WHEREAS, the citizens of Louisiana who live and/or work in the region, especially those in the vicinity of Grand Isle, Port Fourchon, and Raceland, are dependent on LA 1 remaining open and passable for safe and expeditious evacuations during the threat of a hurricane and/or a tropical storm;
WHEREAS, the economic infrastructure of the region is dependent upon the integrity of LA 1 as ninety-five percent (95 percent) of the shellfish and finfish harvested in the region's waters are shipped to market over LA 1; sugar cane harvests that annually generate approximately two hundred-twenty million dollars ($220,000,000) and vegetable harvests that annually generate approximately four million dollars ($4,000,000) in sale revenues are transported to market and/or processing facilities over LA 1; and the vast majority of the goods and services needed to support and sustain the region's oil and gas industry, an industry that generates annual state mineral revenues in the range of half a billion dollars ($500,000,000), are transported over LA 11;
WHEREAS, the state of Louisiana's goals for the twenty-first century include developing a transportation infrastructure in the region that will safely and adequately support an increase in traffic volume resulting from emergency situations and/or economic growth and development; and
WHEREAS, the interests of the citizens of the state of Louisiana would be best served by the creation of a task force charged with the duty of
NOW THEREFORE I, M.J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: The Louisiana Highway 1 Project Task Force (hereafter "Task Force") is established within the executive department, Office of the Governor.
SECTION 2: The duties of the Task Force shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
SECTION 3: The Task Force shall submit a comprehensive written report to the governor; the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works; and the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Pubic Works, by April 1, 1999.
SECTION 4: The Task Force shall be composed of a maximum of twenty-one (21) members appointed by, and serving at the pleasure of, the governor. The membership of the Task Force shall be selected as follows:
SECTION 5: The governor shall appoint the chair from the membership of the Task Force. All other officers shall be elected by the membership of the Task Force.
SECTION 6: Support staff for the Task Force and facilities for its meetings shall be provided by the Department of Transportation and Development.
SECTION 7: Task Force members shall not receive additional compensation or a per diem from the Office of the Governor, or the Department of Transportation and Development. Nonetheless, contingent upon the availability of funds, a member who is not an elected official or an employee of the state or federal government, may receive reimbursement from the Office of the Governor for actual travel expenses incurred, in accordance with state guidelines and procedures, and upon the written approval of the commissioner of administration.
SECTION 8: All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, and officers of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Task Force in implementing the provisions of this Order.
SECTION 9: This Order is effective upon signature and shall continue in effect until amended, modified, terminated or rescinded by the governor, or terminated by operation of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this 8th day of October, 1998.
M. J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Fox McKeithen
Secretary of State