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Grand Isle-to-Governor's Mansion march planned

by Patrick Flanagan

A group of environmentalists is planning an eight-day march from Grand Isle to the governor's mansion.

Woody Martin, left, and Mike Stagg of the Green Army protest outside of Rep. Joel Robideaux's Lafayette office for legislation he sponsored in support of killing lawsuits aimed at the oil and gas industry.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A group of environmentalists is planning an eight-day march from Grand Isle to the governor's mansion.

The march is being billed as a way of bringing attention to threats to numerous Louisiana waterways. It is also a protest against a recent new law forbidding a south Louisiana flood control board from pursuing last year's lawsuit against oil and gas companies over damage to coastal wetlands.

Supporters of that bill, including Gov. Bobby Jindal, say the lawsuit interfered with the state's coastal restoration efforts.

Mike Stagg, a spokesman for groups organizing the march, said it will begin Saturday and conclude June 28.

Stagg said Tuesday that the march will start small, with about a half-dozen people participating. Others are to take part at points along the route.