HLS 10RS-3566 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 143
BY REPRESENTATIVE LAFONTA
EMERGENCY/ENV IRONMENTAL: Requests DEQ to investigate the governor of
Louisiana's refusal to timely declare a state of emergency in response to the
Deepwater Horizon oil rig
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Department of Environmental Quality to investigate the governor2
of Louisiana's refusal to timely declare a state of emergency in response to the3
deadly and tragic destruction of the Deepwater Horizon.4
WHEREAS, on April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred on the rig Deepwater Horizon5
which resulted in the fire that eventually sank the rig, killed at least eleven crewmen, and6
threatens Louisiana's delicate coast and industries that rely on the coast with thousands of7
barrels of oil spewing from five thousand feet on the ocean bottom; and8
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and9
Disaster Act, R.S. 29:721, et seq., confers upon the governor of Louisiana emergency powers10
to deal with emergencies and disasters, including those caused by fire, flood, earthquake, or11
other natural or man-made causes, in order to ensure that preparations of this state will be12
adequate to deal with such emergencies or disasters, and to preserve the natural resources13
of the state, lives, and property of the people of the state of Louisiana; and14
WHEREAS, when the governor determines that a disaster or emergency has15
occurred, or the threat thereof is imminent, R.S. 29:724(B)(1) empowers him to declare a16
state of emergency by executive order or proclamation; and17
WHEREAS, a declaration of emergency is necessary to allow state agencies to18
thoroughly prepare for and respond to any eventuality and to allow federal agencies and19
federal resources to be deployed if necessary; and20 HLS 10RS-3566 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 143
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WHEREAS, a declaration that a state of emergency exists is necessary due to the1
predicted impact of oil along the Louisiana coast leaking from the Deepwater Horizon which2
threatens the state's natural resources, including land, water, fish, wildlife, fowl, and other3
biota and likewise threatens the livelihoods of Louisiana's citizens living along the coast4
which increases the economic impact of this incident; and5
WHEREAS, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration models show the oil6
spill could reach parts of the Louisiana coastline by Thursday, April 29, 2010, and proceed7
into the Breton Sound and Chandeleur Sound by Saturday, May 1, 2010; at this time, the8
Pass a L'Outre Wildlife Management Area is expected to see the first impact of the oil spill;9
and10
WHEREAS, a minimum of ten additional state and national wildlife management11
areas and wildlife refuges in Louisiana and Mississippi are in the direct path of the oil plume12
and can be expected to be impacted; the Barataria-Terrebonne Estuary, Biloxi Wildlife13
Management Area, the Breton National Wildlife Refuge, Buccaneer State Park (MS), the14
Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge (MS), the Gulf Islands National Seashore National15
Park (MS), Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge (MS), and Bon16
Secour National Wildlife Refuge (MS) are all in the direct path of the plume; and17
WHEREAS, Louisiana's coastline is comprised of 3.5 million acres of coastal18
wetlands, which represent approximately forty percent of all the coastal wetlands in the19
continental United States; furthermore, billions of dollars in ongoing coastal restoration20
projects may be at risk because of this emergency; and21
WHEREAS, the governor waited to declare a state of emergency until the afternoon22
of April 29, 2010, four days after the disaster. 23
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby24
urge and request the Department of Environmental Quality to investigate the governor of25
Louisiana's refusal to timely declare a state of emergency in response to the deadly and26
tragic destruction of the Deepwater Horizon.27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the28
governor of Louisiana and the secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality.29 HLS 10RS-3566 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 143
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
LaFonta HCR No. 143
Urges and requests the Dept. of Environmental Quality to investigate the governor of
Louisiana's refusal to timely declare a state of emergency in response to the deadly and
tragic destruction of the Deepwater Horizon.