New Orleans, La. - Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator, returns to the Gulf Coast on September 29th and 30th for her tenth trip since the BP/Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Dr. Lubchenco will join volunteers at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Lacombe, La., to help replant coastal marsh and commemorate the ten-year partnership of NOAA’s Community-Based Restoration Program, Restore America’s Estuaries and the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. (Open Press: Interested media should meet at the boat launch at 9 a.m. CDT. Please e-mail nsnider@crcl.org for directions).

Earlier in the day, Dr. Lubchenco is scheduled to visit the NOAA National Weather Service office and River Forecast Center in Slidell, La.

During the afternoon, Dr. Lubchenco will be on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., to meet with deans and faculty.

On Thursday, Dr. Lubchenco will deliver the keynote address at the fall meeting of the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources in New Orleans. (Open Press; Anne Nicholas, ABA, 202-662-1090).

Contact: Justin Kenney, NOAA Communications & External Affairs: 202-821-6310; justin.kenney@noaa.gov