Who’s on first re coastal policy?

in People Issues by Admin — January 9, 2010 at 5:00 pm | 8 comments

Editor’s note: During December 2009 Governor Jindal and the secretaries of several state agencies sent official letters to Lisa Jackson, Administrator of EPA, loudly protesting the recent decision to regulate industrial carbon dioxide as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act.

Rarely have I seen such unanimity and cooperation among state agency heads – especially on an issue of such great controversy! The official state position that they signed onto conflicts with language in the official state master plan for the protection and restoration of Louisiana’s coast, raising an obvious question: How will this fundamental coastal policy conflict (and other future conflicts) be resolved and who will address this issue and announce its resolution?

Six state agencies (along with the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities) would seem to either have critical authority for protecting and restoring the coast or a strong vested interest in a healthy coast.

Two of these agencies have been given primary responsibility in this role: the departments of natural resources (DNR) and transportation and development (DOTD). Three agencies are clearly on a second tier, despite their mission statements and range of authority over fundamental coastal issues: the departments of environmental quality (DEQ); wildlife and fisheries(WL&F); and agriculture and forestry (LAF). A sixth agency should have a huge fiscal interest in the future health of the coast: the department of economic development (LED).

Just for fun I decided to examine the mission statements of each of these agencies, as shown on their respective web sites. A careful side-by-side comparison of these statements is interesting and I doubt that an official comparison has been carried out recently.

Act 8 was signed into law in 2006, requiring the integration of functions among the agencies to enhance coordination in addressing the imminent coastal collapse. The statements of responsibility and mission reveal some interesting overlapping authorities over coastal issues. I highlighted into purple prose some words and phrases that show potential conflicts, mixed signals or other ambiguities worth examining.

I plan to write more on this situation but for now I invite readers to read these mission statements carefully, especially the words in purple.

DNR Mission:

The mission of the DNR is to preserve and enhance the nonrenewable natural resources of the state, consisting of land, water, oil, gas, and other minerals, through conservation, regulation, and management/exploitation, to ensure that the state of Louisiana realizes appropriate economic benefit from its asset base. (Underline is mine – nonrenewable clearly isn’t intended to include coastal wetlands, unless it’s a Freudian slip.)

DNR exercises complex and various regulatory and permitting functions through the offices of Conservation and Coastal Restoration and Management. The department serves as one of state government’s major revenue-generating agencies by way of oil and gas bonuses, rentals, and royalties.

DNR’s aim is to exercise prudent and effective management, using a business plan approach, through long-range planning strategies. The department’s governing philosophy is open and receptive to innovative ideas, technologies and the promotion of a cleaner, safer environment. The department strives to facilitate an excellent working relationship with industry, with a strong emphasis on reaching mutual goals. DNR also endeavors to assist the citizens of the state through education, its many services, and its public outreach efforts.

DOTD Mission:

Vision: To be a leader moving Louisiana forward.

Mission: To deliver transportation and public works systems that enhances quality of life and facilitates economic growth and recovery.

Values: We are committed to earning the public’s trust, holding to the highest moral, ethical, and professional standards. People We respect our coworkers for their dedication, skills, diversity, and responsible actions.

Excellence: We strive for high quality, ensuring the best product possible in a timely manner.

Leadership: We embrace our responsibilities and empower our people to succeed.

Public Service: We respond to the needs of our citizens, communities, and partners in a timely manner.

Accountability: We take responsibility for our performance.

Departmental Goals: Continually improve the performance of DOTD. Deliver cost-effective products, projects, and services in a timely manner. Improve customer service and public confidence. Effectively develop and manage our human resources. Efficiently manage DOTD’s financial resources.

DOTD Public Works Mission Statement: “To administer the public improvement priority programs and provide technical expertise, guidance and support to water resources and intermodal programs as well as to federal, state and local governmental entities.”

DEQ Mission: To provide service to the people of Louisiana through comprehensive environmental protection in order to promote and protect health, safety and welfare while considering sound policies regarding employment and economic development.

DEQ Vision: To be a respected and trusted steward of the state’s environment.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LWL&F) is charged with the responsibility of managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources.

Mission Statement: To manage, conserve, and promote wise utilization of Louisiana’s renewable fish and wildlife resources and their supporting habitats through replenishment, protection, enhancement, research, development, and education for the social and economic benefit of current and future generations; to provide opportunities for knowledge of and use and enjoyment of these resources; and to promote a safe and healthy environment for the users of the resources. (Underline is mine.)

LAF Mission

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s mission is to promote, protect and advance agriculture and forestry, and soil and water resources.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is responsible for administering many of the programs and enforcing the regulations that impact every aspect of the state’s agriculture and forestry. At the farm and forest level, these industries contribute $10 billion annually to the state’s economy. When the many support industries are added in, agriculture and forestry touch the lives of everyone in Louisiana, making them critical to the economic growth and prosperity of the state as well as a vital part of the state’s rich cultural heritage.

Responsibility: LED is responsible for strengthening the state’s business environment and creating a more vibrant Louisiana economy.

LED carries out these responsibilities by increasing the state’s economic competitiveness, cultivating Louisiana’s top regional economic development assets, enhancing the competitiveness of local communities, helping retain and expand existing businesses, developing national-caliber business recruitment capabilities, telling the story of Louisiana’s economic renaissance and cultivating small business and entrepreneurship.

With dedicated and knowledgeable professionals committed to Louisiana’s economic future, LED strives to help businesses find the resources they need to make relocation and expansion a successful, profitable endeavor.

Finally, Louisiana faces a serious fiscal crisis, at least through 2012. This prompted the state senate to establish a commission to explore streamlining state government, which has been completed. The mission statement of this commission was as follows:

Mission Statement:

The state of Louisiana faces a severe decline in revenues through fiscal  year 2012 which, if no corrective action is taken, will leave a significant funding gap in the state government expenditures and will create serious sustainability issues in financing of state obligations.

It is essential that the state act now to reduce the cost of state government, through all means available, including efficiencies, economies, greater effectiveness, and other means to streamline government in order to overcome the projected severe revenue reductions occurring through 2012 and to ensure that available state tax dollars are being spent efficiently and effectively. Many state agencies were created over 30 years ago and a review of all agencies and its activities, functions, programs, and services is needed to determine whether the purpose served by the agency or activity, function, program, or service continues to be relevant.

Based on what I’ve read, such as Jan Moller’s article in the December 14 Times-Picyune, my sense is that the streamlining commission, which primarily focused on cost savings, concluded its work without addressing the resolution of conflicts on coastal policy that have long term fiscal implications. There you have it.

Len Bahr (len.bahr@gmail.com)