WHEREAS, the St. Bernard Parish Council adopted resolution # 1336-12-98 on December 15, 1998 to close the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet (MRGO), and
WHEREAS, the membership of the MRGO Task Force Policy Committee appointed as a result of the resolution adopted by the St. Bernard Parish Council represents a broad range of stakeholders including conservation groups, the Port of New Orleans, the shipping industry, the governments of Orleans, Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes and state and federal government agencies, and
WHEREAS, a status report -“Comprehensive Plan for Timely Modification of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet” – was prepared on July 15, 2000, and
WHEREAS, the findings of the status report reconfirmed that the operation and maintenance of a wide and deep channel for deep draft (36 foot) ocean going vessels to accommodate a small number of facilities in the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal of the New Orleans Port at the head of the MRGO is the cause of most of the environmental damage and potential storm surge threat to the wetlands and communities impacted by the MRGO, and
WHEREAS, these findings reconfirm recommendations of the joint state and federal Coast 2050 study report which recommends closure of the MRGO to deep draft vessels, and
WHEREAS, St. Bernard Parish has established a five-year time frame for closure of the MRGO and a ten-year time frame for restoration of coastal areas, and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, by previous resolution has called for the closure/modification of the MRGO and the restoration of the wetlands damaged by it.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, consistent with past resolutions calling for the closure/modification of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (NfRGO), joins with St. Bernard Parish in requesting the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to see immediate funding to implement closure of the MRGO in accordance with the plan for timely closure as adopted by St. Bernard Parish
Adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation in convention assembled, 62nd Annual Meeting, March 4, 2001 in Many, Louisiana.