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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 183
BY SENATOR CROWE
COMMITTEE STUDIES. 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.
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee2
on Environmental Quality to meet and to function as a joint committee to study the3
social, economic and environmental impact of the discharge of black liquor and other4
toxic or hazardous substances to the environment from the Temple Inland facility5
into the Pearl River, and to report its findings and recommendations to the Senate6
prior to the convening of the 2013 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.7
WHEREAS, the release of two million gallons of black liquor into the Pearl River8
significantly and adversely affected the economy, environment, and communities, both9
directly and indirectly; and10
WHEREAS, owners of property adjacent to the Pearl River or other waterways in11
Louisiana, business owners, and recreational or commercial fishermen affected by the12
discharge became physically ill, were injured, inconvenienced or frightened due to the13
contamination of the Pearl River; and14
WHEREAS, black liquor impacts the environment through destruction of aquatic15
ecosystems, and kills a large number of fish estimated possibly in excess of fourteen million,16
turtles, mussels and other listed endangered species in the Pearl River; and17
WHEREAS, the improper discharge has caused an obstruction to navigation under18 SR NO. 183
SLS 12RS-5733 ORIGINAL
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the federal Rivers and Harbors Act, and impaired commerce and the ability of commercial1
fishermen to harvest fish; and2
WHEREAS, the citizens of our state are entitled to know the dangers posed to their3
health by environmental factors, such as water pollution caused by the discharge of toxic and4
other harmful substances into navigable waterways.5
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana6
urges and requests that the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee7
on Environmental Quality meet and function as a joint committee to study the impact of the8
discharge of black liquor into the Pearl River and to report its findings and recommendations9
to the Senate prior to the convening of the 2013 Regular Session of the Legislature of10
Louisiana.11
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
Crowe SR No.
Requests the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on
Environmental Quality to jointly study the social, economic, and environmental impact of
the discharge from Temple Inland facility into the Pearl River. Requires report to the Senate
prior to 2013 RS.