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2016 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 39
BY REPRESENTATIVE HODGES
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To continue the Comite River Diversion Canal Project Task Force that was created pursuant
to House Concurrent Resolution No. 51 of the 2014 Regular Session of the
Legislature of Louisiana and continued by House Concurrent Resolution No. 66 of
the 2015 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana to study and make
recommendations on actions necessary to complete the construction of the Comite
River Diversion Canal Project.
WHEREAS, the Amite River and its tributary, the Comite River, are major causes
of catastrophic flooding in the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Area, particularly in the
northeastern part of East Baton Rouge Parish; and
WHEREAS, during the flood of 1983, substantial portions of the parishes of East
Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Ascension were inundated with flood waters; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Comite River Diversion Canal Project is to divert
flood waters from the upper Comite River to the Mississippi River; and
WHEREAS, at its maximum capacity, the project will divert twenty thousand cubic
feet per second by gravity flow; and
WHEREAS, once completed, the Comite River Diversion Canal could divert fifty
percent of the flood waters from the upper Comite River, which would substantially reduce
flood stages along the lower Comite and Amite Rivers; and
WHEREAS, as a result, flood insurance premiums would be dramatically reduced
in the area, which would boost home ownership and the overall economy of the region; and
WHEREAS, this is a major reason why the task force should continue its work; and
WHEREAS, following the displacement of thousands of residents from the New
Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina, East Baton Rouge Parish has experienced an explosive
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population growth and is now the most populous parish in the state, making the Comite
River Diversion Canal Project all the more important and urgently significant.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
continue the Comite River Diversion Canal Project Task Force to meet and make
recommendations to the legislature and the appropriate state and federal agencies on actions
necessary to complete the construction and maintenance of the Comite River Diversion
Canal Project, including strategies to comply with mitigation requirements and right-of-way
acquisitions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be comprised of the
following members:
(1) One member shall be the member of the House of Representatives representing
District 64, whose district is directly impacted by the Comite River Diversion Canal Project
and who shall be the chairman of the task force.
(2) One member shall be the member of the Senate representing District 6, whose
district is directly impacted by the Comite River Diversion Canal Project and who shall be
the vice chairman of the task force.
(3) One member shall be the congressman representing Louisiana's 6
th
Congressional
District, in which the Comite River Diversion Canal Project is located, or his designee.
(4) One member shall be the district engineer of the United States Army Corps of
Engineers, New Orleans District, or his designee.
(5) One member shall be the secretary of the Department of Transportation and
Development, or his designee.
(6) One member shall be the executive director of the Coastal Protection and
Restoration Authority, or his designee.
(7) One member shall be a former member of the Amite River Basin Drainage and
Water Conservation District board of commissioners appointed by the chairman of the task
force.
(8) One member shall be a current member of the Amite River Basin Drainage and
Water Conservation District board of commissioners appointed by the chairman of the task
force.
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(9) One member shall be the director of the Department of Public Works of East
Baton Rouge Parish, or his designee.
(10) One member shall be a home builder within the area impacted by the Comite
River Diversion Canal Project appointed by the president of the Louisiana Home Builders
Association.
(11) One member shall be a realtor in the area impacted by the Comite River
Diversion Canal Project appointed by the Louisiana Realtors Association.
(12) One member shall be the president of Livingston Parish, or his designee.
(13) One member shall be a landowner in the area impacted by the Comite River
Diversion Canal Project appointed by the Louisiana Landowners Association.
(14) One member shall be the state representative representing District 63.
(15) One member shall be the state representative representing District 71.
(16) One member shall be the state senator representing District 13.
(17) One member shall be the state senator representing District 15.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
without compensation, except for per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be
individually entitled by their respective employers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet at least on a biannual
basis and thereafter shall hold such meetings as deemed appropriate by a majority of the task
force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit recommendations to
the appropriate legislative committees, as necessary.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this task force will continue to be staffed by the
staff of the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works for all
meetings of the task force.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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