Louisiana House Bill HCR190

Louisiana 2010 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/24/10
• Engrossed: 5/24/10
• Report Pass: 6/1/10
• Passed: 6/4/10

Caption

Urges and requests the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the president of the U.S. to expedite permitting of the artificial barrier island plan

Impact

The resolution targets federal agencies responsible for environmental management, particularly during a crisis that threatens Louisiana's coastal ecosystems. If this resolution is successful, it could facilitate the rapid construction of additional protective barriers against oil intrusion, potentially reducing the ecological and economic damage caused by spills. Furthermore, the resolution highlights the importance of federal-state cooperation in dealing with environmental disasters, specifically illustrating how state-level initiatives may require federal assistance to advance effectively.

Summary

HCR190 is a House Concurrent Resolution urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the President of the United States to expedite the permitting process for Louisiana's coastal use permit application. This permit is crucial for the state's proposed plan to dredge sand from coastal waters to bolster barrier islands. The motivation behind this initiative is to prevent oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill from damaging the state's coastal marshes, which are critical ecosystems. In the wake of the 2010 disaster, Louisiana's unique geographic position makes it the most vulnerable state to the ongoing oil leak, and prompt action is deemed necessary to safeguard its coastal environment.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HCR190 appears to be one of urgency and cooperation among stakeholders. Legislators and environmental advocates support the resolution, seeing it as a necessary step to address the immediate threats posed by the oil spill. However, there is an underlying frustration with the slow pace of federal action on permit approvals, which is perceived as a bottleneck in Louisiana's efforts to address the disaster. This frustration is compounded by the understanding that time is of the essence when it comes to environmental protection and response efforts.

Contention

While HCR190 does not contain any overtly contentious provisions, the overall issue of federal versus state authority in disaster response platforms could lead to debates. Dallas partisans might argue that federal agencies should decentralize some of their decision-making powers to allow states, like Louisiana, to respond more swiftly to ongoing natural disasters. Additionally, concerns may arise about potential impacts of dredging activities on local ecosystems, indicating ongoing discussions about balancing immediate environmental protection needs with long-term ecological considerations.