Emergency: Stop CP2 Now!

August 25, 2025

Dear Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Port of Cameron, US Army Corps of Engineers, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and Cameron Parish Police Jury,

In early August, muddy water and silt from a Port of Cameron dredging project were seen pouring into Calcasieu Lake, flowing through the No Name Weir and clogging nearby bayous and marshes. This operation, seemingly done to accommodate the importing of foreign-built modules and other massive infrastructure for Venture Global’s CP2 LNG terminal, is believed to have damaged adjacent wetlands and fisheries. This was completely preventable.

The dredged silt and mud, intended as a beneficial use to restore open water back into marsh, was not supposed to escape the containment area. The permit conditions require that the Port of Cameron “closely monitor discharge points of the hydraulic dredge pipeline(s) as to prevent the excessive accumulation of sediments.” The sediments accumulated excessively, outside the containment, and even poured into public water. The lack of monitoring and oversight coupled with the massive rate at which the dredging was being conducted is unacceptable.

Despite permit requirements, it was not the regulators or the Port of Cameron who found this mess - it was local fishermen who first alerted the local government and other regulatory agencies. The LDENR, Army Corps of Engineers and the Port of Cameron are poised to make additional mistakes by allowing continued dredging without fixing the problem or engaging the public. 

Before any dredging and placement is allowed to continue, we want a public meeting and dialogue with the residents, fishermen, and all who may be impacted by this operation. The elected and appointed “holders of the public trust” are mandated to protect and serve their constituents and need to be forthcoming and transparent. We demand full transparency to answer the community’s questions. Information on what exactly happened, what is being done about it, and the ability for the public to meaningfully  participate must be provided. Questions about why this occurred, who was monitoring the discharge, dredge spoil discharge rates, salinity levels, and others have yet to even be answered in private, and no information is publicly available from the Port of Cameron or others. 

Fishing and shrimping are not just hobbies here, they are our heritage and livelihoods. Generations have lived in rhythm with the marshes and waters that feed us. To lose them is to lose who we are. Promises of jobs and prosperity have not come true - and even if they did - are no replacement for the harm caused to the estuary. While restoring marsh is a good thing: not doing it the right way causes more harm to an already fragile ecosystem.

We call on the Port of Cameron, the LDENR and other government agencies to work alongside all impacted parties and the community. We want these agencies to engage in open, transparent dialogue with fishermen, families, and all who are impacted. Our communities must have a seat at the table when decisions are made that affect the waters and livelihoods that are intrinsically connected. 

Respectfully,