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Regular Session, 2011
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 96
BY SENATOR MCPHERSON
COASTAL RECLAMATION. Requests the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities and the
office of coastal protection and restoration to support the establishment of a state seashore
and the restoration of the habitat of Elmer's Island, Fourchon Beach, and Caminada
Headland, as recompense for damages to natural resources caused by the Deepwater Horizon
oil spill, and requests that such recompense be taken under consideration by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in developing the programmatic environment
impact statement for the national resources damage assessment.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities and the office of coastal2
protection and restoration to support the establishment of a state seashore and the3
restoration of the habitat of Elmer's Island, Fourchon Beach, and Caminada4
Headland, as recompense for damages to natural resources caused by the Deepwater5
Horizon oil spill, and requests that such recompense be taken under consideration by6
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in developing the7
programmatic environment impact statement for the national resources damage8
assessment.9
WHEREAS, Louisiana has one of the longest shorelines of any coastal state in the10
nation, and is unsurpassed in value for fish and wildlife resources; and11
WHEREAS, Louisiana's coastline is a mecca for recreational fishing, hunting, and12
bird watching, and has nurtured culture, cuisine, and heritage for which the state is widely13
recognized and admired; and14
WHEREAS, on Louisiana's coast, recreational and commercial fishing, energy15
developments, ports, shipping, and leisure options present a unique convergence of16
commercial and recreational opportunities; and17
WHEREAS, many coastal states have designated state seashores which are managed18 SCR NO. 96
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for public use and enjoyment, but despite Louisiana's long shoreline and its attraction for1
commercial and recreation opportunities, Louisiana does not have a state seashore; and2
WHEREAS, potentially the best occasion to experience Louisiana's unique mix of3
coastal wildlife, recreation, and commerce is afforded by the barrier beachfront of the4
Caminada Headland, an approximate fourteen mile stretch of shoreline between Caminada5
Pass in Jefferson Parish and West Belle Pass in Lafourche Parish, that is accessible via6
Highway 3090 and Elmer's Island Road; and7
WHEREAS, with Elmer's Island on the east and Fourchon Beach on the west, these8
gateways to the Caminada Headland have historically provided a venue to some of the best9
surf fishing, crabbing, and bird watching, and beach combing in the state; and10
WHEREAS, the Caminada Headland is the shoreline most impacted by the April 20,11
2010, Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and was closed to the public for more than one year, with12
some portions still closed while damages are remediated; and13
WHEREAS, beyond the tragic loss of eleven human lives caused by the Deepwater14
Horizon oil spill, damages to natural and recreational resources are still being evaluated15
through the natural resources damage assessment process, established pursuant to the federal16
Oil Pollution Act of 1990; and17
WHEREAS, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the lead federal18
trustee, is assessing damages and losses related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and has19
invited public input, for suitable mitigation for such damages and losses; and20
WHEREAS, the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities and the office of coastal21
protection and restoration should study the full restoration of the habitat of Elmer's Island22
and the Caminada Headland, including review of the acquisition of additional portions of23
Elmer's Island from willing sellers to include in the Elmer's Island Wildlife Refuge,24
development and implementation of a habitat inventory, and a habitat conservation,25
enhancement, and public use plan for Elmer's Island Wildlife Refuge, all as part of the26
recompense necessary to re-establish the public and natural resources damaged by the27
Deepwater Horizon oil spill.28
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the legislature does hereby request the29
Governor's Office of Coastal Activities and the office of coastal protection and restoration30 SCR NO. 96
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to support the establishment of a state seashore and the restoration of the habitat of Elmer's1
Island, Fourchon Beach, and Caminada Headlands, as recompense for damages to natural2
resources caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and requests that such recompense be3
taken under consideration by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in4
developing the programmatic environment impact statement for the natural resources5
damage assessment.6
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the7
director of the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities, the executive director of the office8
of coastal protection and restoration, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric9
Administration.10
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Broussard-Johnson.
DIGEST
McPherson SCR No.
Requests the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities and the office of coastal protection and
restoration to support the establishment of a state seashore and the restoration of the habitat
of Elmer's Island, Fourchon Beach, and the Caminada Headland, as recompense for damages
to natural resources caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and requests that such
recompense be taken under consideration by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration in developing the programmatic environment impact statement for the
natural resources damage assessment.