Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)

Sen. Landrieu's Conservation and Reinvestment Act (CARA) would direct a portion of oil and gas revenues paid to the Federal treasury to states for conservation and protection programs. No new taxes would be imposed to pay for these programs. All would be provided a guaranteed stream of funding which would go directly to states and local governments.

CARA provides necessary funds to preserve a variety of national treasures. Coastal wetlands in Louisiana, shoreline and estuary protection in the Mid-Atlantic and Pacific, and waterway integrity in the Great Lakes are among the most salient examples. All are of national concern and deserve attention from the Federal government.

One day, revenues from oil and gas development off our nation's shores will cease. It is Sen. Landrieu's belief that when that day arrives, Americans should have something permanent to show for it, for the benefit of their children and their children's children. Given the Administration's recent announcement to seek permanent funding for some of the conservation programs specified in the bill, along with Congressional support, this is the best opportunity ever for passage of a comprehensive conservation funding bill.

The President's Roadless Initiative

In Louisiana, there are 6,000 acres of public lands that would be affected by the President's Roadless Initiative. The Forest Service has a legislative mandate to protect federal lands for multiple use, including the coordination of outdoor recreation, range, timber, wildlife and fish, watershed and wilderness. The Senate has held several hearing on this matter and Sen. Landrieu continues to monitor the issue.

The controversy over proper management of roadless areas in our nation's public lands is not new. In 1998, the Forest Service proposed to revise the management of the national forest road system and adopted an interim rule to temporarily suspend road construction and reconstruction in roadless areas in early 1999. The President then directed the Forest Service to develop a proposal to protect inventoried roadless areas on October 13, 1999. The Forest Service will host another series of meetings and public involvement opportunities upon release of the draft regulation and draft environmental impact statement this year.

Suggested Link: USDA Forest Service

Royalty Valuation

Many of the oil and natural gas resources in the United States lie offshore beneath the U.S. waters of the Outer Continental Shelf. These mineral resources are managed by the Department of Interior's Mineral Management Service (MMS), which leases rights to explore and develop oil gas to private companies. The largest portion of revenues from the leases is disbursed to the U.S. Treasury to help pay down the national debt.

Sen. Landrieu is an original cosponsor on the Federal Royalty Certainty Act (S.924). This bill would amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Mineral Leasing Act regarding oil and gas leases to provide that royalty payments due: (1) in value, be based upon the value of oil or gas production at the lease in marketable condition; and (2) in amount, be based upon the royalty share of production at the lease. The bill would provide that if payments in value or amount are calculated from a point away from the lease that the lessee be allowed reimbursements at a reasonable commercial rate for certain services beyond the lease through the point of disposition or delivery.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Regulatory Changes

Proposed regulatory changes to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Permit Program have raised some issues about the impact of eliminating the designation of certain forestry operations as "non-point-source" activities.

The Clean Water Act directs states and the EPA to work together to identify impaired waters and develop TMDL's to restore the health of the waters. The EPA claims that the proposed changes to the regulations will help strengthen the TMDL program. However, by and large, states already have successful best management practices to improve water quality.

Sen. Landrieu has signed onto a joint letter with the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to express their concerns to Charles Fox, the Administrator for the EPA Office of Water. Furthermore, Sen. Landrieu became a cosponsor to Sen. Blanche Lincoln's (D-AR) bill, S.2041, which would exempt discharges from certain silvicultural activities from permit requirements of the national pollutant discharge elimination system.

Suggested link: EPA's TMDL Homepage