Text 14952, 69 rader
Skriven 2005-09-06 05:18:48 av BOB SAKOWSKI (1:123/140)
Ärende: No one could have known
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Parishes Against Coastal Erosion (PACE) Response to the Bush
Administration's June 14, 2005 Policy Statement on the Proposed Energy Act
of 2005

By Parishes Against Coastal Erosion

Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey, NOAA and other federal and
state agencies along with university experts agree that nowhere in the
world is a coastal region losing wetlands and protective barrier islands
faster than Louisiana. About this there is no doubt. It is predicted that
by 2050, one third of coastal Louisiana will have vanished into the Gulf of
Mexico. Our coast and its wetlands is a system on the verge of collapse.
Without wetlands to buffer storms, our people and property and the nation's
energy supply are at risk. Oil and gas pipelines and facilities, which
provide 25% of the Nation's energy needs, are more vulnerable with each
storm. Oil and gas activities and federal actions to control the
Mississippi River for navigation and flood control are largely responsible
for the drastic loss of our coastal. PACE believes we are completely within
our right to ask the federal government to share money generated from
offshore oil and gas revenues with the coastal states that bear a
disproportionate burden in supporting this nation's energy needs.

Louisiana's congressional delegation has urged Congress for more than a decade
to return to the state a fair share of the revenue from the production of
offshore oil and gas both because of the impact of offshore production on
Louisiana and because interior states get 50% of revenues from oil and gas
production on federal lands.

The president has supported the concept, but has backed off when it comes
to funding the restoration effort. PACE believes Louisiana can no longer
afford to wait. Louisiana urgently needs guaranteed resources to thwart a
catastrophe that is not being given the sense of urgency that it demands.

We believe the case has been made. Louisiana's wetlands - America's WETLAND
- is crucial to the nations oil and gas production, commercial fisheries,
navigation and commerce and national security. Restoring the damage
hastened by years of inland and offshore drilling is clearly a national
responsibility.

The President, in this Policy Statement, has failed us. To sidestep this as
a key issue would be a serious deficiency, in the Energy Bill, and the
entire nation will suffer as a consequence.

Our Louisiana legislature this month passed a constitutional amendment
requiring any new offshore oil and gas revenue to be put in a trust fund
dedicated to coastal erosion.

Louisiana has made a commitment. Now, it's time for the President to step up to
the plate and support funding to prevent the untold damage to the ecology,
economy and potential loss of life in large numbers.

With the National Hurricane Center predicting another active hurricane
season, PACE President Aaron Broussard said he fears that it is going to
take a major storm and significant loss of life before the nation acts
responsibly.

The PACE organization's frustration with the Administration's Statement was
reflected in St. Bernard Parish President, Henry "Junior" Rodriguez's comment
that "Louisiana contributes much to this Nations
energy needs. It's time we take a hard look at our alternatives and
consider whether we want to keep up this level of oil and gas production."

If you have any questions, please contact Jefferson Parish President and
PACE President, Aaron Broussard at (504) 736-6400. 

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Worthless bastard
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