2014 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 30 - Minerals, Oil, and Gas and Environmental Quality
RS 30:2000.11 - Annual Basin plan

§2000.11. Annual Basin plan

A. The board shall develop an annual Basin plan that includes all projects or stages of projects that will be proposed for funding or funded in any one fiscal year. The annual plan may include projects that are any of the following:

(1) A part of the Basin master plan.

(2) A part of the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System, Louisiana Project.

(3) A water management or water quality project that meets the criteria developed by the board for inclusion in an annual plan and has been approved through the procedures adopted by the board for inclusion of a project in the annual plan, including public hearings.

(4) A project consistent with the mission statement contained in the Basin master plan.

(5) A project to be completed which was previously approved by the board.

B.(1) As a part of the procedures to be followed by the board in the development of an annual Basin plan, the secretary is hereby authorized to appoint a technical advisory group that shall review, evaluate, and approve all water management and water quality projects proposed for inclusion in an annual plan. The group shall determine if the project meets the criteria for inclusion as adopted by the board and make recommendations to the board. The technical advisory group shall consist of the following appointments:

(a) Two members from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, one of whom shall serve as the chair of the group.

(b) One member from the Department of Environmental Quality.

(c) One member from the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

(d) One member from the Department of Natural Resources.

(e) One member from the U.S. Geological Survey.

(f) One member from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

(g) One member from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

(h) One member from the LSU School of Renewable Natural Resources.

(2) The secretary shall submit all proposed appointments to the technical advisory group to the Atchafalaya Basin Program Oversight Committee of the legislature for approval. However, if the committee fails to take action on such proposed appointment within thirty days after receipt by the committee of notice of the proposed appointment, the appointment shall take effect and the member shall become a member of the technical advisory group.

C. Meetings of the technical advisory group shall be held in accordance with R.S. 42:11 et seq., the open meetings law, and the group shall allow for public input and comment into its deliberations. The date, time, and location of any meeting held to discuss projects for inclusion in the annual Basin plan shall be advertised in the official journal of the state at least seven days prior to the meeting. Any project recommended by the technical advisory group for inclusion in an annual plan shall first be certified by that group as a project that would result in significant water management or water quality improvements that will enhance the wildlife, fisheries, or forest resources of the Atchafalaya Basin.

D. After receipt of the recommendations on all water management and water quality projects approved by the technical advisory group and receipt of recommendations from the staff of the program, the board shall develop an annual Basin plan. The board shall hold public hearings on the proposed plan prior to the adoption of the annual plan. Information received during the public hearings may be used to amend the annual plan prior to presentation to the secretary. The board shall submit the final plan to the secretary.

E. The annual Basin plan shall be submitted to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority for their review and approval as consistent with the master plan for coastal protection and restoration for a sustainable coast prior to final adoption by the board.

F. Upon final adoption of the annual Basin plan by the board, the secretary shall submit the annual plan to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources at least thirty days prior to the start of each regular session of the legislature. The committees shall take action on the annual plan on or before April fifteenth of each year. The committees may make recommendations concerning changes they deem necessary or appropriate to remedy any deficiencies in the plan. The plan shall then be presented for approval by the legislature, by resolution, adopted by a majority vote of the members of each house of the legislature.

Acts 2008, No. 606, §1; Acts 2012, No. 92, §1.