Copyright 2000 The Times-Picayune Publishing Co.
The Times-Picayune
June 13, 2000 Tuesday, ORLEANS
SECTION: METRO; Pg. B10
LENGTH: 371 words
HEADLINE:
FEDERAL CONSERVATION ACT COULD BE BOON TO STATE
BODY:
With so much fiscal gloom hanging over the
state Capitol in recent weeks, little notice has been given to a remarkable
dynamic materializing in the halls of Congress that may succeed in delivering
millions of dollars to Louisiana for coastal restoration, fish and wildlife
conservation, parks and recreation.
Leading the
Conservation and Reinvestment Act to an overwhelming bipartisan
315-102 vote last month in the U.S. House of Representatives were Louisiana's
Billy Tauzin and Chris John. As I viewed a portion of the debate on C-SPAN, it
was gratifying and somewhat amazing to see Tauzin staunchly defending CARA from
attacks by other Republicans. Chris John also provided ready support at critical
moments.
Now the spotlight is on the Senate, where Mary Landrieu first
sponsored CARA legislation nearly two years ago. Her immediate challenge is to
move the bill out of committee while keeping Louisiana's needs strongly
represented. Sen. John Breaux's active support, too, is essential for getting
CARA through the Senate before September recess.
The premise of CARA is
to invest earnings from the depletion of nonrenewable public trust natural
resources, in this case minerals produced on the Outer Continental Shelf, to
secure, sustain and restore renewable natural resources for future generations.
Louisiana's needs are great, particularly with respect to restoring our
coast. But CARA also can provide major funding for other
conservation uses like state and local parks, acquisition of
wildlife habitat for refuges and management areas, fish and wildlife
conservation and education programs, marine fisheries law
enforcement, controlling invasive plants and animals and energy impact
assistance, among others.
Based on the House-passed CARA, Louisiana's
allocation is estimated to be about $300 million a year over a 15-year period.
Although Louisiana can't start counting CARA's benefits yet, with all
the agony over state finances being endured these days in Baton Rouge, it's
uplifting to believe that something good may be on its way. Our representatives
in Washington deserve our thanks and need our encouragement.
Randy P.
Lanctot
Executive director
Louisiana Wildlife Federation
Baton Rouge
LOAD-DATE: June 13, 2000
