. That’s a good thing, but
it’s created a lot of demand for CDL drivers,” Buquet said.
The CDL program at South Central Louisiana Technical College in Thibodaux is one of two at public schools in the state.
“This is the only public institution in south Louisiana providing training. Everything else is for-profit schools. When I realized he only had one instructor and that class size to maintain the certification needed — it was like six or eight students
— I thought, no wonder we’re having trouble,” Buquet said.
Buquet thought of how those in the maritime industry got behind the formation of the maritime management program at
Nicholls State University in recent years. “Let’s start reaching
out to some of these folks in the ads,” Buquet said.
Local businesses have formed partnerships with each other
and South Central to meet the workforce demand for drivers in
part by forming the Commercial Vehicle Operation Consortium.
The group includes Buquet Distributing, Byron E. Talbot Construction, Gaubert Oil Co., Reeco Rental & Supply, Carl Rogers Trucking (American Eagle Logistics), Waguespack Oil Co.,
Louisiana Workforce Commission, Terrebonne Parish, South
Central Industrial Association, Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District, South Louisiana Economic Council and Performance Food Group.
Buquet said the group met to discuss the future. “We’re hoping to try to get a financial commitment from folks. We want
to reach out to other folks in the industry to ask for some initial support. That might mean putting up instructors, because
South Central has a backlog of students that want to get in. It
might be in-kind services or cash donations to help supplement teach pay or scholarships for students,” Buquet said.
Earl Meador, chancellor of South Central and Fletcher,
freed up some money for a simulator, Buquet said. South
www.sciaonline.net
Central recently bought a new $80,000 truck for training Class B CDL drivers and an $115,000 CDL simulator for Class A and B training, said Thornton. Those with a
Class A license can tow more than 10,000 pounds, while
Class B is for 10,000 pounds or less.
South Central offers training in Class A and B licenses with
the new training purchases. It offers a six-week course for
Class A and a two-week, hands-on course for Class B. “The
regional workforce demand has created a great opportunity
for an individual to obtain a high-demand, high-wage job in
as little as two weeks,” said Baham.
South Central Louisiana
Technical
College
campus Dean Anthony
Baham (from left) looks
on while commercial
driving instructor Greg
Doiron explains a driving
simulator to Earl Meador,
Fletcher
Technical
Community College and
South Central chancellor.
Abby Tabor/Staff
approvals related to the acquisition from the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System on February
27, 2015, from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(FDIC) on March 11, 2015, and from the Louisiana Office
of Financial Institutions on February 27, 2015. American
Gateway shareholders voted to approve the transaction
on March 17, 2015. The Company anticipates closing the
transaction upon expiration of the required waiting period
and after completion of all other conditions.
Upon completion of the merger, the combined entity will be
the largest community bank headquartered in Baton Rouge
and one of the top ten institutions by size headquartered in
Louisiana. The company will operate 16 offices, including 15
banking centers and one loan production office in six markets
across Louisiana. Business First Bank provides commercial
and personal banking, treasury management, and wealth
solutions services to private businesses and their owners,
operators, executives, and employees. It was chosen as one of
American Banker Magazine’s Top 40 Banks to Work For in 2014.
Fletcher receives $50,000 technician program grant
By Aaren Gordon, The Courier Staff Writer
Business First Bancshares Announces Acquisition
Approvals
Business First Bancshares, Inc., holding company of
Business First Bank (www.b1bank.com), reported receipt
of regulatory and shareholder approvals for its previously
announced pending acquisition of American Gateway
Financial Corporation, the holding company of American
Gateway Bank. As of December 31, 2014, the combined
company is projected to have total assets of approximately
$1.05 billion, total gross loans of approximately $711 million,
and total deposits of approximately $867 million.
Jude Melville, President and Chief Executive Officer
of Business First Bank, commented, “We are pleased to
obtain the approvals of our regulatory partners and the
shareholders of American Gateway Bank. This is a materially
significant step for both companies. In an economic and
regulatory environment that is increasingly challenging for
community banks, we believe both of our institutions will be
stronger taking on the future together—more assets under
management, more geographic and industrial diversification,
more opportunities for employees to grow and develop,
and more earnings to invest for growth.”
On July 24, 2014, Business First announced its entry
into a definitive agreement to acquire by merger American
Gateway Financial Corporation. Business First received
www.sciaonline.net
Fletcher Technical Community College was granted
$50,000 toward its Marine Diesel Engine Technician program Monday. Worldwide machinery dealer Caterpillar
matched a $25,000 donation from its state dealer, Louisiana Cat, to provide the $50,000. The program prepares students to diagnose, service and repair marine diesel engines.
Troy Matherne, general product support manager for Louisiana Cat, said there is a huge technician
shortage,
which
leads
to
employers
outsourcing or looking elsewhere for technicians.
“I cannot tell you how important it is for the whole marine diesel industry. There will be jobs out there,” he told some marine
diesel students Monday. “We are encouraged to see you guys
out here.” Training students is increasingly important because
of the marine industry’s technology is changing so rapidly, said
Fletcher Chancellor Earl Meador. “We were reminiscing about
five years back about how the technology has changed so
much,” Meador said. “It’s very important we turn out the technicians they need,” Meador added. Matherne said Caterpillar
15
SCIA News Bits Continued
is looking to the college for technicians it hires. “We’re counting
on our partnership with Fletcher. We need safe, qualified technicians,” Matherne said. Matherne said technicians can earn
six-figure salaries. “If you want to work in the industry, there’s a
lot of money to be made,” Matherne said.
Meador said he came to Louisiana because of the technical training he earned before going back to college for his
four-year degree. Technical skills never leave you. They last a
lifetime,” Meador said. “You may not want to do it always, but
it’s a good foundation.”
Levee District to put tax on May Ballot
The
North
Lafourche
Levee
District
(NLLD)
Board of Commissioners approved a measure last
week to place a quarter-cent sales tax dedicated
to building critical levees and other priority
flood
protection
projects on
the
May
2,
2015 ballot.
The sales tax is estimated to generate approximately $2.2 million per year for the District, which
would be solely dedicated to construction of priority
levee and flood protection projects in the District,
from the northern end of the parish to the Intracoastal Waterway in Larose. This local sales tax
revenue would also be leveraged to attract more
state and federal money for the local levee projects. The District’s only current funding source is
an ad valorem tax that provides approximately $3.5
million per year.
The NLLD has developed a plan of priority levee,
flood protection and drainage improvement projects
that would benefit residents throughout the District
and would achieve a higher level of protection that
the people and businesses of north and central
Lafourche deserve. Revenue from the sales tax would
allow the District to expedite completion of the
projects in this plan and provide residents with
additional levee and drainage projects more quickly
than with current funding alone.
“We have been able to complete several projects
very cost-effectively in recent years with the dollars we have available, but when we consider our
risk in the event of a storm or hurricane, we
know that more needs to be done. An additional
funding source is needed to aggressively tackle
this project list and build these critical levee
projects as soon as possible. Additional funds will
also provide the District with greater
leveraging for
state and federal dollars,” explains Executive Director
Dwayne Bourgeois.
16
“After a thorough evaluation of our district, we,
the North Lafourche Conservation, Levee, and Drainage District, have been able to determine the
volume and amount of projects that need to be
addressed relative to flood protection. Our current
source of monetary resources does not adequately
address those issues in a timely or sensible manner. It is our duty, as stewards of the people,
to propose a legitimate and reasonable course
to improve upon the efforts necessary to achieve
their projects, district wide. The proposal, that is
being set forth, will include participation from all
of the district’s citizens, as a view of investment
into the region, addressing issues associated with
their risk of flooding. These issues are relative
to maintenance and construction of levee systems
and drainage systems, with a peripheral focus on
conservation,” said NLLD President Cory Kief.
LCTCS Board of supervisors UNANIMOUSLY approves
official naming of new SCLTC facility
The Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) Board of Supervisors voted unanimously approving the official naming of an upcoming South Central
Louisiana Technical College (SCLTC) maritime facility. The
“Hugh and Byrnes Young” Marine and Petroleum Safety
Training Center is named after the College’s largest benefactor, the H & B Young Foundation. “I am pleased that
the Board chose to recognize the H & B Young Foundation
today. The Foundation is a continued supporter of the College and a very prominent organization of St. Mary Parish.
Without the Foundation, SCLTC’s Young Memorial Campus
wouldn’t exist,” stated Senator Bret Allain.
In September 2014, the Board approved to accept a generous
donation from the Foundation of approximately 5 acres of waterfront industrial property and a training pool building, with an
estimated value of $713,000. This particular donation approved
by the Board enabled SCLTC Young Memorial Campus to qualify for financing of capital improvements and enhancements
pursuant to the provisions of Louisiana Act No. 360 of the 2013
Regular Legislative Session.
Since 1955, the H & B Young Foundation has supported
many charitable causes in Morgan City. Named for Hugh
and Byrnes Young, two brothers, landowners, and entrepreneurs who spent their lives in the Morgan City area,
the foundation donated three-and-half acres of land to be
used for a vocational and technical school in 1965. Today, the school is known as the Young Memorial Campus of South Central Louisiana Technical College.
In addition to the land and pool building donation, the
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SCIA News Bits Continued
foundation has donated over $2.5 million to the college for
student scholarships, equipment and infrastructure improvements. The H & B Young Foundation’s largest investment has been in the college’s marine and safety training programs which are internationally renowned. In fact,
the Survival Craft Proficiency program provided at SCTLC
trained twenty-five of the workers who were on the ill-fated
Deep Water Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico. Due to
their training at the college, all twenty-five of these workers survived and several returned to thank their instructors.
Ms. Brenda Ayo, Executive Director of H & B Young Foundation, commented “Because of our previous investments in
the college’s maritime program, we were compelled to donate
the land in order to build a permanent home to house the marine and safety training program. We believe SCLTC Young
Memorial Campus is Morgan City’s greatest asset, and for
that reason, the H & B Young Foundation remains its largest
benefactor.”
Danos Launches Project Management Group
LAROSE – Danos executives recently announced the
formation of a Project Management Group (PMG) to provide
a single point-of-contact for customers with large-scale
projects involving multiple services lines. The PMG will
streamline critical project communication as well as ensure
complete project integration across Danos’ core service lines
– production workforce, construction, fabrication, coatings,
instrumentation and electrical, environmental services,
scaffolding, and shore base and logistics management.
Danos President and CEO Hank Danos said, “The addition
of the PMG enables us to provide expert help for every phase
of our customers’ projects: from pre-job planning to quality
and project controls and subcontractor management to
project reporting.”
Sophisticated planning and scheduling software and
detailed client reports will provide customers with singlesource accountability for project planning, management,
communication and execution. While 2015 marks the
official launch of Danos’ PMG, the company’s team of
project management experts has years of experience
successfully managing critical projects across the
globe for Chevron, DSME, McDermott, Shell, Flour, BP,
ExxonMobil, CBI, AkerSolutions, URS and Exterran.
“The PMG is just one more way Danos continues to respond
to customer requests for world-class energy solutions by
offering a more complete package to meet their project
needs,” Danos said.
Energy Awareness: Sixth-graders to learn about oil and
gas industry Major SCIA Project
www.sciaonline.net
By Aaren Gordon,The Courier
Staff Writer as edited by Jane
Arnette
South Central Industrial Association is bringing in a unique learning program this week to teach
sixth graders in Lafourche and
Terrebonne parishes about technology and science used in the
oil and gas industry. The Mobile
Offshore Learning Unit features
six components with curriculumbased, hands-on activities to teach students about various
parts of the industry. The program is being sponsored by
Capitol One.
“I cannot begin to tell you how appreciative we are that Capitol One
believes in what we are doing to
educate the youth of our region.
This is a huge commitment to us
and we are thankful for such great
partners,” said SCIA executive
director, Jane Arnette. Jane and
Capitol One regional president,
Robbie Naquin are pictured to the left visiting with students
at Southdown. “The MOLU project is a critical component to
educating our student population on the oil and gas industry,
which is the basis of employment for our region. It is our obligation to assist with assuring growth, workforce and economic development for our region. Our youth plays an important
role in nurturing our future,” Ms. Arnette continued.
The exhibit is from the Offshore Energy Center in Galveston Texas, which develops awareness of the energy industries and their history to students, said unit manager Donna
Wheeler.
Nicol Blanchard, grant coordinator at Fletcher Technical
Community College and regional Jump Start team leader, said
Arnette attended an energy conference in July where she saw
the mobile units. The learning units are fun and engaging for
students to learn about the science and technology as it relates
to the oil and gas industry,” Blanchard said.
Students are guided
through 24 activities
to learn about everything from safety
standards to seismology to operating a robotic arm to
measuring the thickness of oil. Each ses-
17
SCIA News Bits Continued
sion gives students 90 minutes to explore the activities as
they fill out a workbook.
SCIA is bringing in the exhibit through the Louisiana Department of Education’s Work It! Louisiana initiative, which provides students with information on
opportunities, education, training requirements and salary expectations for jobs that are in demand in the state.
Capital One Bank and the Department of Education have
provided grants for the mobile units. “With both grant opportunities, our region will be able to fund MOLU for this spring and
upcoming fall school year,” Blanchard said.
Blanchard said program organizers already have volunteers from Capital One Bank, Morrison Energy Services and
Terrebonne Foundation for Academic Excellence.
The events will take place at Lacache Middle School, Montegut Middle School, Southdown, Mulberry, Coteau- Bayou
Blue Elementary, Bayou Black, Gibson, Raceland Middle
School, Sixth Ward Middle, Golden Meadow, and Larose-Cut
Off.
Local, state groups oppose new air quality rules
By Aaren Gordon, The Courier Staff Writer
Local and state groups are campaigning in growing numbers against stricter federal ozone standards. The effort includes the South Central Industrial Association, the Louisiana
Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, the Greater Lafourche
Port Commission and local governments. At issue is how the
Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to require
ozone limits of 65 to 70 parts per billion, down from the current
standard of 75 parts per billion.
Last year the Houma-Thibodaux region had a level of 68
parts per billion, which means it could fall under non-attainment depending on the final number the EPA sets. As the
March 17 public comment period draws near, the oil and gas
association is focusing on how the proposal could dampen
economic development, said Richard Metcalf, association
environmental affairs director. “With a lower standard comes
a stigma that your air quality is so bad. And then, depending
on what areas are in non-attainment, it makes it much more
difficult for permitting and citing facilities,” Metcalf said.
Chett Chiasson, port commission executive director, submitted a letter to the EPA indicating the potential for port facilities
to close and jobs to disappear, “moving highly skilled and
well-paid workers out into unskilled and low-wage work simply to survive.”
Henri Boulet, executive director of the La. 1 Coalition, said
he joined the cause because the rule would make all federally
financed projects in a non-attainment area subject to reviews
that may limit highway infrastructure and investment, such as
planned improvements for La. 1.
18
Jane Arnette, executive director of South Central Industrial Association, which created a task force to battle
the proposal, said ozone levels have been decreasing
in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, even with the oil
and gas industry booming over the past few years.
Since 2011, the ozone levels have dropped from 76 parts
per billion to 68 parts per billion. “Air quality has never been
better in the state and yet the number of children with asthma
has gone up. EPA bases the standards on asthma impacts, yet
we keep ratcheting down the standard and we keep having
more asthma cases. Why is that?” Metcalf said.
Boulet, who spoke Jan. 29 at an EPA public hearing in Washington on ozone standards, said the agency didn’t account
for the negative health costs of unemployment and underemployment that would result from the proposed rule.
Other groups that have submitted materials in opposition to
the change include the Ports Association of Louisiana, Port of
New Orleans, Offshore Marine Service Association and Louisiana Chemical Association.
Last week, Lafourche Parish Council passed a resolution
asking the agency to delay implementing the emission standards and to create a program allowing regional cooperation
for communities that don’t reach attainment. The EPA plans
to issue its final standards on Oct. 1.
Conrad Industries gets contract
A subsidiary of Conrad Industries in Morgan City, Conrad
Orange Shipyard, was contracted to build the first liquefied
natural gas bunker barge for the marine market in North
America. The vessel will be built at Conrad Orange Shipyard in Orange, Texas. It is expected to be delivered in early
2016.
M & L Industries earns award
Heavy equipment supplier M&L Industries with a location
at 1210 St. Charles St., Houma, was named one of the 2014
winners of the Hyundai Pinnacle Award. The award is given to
Hyundai’s leading forklift equipment dealers in North America. The company is one of three dealers that won this award
based on sales, wholesale gross and market share.
SPARKFEST includes Community Leaders and SCIA
Members
The SPARKFEST Steering Committee began the festival with
an array of featured speakers, including many SCIA members.
Among the event was the opening session of the second day
that featured leaders of some of the region’s largest and most
successful companies. Speaking during the Captains of Industry session were J.J. Buquet, CEO of Buquet Distributing;
Kerry Chauvin, founder and former CEO of Gulf Island Fabri-
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SCIA News Bits Continued
cators; Jake Giardina, founder and former CEO of CAMECO/
John Deere and Rouse’s Supermarkets, Managing Partner,
Donny Rouse. The powerhouse panel shared insights into
their journey of business formation and growth from sometimes humble beginnings to dominance in their respective
markets. According to SPARKFEST Steering Committee
Chair, Katherine Gilbert-Theriot, “The participation of these industrial and business leaders is a rare opportunity for startup
and early-growth entrepreneurs to hear from leaders whose
insights are invaluable. We are so grateful to each of our
speakers for their openness to share their insights with the next
generation of our businesses.”
In addition to the Captains of Industry session, entrepreneurs will hear from some thirty other business leaders
and advisers in this dynamic, two-day event. SCIA members who are participating include: Jacob Le Compte, Falck
Safety Services; Trevor Bardarson, ISR Physical Therapy;
Shane Thibodaux, Bow2Stern; Jason Bergeron, Technology
Professionals; Chad Hebert, Workforce Logistics; Jennifer
and Matt Armand, Armand Creative; John Hebert, Synergy
Bank; Lori Davis, RIG-CHEM; Stephanie Hebert, Stephanie
Hebert Insurance Agency; David Duplantis, DDG; and Sharon Bergeron, Coastal Commerce Bank.
The Jump Start and the SCIA Work It! Louisiana initiatives
were responsible for transporting hundreds of students from
several parishes for a day-long session geared to high school
students.
SPARKFEST was coordinated by Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government under the direction of Katherine Gilbert-Theriot with assistance by Terrebonne Economic Development Foundation, a nonprofit economic development
organization, as well as local and regional business and industry. SCIA Executive Director, Jane Arnette served on the
steering committee. Laynie Barrilleaux, retired NSU professor, served as the MC for the event. Both will be helping with
the event, along with many other volunteers.
Fletcher announces professor endowments - SCIA Endowed Professorship included
By Jacob Batte, The Courier Staff Write
Tony Callais, Welding
Instructor
received
the SCIA Endowed
Professorship.
Pictured with Mr. Callais is Charles Theriot, SCIA Treasurer
& founding members,
Kerry Chauvin, SCIA Past President and founding member,
Mr. Callais, SCIA Executive Director Jane Arnette and Fletcher Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, Dr. Steve Berrien.
www.sciaonline.net
Fletcher Technical College announced the inaugural recipients of two new professor endowments. Welding instructor Tony Callais received the South Central Industrial
Association endowed professorship and Business School
Department Head Michelle Vatow received the Claudet
endowed professorship during a press conference on
Fletcher’s Schriever campus. “This is such a wonderful celebration and opportunity,” Executive Vice Chancellor Derrick Manns said.
The two $100,000, three-year endowments were paid
for by SCIA, the Claudet Family and the state Board of
Regents. They will be used for educational needs, professional development and travel. SCIA and the Claudet family each donated $60,000 and the Board of Regents provided $40,000 for each endowment.
Vatow said she was surprised when she was selected for
the Claudet endowment because she applied at the last second. “It’s nice to be recognized even with a pat on the back.
Sometimes that means more than the monetary value,” she
said. A 10-year veteran at Fletcher, Vatow said she plans to
use her endowment for additional training and more professional development in the department.
A long-time night class teacher, Callais said he’s looking
into using the SCIA endowment to buy more equipment to
help expand what welding professors can teach. Some students, he said, like to use welding for art, as well. “I was pretty excited when I found out,” he said. “I plan on continuing to
teach night classes because we train so many students during that time. Sometimes, they already have a job and can’t
afford to stop working.”
Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet said he is
happy to help further local education. He was joined at the
ceremony by several of his brothers and sisters. “This is a
great way to honor our mother and father,” he said. Claudet
recalled a phone call with his mother while he was attending
LSU. He had grown tired of school and work, he said, and
was considering joining the Army. “I’ll always remember what
she told me. She said, ‘You better get that out of your head
now. You’re going to get your degree and you’re not coming home until you finish,’” Claudet said.
Talks about an endowment began about two years ago
with then Fletcher Chancellor Travis Lavigne, SCIA Executive
Director Jane Arnette said. “The SCIA is firmly committed to
training people in the industrial environment, because that’s
our major source of economy,” Arnette said. “We’re proud to
say that we’re a part of this community, and we’re going to
remain part of this community and further the technical education in our region.”
Kerry Chauvin, former CEO and chairman of the Board of
Gulf Island Fabrication who is a founding member and past
president of SCIA, served on the selection committee for the
endowments.
19
SCIA News Bits Continued
Restore or Retreat Meeting Features Congressman
Graves
Congressman Garret Graves of
Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District and former head of Louisiana’s
Coastal Protection and Restoration
Authority was the keynote speaker at Restore or Retreat’s annual
membership meeting on April 1 in
Thibodaux.
Congressman Graves sits on the House Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure, of which he is a member
of the Subcommittees on Highways and Transit, Water Resources and the Environment (Vice Chairman), and Coast
Guard and Maritime Transportation. Garret is also a member
of the House Committee on Natural Resources, where he is
assigned to the Subcommittees on Energy and Mineral Resources, and Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.
Prior to his election to the U.S. House of Representatives,
Garret had served six years on Louisiana Governor Bobby
Jindal’s cabinet as Chairman of the Coastal Protection and
Restoration Authority (CPRA). Concurrently, he worked as
a senior policy advisor to the governor on energy, environment, fisheries, and disasters.
“We are honored to have had Congressman Graves deliver
the keynote address at our annual membership meeting,”
said Simone Maloz, Executive Director of Restore or Retreat,
a regional coastal advocacy group. “ His unique perspective on how we can elevate the state’s coastal successes to
the federal level in order to secure the nation’s commitment
to restore and protect our irreplaceable region is critical to
the success.”
Graves spoke about the current projects and limited funding available. He spoke of the many successes thus far
through the LA CPRA and the federal delegation.
SEACOR Marine Sweeps 2015 NOIA Safety in Seas
(SIS) Awards Takes Home Culture of Safety Award and
Safety Practice Award
Washington, D.C. - The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) presented SEACOR Marine with the 2015 NOIA
Safety in Seas (SIS) Culture of Safety Award and Safety Practice Award. This is the first time the same company has won
awards in the same year. NOIA added the Culture of Safety
award to the competition in 2014.
SEACOR Marine won the Culture of Safety Award for their
safety culture model which spurred a seven year trend of
declining total number of Lost Time Incidents, Medical Treatment Incidents, and Pollution Incidents reaching Goal Zero
for 2014 – that’s a Total Recordable Incident Rate of zero. The
20
Safety Practice Award was presented to SEACOR Marine for
their behavior-based safety program PAUSE, which is short
for Prevent Accidents Use Safety Equipment. The awards
were presented at the NOIA Annual Meeting in Washington,
DC.
“We are truly honored to receive these distinguished
awards from such a well-respected organization as NOIA.
2014 was a remarkable year in terms of our HSE performance
and achieving our Goal Zero. With a series of initiatives, such
as PAUSE coaching and Risk Tolerance Awareness supporting SEACOR Marine’s “Four Pillars of Safety”, we strive to
continue improving our safety culture because no job is too
important to sacrifice safety,” said John Gellert, President of
SEACOR Marine.
SEACOR Marine offers a comprehensive suite of support
services including crew transportation, platform supply, offshore accommodation, maintenance support, standby safety services and anchor handling and mooring capabilities in
both shallow and deepwater environments around the globe.
SEACOR Marine’s reputation for professionalism and successful partnering with its customers has put it at the forefront
of marine support providers. SEACOR Marine is dedicated
to building innovative, modern, “next generation,” efficient
marine equipment while providing highly responsive service
with the highest safety standards and dedicated professional employees. NOIA President Randall Luthi said, “Even during tough times brought on by collapsing commodity prices,
safety remains the number one goal of our members. The
competition for NOIA Safety in Seas Awards was tough this
year, and all entrants deserve recognition for their dedication
to safe operations. The safety culture approach to conducting operations offshore is a core value industry-wide and is
highly encouraged by regulators. I congratulate SEACOR
Marine on their passionate belief that their workers deserve
the tools, knowledge, and support that allow them to return
safely home at the end of every work day.”
SEACOR’s award-winning entries were selected by a
panel of judges from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Bureau of
Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the National Academy of Sciences Transportation Review Board, and an independent industry safety consultant.
Since 1978, NOIA has held the SIS awards competition to
recognize those who have contributed to improving the safety of life in the offshore energy industry. Beginning in 2014,
NOIA conferred two distinct safety awards. The Safety Practice Award recognizes specific technologies, approaches,
methods or projects with direct and demonstrable impacts
on improving safety. The Culture of Safety Award honors
overall organizational immersion in and commitment to safety, which has resulted in remarkable, measurable and sustained safety performance over a prolonged period of time.
www.sciaonline.net
The Virginia Roundtable with NOIA, Port Fourchon and SCIA
T
wenty people from
the Hampton Road,
Viginia Chamber of
Commerce traveled
to Port Fourchon on
a charter bus and
met at the Fourchon
Galliano Office where
an
informational
meeting about the
port was held. Led
by US Congressman
Scott Rigell, 2nd
District of Virginia, the
group traveled to the
Newly
appointed
Board
of
Regents member and SCIA board
member Chris Bollinger is picture
with Dr. Neal Weaver, Nicholls VP
for University Advancement for a
Roundtable discussion with about
twenty business leaders from
Terrebonne Parish. The group
heard an excellent presentation
by Dr. Bruce Murphy, Nicholls
president. Also present from SCIA
board were Robert Clemons, Bill
Blanchard, Charles Theriot and
Jane Arnette.
port for a driving tour of the facility.
A roundtable discussion was held during lunch
at the Galliano office with Parish Presidents Michel
Claudet (Terrebonne) and Charlotte Randolph
(Lafourche), members of the port staff and SCIA
board members and members.
Virginia is currently considering drilling options
in the Atlantic. The purpose of the meeting
was to enlighten the group regarding industrial
achievements and workforce development with
reference to drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and
the impact of the offshore energy industry to the
parishes of Lafourche and Terrebonne, as well as
the state.
Several years ago, Congressman Rigell visited
the port during an energy tour sponsored by
Congressman Scalise where SCIA participated
in a Roundtable discussion. Participating in
the Virginia Roundtable from SCIA were Oneil
Malbrough, Bill Blanchard, Cory Kief, Paul Danos,
Ted Falgout, Barry Labauve, Ronnie Labauve and
Jane Arnette.
Jane Arnette and Nicol Blanchard
were judges at the USA Skills state
program held at Terrebonne Career
and Technical High School.
Capital One employees volunteered for the Work It! LA MOLU project
held at Southdown school. 1.Nicky Prather 2.Robbie Naquin 3.Randy
Esteve.
SCIA Past President Lori Davis with
SCIA Director Jane Arnette and
LOGA Commutations Director at the
local annual LOGA meeting held in
Houma. Lori and Jane also attended
the annual local LABI meeting held
in conjunction with HTCC.
2015 Super Regional Canvas Trip”
Adam Knapp (BRAC), Michel Claudet
(TPCG Parish President), Michael Hecht
(GNO, Inc), Jane Arnette (SCIA) and
Earl Meador (Chancellor for FTCC &
SCLTC.
www.sciaonline.net
2015 Super Regional Canvas
Trip from the Bayou Region:
Michel Claudet, Kerry Chauvin,
representing TEDA, Jane Arnette
and Earl Meador
21
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BOSSIER CITY
NEW IBERIA
GONZALES
PORT FOURCHON
MORGAN CITY
PRAIRIEVILLE
© 2014 Caterpillar All rights reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR,
their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” the “Power Edge”
trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used
herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used
without permission.
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www.sciaonline.net
Community Bank
has changed its
name, but Norma
will still be Norma.
Community Bank and United Community
Bank have joined forces under the
United Community Bank name. These two
institutions have always been under the same
ownership and guided by the same principles,
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iZkmg^k_hkrhnkÛgZg\bZeg^^]l'
www.sciaonline.net
23
tgmc.com
P.O. Box 2143
Houma, LA 70361-2143
PRESORTED
STANDARD
US POSTAGE PAID
HOUMA, LA
PERMIT NO 405