2019-0321
INTRODUCED BY: JULIA FISHER-PERRIER, COUNCILWOMAN, DISTRICT VII
PAUL J. HOGAN, PE, COUNCILMAN-AT-LARGE, DIVISION B
DICK GIBBS, COUNCILMAN, DISTRICT III
RESOLUTION NO.
Title
A resolution fully supporting Senate Bill 2418 and House of Representatives Bill 3814, which seeks to increase GOMESA revenue sharing with Gulf Coast States to a level that is more on par with the revenue sharing with onshore mineral production states.
Body
WHEREAS, many of the energy resources enjoyed by the entire United States are dependent upon the health of Gulf Coast ecosystems which provide access to those resources and related infrastructure and protection for communities that house its workforce; and,
WHEREAS, Louisiana is home to 30 percent of the nation’s wetlands and 90 percent of its wetland loss, a crisis that impacts communities, ecosystems, and the very economic engines that contribute to the nation’s energy security; and,
WHEREAS, this impacted area is home to half the country’s oil refineries and pipelines serving 90 percent of the nation’s federal offshore energy production; and,
WHEREAS, under the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920, 50 percent of the mineral funds generated from federal lands onshore are shared with the host state to offset impacts of the federal mineral development - and there is no cap on the revenue shared with the host state; and,
WHEREAS, only a small portion of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leases active since 2006 are eligible for GOMESA revenue sharing with the Gulf states, Gulf states and their coastal political subdivisions receive 37.5 percent, not 50 percent, of such federal revenue; and the four GOMESA states are capped at a total of $375 million of revenue sharing annually; and,
WHEREAS, in 2018, this resulted in only 4.97 percent of Gulf of Mexico offshore mineral revenues being shared with Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama combined; and,
WHEREAS, Louisiana’s ambitious coastal protection and restoration program needs more, not less, federal OCS mineral revenue sharing; and,
WHEREAS, legislation directing federal mineral revenues to be allocated automatically and annually to federal programs, such as national parks maintenance or other causes, should not do so at the expense of Louisiana’s coastal program nor should such allocations limit the increased revenue sharing that Louisiana should receive under GOMESA; and,
WHEREAS, S. 2418, Conservation of America’s Shoreline Terrain and Aquatic Life (COASTAL) Act, introduced by Senators Cassidy and Murkowski and co-sponsored by Senators Kennedy, Wicker, Jones, and Sullivan, would increase the revenue share to GOMESA states from 37.5 percent of GOMESA revenue to 50 percent of GOMESA revenue; expand GOMESA to cover additional Outer Continental Shelf leases; remove the $375 million cap; provide new authorized uses of GOMESA revenue; and establish revenue sharing for Alaska; and,
WHEREAS, H.R. 3814, Domestic Offshore Energy Reinvestment Act of 2019, introduced by Congressmen Richmond and Graves, would increase the revenue share to GOMESA states from 37.5 percent of GOMESA revenue to 50 percent of GOMESA revenue; remove the $375 million cap; and provide new authorized uses of GOMESA revenue, and,
WHEREAS, for Louisiana coastal parishes, the GOMESA revenue stream is a critical recurring source of revenue that allows us to address our coastal protection and restoration needs. The State of Louisiana has been a great partner in addressing some of our needs, but the funds that are allocated directly to the parishes have allowed us to have a seat at the table when discussing future coastal protection and restoration projects.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT WE, THE MEMBERS OF THE ST. CHARLES PARISH COUNCIL, hereby fully supports Senate Bill 2418 and House of Representatives Bill 3814, which seeks to increase GOMESA revenue sharing with Gulf Coast States to a level that is more on par with the revenue sharing with onshore mineral production states.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the St. Charles Parish Council hereby objects strenuously to the allocation of federal mineral revenue to federal programs unless the allocation also increases the GOMESA revenue that is shared with Gulf coast states.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the St. Charles Parish Council hereby give thanks and appreciation to U. S. Senator William “Bill” Cassidy, U. S. Senator John Kennedy, Congressman Cedric Richmond and Congressman Garret Graves, for their leadership in this critically important effort of achieving increased revenue sharing for Louisiana through GOMESA.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to U. S. Senator William “Bill” Cassidy, U. S. Senator John Kennedy, Congressman Cedric Richmond, and Congressman Garret Graves.
The foregoing resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
And the resolution was declared adopted this day of , 2019, to become effective five (5) days after publication in the Official Journal.
2019-0321 Proposed GOMESA Resolution JFP.DOCX.DOCX
CHAIRMAN:
SECRETARY:
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