Requests the Senate Committee on Natural Resources to study the feasibility of creating a conservation district which includes the parishes of St. Tammany and Washington.
Impact
Should the resolution lead to the establishment of a conservation district, it would have several implications on state laws related to environmental protection and resource management. The district would be tasked with acquiring rights and utilizations of the waterways, as well as cooperating with various levels of government to fund and manage conservation efforts. This could strengthen existing regulatory frameworks and enhance the state's ability to address environmental challenges while ensuring the responsible use of natural resources within the designated areas.
Summary
Senate Resolution 182, introduced by Senator Crowe, urges the Senate Committee on Natural Resources to study the feasibility of creating a conservation district encompassing the parishes of St. Tammany and Washington. The resolution emphasizes the importance of improving water quality and preserving the unique waterways of Louisiana, which serve as significant recreational, ecological, and cultural resources for the community. It proposes that a conservation district could help funnel public support and involvement into preserving these natural assets, thereby benefiting future generations.
Sentiment
The general sentiment towards SR182 is proactive and supportive among environmental advocates and community members who recognize the need for conservation. However, the resolution also implicitly raises concerns about the balance of power between local and state governance on environmental issues. While it provides an opportunity for greater environmental oversight, it also raises questions about the involvement of local stakeholders in decision-making processes concerning their natural resources.
Contention
Notable points of contention could arise around the management autonomy of the proposed conservation district. As discussions unfold, stakeholders may express divergent views on the extent of government involvement versus local management of natural resources. Issues such as funding, jurisdiction, and the potential bureaucratic complexities associated with establishing such a district could become focal points in both legislative and community debates.
Requests the Senate amd Governmental Affairs Committee to recommend, and the Louisiana Senate to enact, a congressional redistricting plan that includes the entirety of St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes within one congressional district.
Requests the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality to study the social, economic, and environmental impact of the discharge from the Temple Inland facility into the Pearl River.
Establishes the St. Tammany Parish Inspector General Task Force to study the feasibility of creating an office of inspector general for St. Tammany Parish.
Requests the Senate Committee on Judiciary A to study the feasibility of dividing the Fifteenth Judicial District into three single-parish judicial districts.
Request the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs study the feasibility of establishing a more expedient transition for local elected officials to take office.
Requests the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation District to study saltwater intrusion into the groundwater resources in the capital area, and to consider the effects of industrial uses on such saltwater intrusion and groundwater resources.
Requests DOTD study feasibility of south alternative routes to I-12 in the parishes of East Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Ascension between US 61 and LA 16.