Louisiana Legislature News

The ports at Baton Rouge, New Orleans, South Louisiana, St. Bernard and Plaquemines are slated to have deep draft access after Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and other state officials signed a formal agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Friday to begin construction on the deepening of the Lower Mississippi River to 50 feet from 45 feet. The overall project will provide a draft of 50-feet from the Port of Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico over 256 miles of the Mississippi River.

The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans mourns the passing of former Board Chairman Francis E. “Hank” Lauricella. Gov. Mike Foster appointed Mr. Lauricella to the Board in April of 1997 and he served as Board Chairman from October 2001 until June of 2002. “Mr. Lauricella’s leadership was critical during a period of Port expansion and diversification, such as the construction of the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal and the meteoric rise of the Port’s cruise industry,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. Prior to his service on the Port’s Board, Mr.

The board of commissioners for the Port of Greater Baton Rouge recently elected officers for 2009. Officers elected include Alvin Dragg, Ascension, president; Raymond Loup, West Baton Rouge, vice president; Jerald Juneau, East Baton Rouge, treasurer; and Larry Johnson, West Baton Rouge, secretary. Dragg, who was elected president, represents Ascension Parish on the board of commissioners and has served two terms as president previously over the past two decades. He is a life-long resident of Gonzales and is a former Entergy Corporation executive.

The Louisiana legislature has adopted and forwarded to the Governor a bill that will create a single Pilotage Fee Commission and the Board of Louisiana River Pilot Review and Oversight. Fees for pilotage in Louisiana waters will, under this bill, be established by the Pilotage Fee Commission, rather than by the various pilot associations. Meetings of the Commission will be open. House Bill 1708 (HK Law).

Senator Slade Gorton (R-Wash.) introduced the "States Prevention of Oil Tanker Spills Act" (S. 2506), which seeks to reinstate Washington state oil tanker safety laws overturned by the Supreme Court in Intertanko v. Locke and United States v. Locke. In a press release, Senator Gorton said, "I disagree with the Court's decision, because I believe Washington State should be allowed to protect its shores as it sees fit." The Gorton legislation would reinstate the right of all states to adopt additional standards beyond existing federal requirements governing the operation, maintenance, equipment, personnel and manning of oil tankers. While the legislation would apply to all coastal states, Gorton's interest is focused on recently overturned Washington statutes.

The Ports Association of Louisiana has commissioned The Shaw Group to create a strategic plan for the collective future of Louisiana’s 30 ports. The $700,000, 10-month study, aims to position Louisiana’s extensive port system to garner a larger share of future cargo coming into the United States. According to the American Association of Port Authorities, freight moving through U.S. ports is expected to grow 50 percent by 2020 and containerized cargo could double during that period. Louisiana has three of the 10 highest-tonnage ports in the nation and stands to gain a significant portion of new business by investing now in new transportation infrastructure…

There are five applicants for Louisiana's 15th and final riverboat gaming license. Once the Louisiana State Police have finished the process of evaluating the applications for completeness, they will begin background investigations to determine the applicants' suitability. If the license is awarded, it will be against the current wishes of Governor Mike Foster. His executive council, Chaney Joseph, gave the gaming board a letter signed by the governor, asking the panel delay any final decision on the 15th license, to give the Louisiana Legislature a chance to repeal authorization for it next year.