Dorothy Clausen
June 13, 2019
No amoeba found; disinfectant change part of plan
June 13, 2019
On May 21. the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce penned a letter and sent it to Thomas Harris with the State of Louisiana Department of Natural Resources.
The letter is regarding the oil and gas lawsuits going on around the state of Louisiana
The Times has elected to run the letter in full, as provided to us by the Chamber to inform readers of the Chamber’s official stance on the issue.
Dear Secretary Harris.
The Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce, with approximately 650 members (involving over 23.000 employed citizens of our region), ranks coastal restoration and protection as one of our top concerns for Terrebonne Parish. along with a strong, vibrant economy
Although coastal restoration and protection are urgently needed to shield our businesses and economy, filing suit against the oil and gas industry, an industry that d rives the economy of Louisiana and unquestionably drives the economy of Terrebonne Parish, is not the way to solve our coastal problems.
In 2016 the citizens and the elected representatives of Terrebonne Parish took a clear stance on the issue of filing lawsuits against the oil and gas industry. Our Parish President and elected council passed ordinances refusing to participate in this movement. Additionally, our business community and the 650 members of the Houma Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce also took formal action to oppose any such suits. Attached to this document you will find a letter previously written l-v the Chamber to Governor John Bel Edwards articulating opposition to such litigation.
Recently, by direction of your office, the Terrebonne District Attorney was appointed to begin damage assessments for the very lawsuits that our Parish and our Chamber have opposed. Pursuant to your aforementioned appointment, attorneys have been hired to begin these assessments, While the management of the coastal zone is granted in your authority, the Houma Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce does not feel your authority should be used to circumvent the will of Terrebonne’s citizens or the Terrebonne Parish Presidents* authority over that same coastal zone.
The majority of Terrebonne Parish is owned by the same companies these suits and damage assessments will be brought upon More importantly, these same companies have been leaders of the efforts to restore the coast for many decades. They have contributed land, money and resources to the execution of the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan. Louisiana and Terrebonne Parish will not benefit from the results of these lawsuits: rather, such litigation will suppress the amazing progress that is being made. Our economy and our coast depend on the cooperation of business and the environment. We cannot have one without the other The litigation being facilitated by your recent measures will stymie economic growth and will reduce the same tax revenue that we depend upon to do this important coastal work. Such revenue is long-term, and the only constant funding dedicated to the preservation of our coast. The damages you are investigating will only benefit the attorneys that are seeking the damages.
Please understand that the Houma Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce is keenly aware of the importance of coastal protection and restoration. Our businesses depend on the success of our State in this area of coastal protection and restoration. While we acknowledge that the damage assessments you have recently directed are technically not lawsuits, from the perspective of our business community and citizenry, this distinction is specious.
We will continue to advocate for and support efforts to implement the Louisiana Coastal Master Plan, but we do not wish to risk losing our only way to implement it. Being located in a subsiding delta. Terrebonne Parish sits in the heart of the worst land loss in all of Louisiana. The science for our problems is well-established and the path to restore it is integrally related to the economic well-being and growth of our region. Accordingly, the Houma Terrebonne Chamber of Commerce respectfully re-quests you to reconsider your action regarding the assessment of damages, and to allow the will of our people and of our duly elected administrators to determine our Parish’s path forward.
Respectfully.
Chad Hebert
Chairman of the Board
