Levees.org has joined a diverse array of Louisiana organizations and citizens calling on the Louisiana House and Senate Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee to support the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority’s lawsuit filed against 97 oil, gas and pipeline companies for their destruction of the Louisiana coast.
According to the agenda, the Wednesday, August 14th Joint Committee meeting has been called for “review and discussion relative to Civil Action No. 13-691” which is the coastal erosion lawsuit.
The meeting is called “unusual” because the committee has no legislative authority to oversee the actions of the Flood Authority.
The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – East was established by the voters of Louisiana by Constitutional Amendment in 2006 with the sole mission of flood protection. It was established as a body of credentialed experts in engineering, civil engineering and hydrology.
The primary purpose of the new Authority, as stated in the law, is regional coordination of flood protection.
Louisiana has lost more than 1,900 square miles of coastal wetlands. This loss includes the destruction of marsh vegetation by salt water intrusion caused by 10,000 miles of canals and pipelines for oil and gas companies. This loss also includes the sinking of coastal lands caused by the extraction of oil and gas resources.
Levees.org has called upon its supporters to attend two meetings this week:
Joint Transportation and Public Works Committee Meeting
Wednesday August 14th at 10am
John J. Hainkel, Jr. Room
900 N 3rd St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Southeast Flood Protection Authority – East Meeting
Thursday August 15th at 9:30am
Meeting Room 221, Franklin Administrative Complex,
6920 Franklin Avenue, New Orleans, LA
In the current age of both increasing population density in coastal areas and concerns about climate conditions which have changed in the past few years. A proper Coastal Engineering plan needs to be set up for safety of people living nearby coastal regions. Some major step needs to be taken to overcome this issue.