§214.4.1. Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and
Conservation
A. Statement of purpose
(1)Louisiana and its citizens have suffered catastrophic losses and human,
economic, and social harm. For the benefit and protection of the state as a whole, its
citizens, and its localities, hurricane protection is vital to survival. Hurricane protection and
coastal restoration efforts must be integrated to achieve a long-term solution of integrated
coastal protection. The state must act to develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive
integrated coastal protection plan. The state must act to ensure that the plan integrates
hurricane protection, storm damage reduction, flood control, and coastal restoration efforts
in order to achieve long-term and comprehensive integrat
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§214.4.1. Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and
Conservation
A. Statement of purpose
(1) Louisiana and its citizens have suffered catastrophic losses and human,
economic, and social harm. For the benefit and protection of the state as a whole, its
citizens, and its localities, hurricane protection is vital to survival. Hurricane protection and
coastal restoration efforts must be integrated to achieve a long-term solution of integrated
coastal protection. The state must act to develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive
integrated coastal protection plan. The state must act to ensure that the plan integrates
hurricane protection, storm damage reduction, flood control, and coastal restoration efforts
in order to achieve long-term and comprehensive integrated coastal protection.
(2) An important aspect of the need for integrated coastal protection is that Louisiana
is annually losing between twenty-five and thirty-five square miles of coastal area to the Gulf
of America. In 2005, and again in 2008, the coastal area suffered a devastating loss of
hundreds of square miles resulting from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike. The loss
of the state's coastal lands threatens natural, cultural, and economic resources which are of
vital importance to our state and nation. The numerous benefits provided by our coastal area
include the presence of an abundance of habitat for waterfowl, fur-bearing species, and
fisheries that support recreational and commercial interests. In addition, our coastal area acts
as the first line of defense for coastal communities, including New Orleans, in the face of
hurricanes and tropical storm surges. They also provide protection for the pipelines through
which much of our nation's energy supply flows. And, our coastal area is home to unique
and diverse cultures that have called the wetlands home for many generations.
(3) The state of Louisiana recognizes the need to develop, implement, and enforce
a comprehensive integrated coastal protection plan. As a component of the plan, the state
of Louisiana recognizes the necessity of establishing a sustainable integrated coastal
ecosystem. The task of developing a comprehensive integrated coastal protection plan and
restoring and developing a sustainable coastline will require implementation of an holistic,
comprehensive engineering plan which encompasses the entirety of southern Louisiana. It
will require the cooperation and participation of numerous state, federal, and local agencies.
In addition, the task of plan development and restoring and conserving this ecosystem will
require the participation and support of the numerous and diverse interests that live, work,
and recreate in those wetlands and others who depend upon our coast's continued health and
existence. In order to provide a venue for input from the broad range of persons and groups
who must participate in and assist the efforts to protect, preserve, restore, and enhance the
coast of Louisiana, it is hereby declared to be in the public interest that the Governor's
Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and Conservation be created in the
office of the governor.
B. Membership
(1) The Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration and
Conservation is hereby created and shall be composed as follows:
(a) Two members to be appointed by the governor from the academic community.
(b) Two members to be appointed by the governor from the business and industrial
community.
(c) Two members to be appointed by the governor from the nonprofit corporation
community.
(d) Two members to be appointed by the governor from the conservation community.
(e) Two members to be appointed by the governor from the agricultural community.
(f) Two members to be appointed by the governor from governing bodies of political
subdivisions of the state.
(g) Two members to be appointed by the governor from the energy production and
distribution sector.
(h) Two members to be appointed by the governor to represent the fishing
community, one of whom shall be from the commercial fishing industry and one of whom
shall be from the recreational fishing community.
(i) One member to be appointed by the governor from the oyster industry.
(j) Two members to be appointed by the governor to represent coastal landowners.
(k) Two members to be appointed by the governor to represent ports and related
industries.
(l) Six members to be appointed at large by the governor.
(m) The president of the Senate or his designee.
(n) The speaker of the House of Representatives or his designee.
(o) The chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment
or his designee.
(p) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources or his designee.
(q) Two members appointed by the Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana from
the members of levee boards having districts located in whole or in part within the Louisiana
coastal area. The members so appointed shall serve terms concurrent with that of the
governor.
(r) One member appointed by the governor representing the maritime industry.
(s) The chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public
Works or his designee.
(t) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public
Works or his designee.
(2) In addition, the governor or the commission may request employees of federal
agencies involved with coastal restoration activities to participate as nonvoting members of
the commission.
C. Terms of appointment
(1) Each appointment shall be for a term of four years except as provided in
Paragraph (2) of this Subsection.
(2) The initial term for each appointee shall be as follows:
(a) For the two appointments provided for in Subparagraph (B)(1)(a) of this Section,
one shall be appointed for an initial term of six years, and one shall be appointed for an initial
term of four years.
(b) For the two appointments provided for in Subparagraph (B)(1)(b) of this Section,
one shall be appointed for an initial term of five years, and one shall be appointed for an
initial term of three years.
(c) For the two appointments provided for in Subparagraph (B)(1)(c) of this Section,
one shall be appointed for an initial term of six years, and one shall be appointed for an initial
term of four years.
(d) For the two appointments provided for in Subparagraph (B)(1)(d) of this Section,
one shall be appointed for an initial term of five years, and one shall be appointed for an
initial term of three years.
(e) For the two appointments provided for in Subparagraph (B)(1)(e) of this Section,
one shall be appointed for an initial term of six years, and one shall be appointed for an initial
term of four years.
(f) For the two appointments provided for in Subparagraph (B)(1)(f) of this Section,
one shall be appointed for an initial term of five years, and one shall be appointed for an
initial term of three years.
(g) For the two appointments provided for in Subparagraph (B)(1)(g) of this Section,
one shall be appointed for an initial term of six years, and one shall be appointed for an initial
term of four years.
(h) For the two appointments provided for in Subparagraph (B)(1)(h) of this Section,
one shall be appointed for an initial term of five years, and one shall be appointed for an
initial term of three years.
(i) The appointment provided for in Subparagraph (B)(1)(i) of this Section shall be
appointed for an initial term of four years.
(j) For the two appointments provided for in Subparagraph (B)(1)(j) of this Section,
one shall be appointed for an initial term of five years, and one shall be appointed for an
initial term of three years.
(k) For the two appointments provided for in Subparagraph (B)(1)(k) of this Section,
one shall be appointed for an initial term of six years, and one shall be appointed for an initial
term of four years.
(l) For the six appointments provided for in Subparagraph (B)(1)(l) of this Section,
two shall be appointed for an initial term of six years, two shall be appointed for an initial
term of three years, and the remaining two shall be appointed for an initial term of one year.
D. The governor shall appoint a chairman and a vice chairman.
E. The commission shall have the following powers, duties, and functions:
(1) To advise the governor and the executive assistant for integrated coastal
activities relative to the overall status and direction of the state's coastal protection program.
(2) To provide a forum for coordinating integrated coastal protection activities and
the exchange of information on the status of various state, federal, and local programs
affecting integrated coastal protection.
(3) To foster cooperation on integrated coastal protection issues among federal, state,
and local governmental agencies, conservation organizations, and the private sector.
(4) To develop advice with respect to the identification and resolution of conflicts
among agencies and stakeholders related to integrated coastal protection efforts and to assist
in the identification of any other activity which might conflict with the integrated coastal
protection efforts.
(5) To review programs, conditions, trends, and scientific and engineering findings
which affect integrated coastal protection in order to make recommendations for
improvements to the state's integrated coastal protection efforts.
(6) To assist in the identification of potential sources of funding for integrated
coastal protection programs and to develop advice with respect to developing
recommendations for expenditures which are in the best interest of the state.
(7) To report by March first each year to the governor and the legislature relative to
the progress, challenges, and recommendations concerning policy and possible legislation
for the integrated coastal protection program.
F. The executive assistant shall provide staff services for the commission.
G. The commission shall meet as necessary at the call of the chairman. Members
shall not receive a per diem for attendance at meetings but may be reimbursed for travel
expenses and meals at the rate paid by the state for state employees.
H. The commission may appoint subcommittees to study and analyze issues affecting
integrated coastal protection. The subcommittees may be composed of commission members
and may include other members who are not appointed members of the commission. Any
member of a subcommittee who is not a member of the commission shall be appointed to the
subcommittee by the commission in an open meeting, and they may be reimbursed for travel
expenses and meals, at the rate paid by the state for state employees, but only if and to the
extent approved by the commission.