Office of the Secretary

DNR SECRETARY JACK CALDWELL TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS TODAY ON OCS REVENUE SHARING BILL

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Jack C. Caldwell testified today before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Resources in favor of the Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999, a bill sponsored so far by a bi-partisan group of 50 congressmen, including Billy Tauzin, Chris John and Richard Baker. The bill would share federal offshore oil and gas revenues with the states, bringing about $340 million a year to Louisiana if passed.

Secretary Caldwell testified in the capacity of Louisiana’s DNR secretary on the impact Louisiana’s coast sustains from oil and gas exploration and development. He also testified as a member of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Policy Committee that advises the U. S. Secretary of Interior through the Minerals Management Service. While serving on the OCS policy committee, he was asked to serve on the Coastal Impact Assistance Working Group that developed the formula for distributing a portion of the federal OCS revenues to coastal states.

Caldwell said, “In 1997, the state of Wyoming hosted development of federal mineral resources that generated more than $560 million in revenues. Wyoming received $239 million for its share of the revenues produced on federal lands.

“In the same year, Louisiana hosted development of federal mineral resources offshore that generated more than $3.8 billion and received only $18.2 million of its share of the revenues produced in federal offshore waters.”

Caldwell pointed out that with Louisiana losing about 35 square miles of its coast a year, much of that impacted by oil and gas development, there is a real need for Louisiana and other coastal states to share this revenue and “to reinvest these non-renewable oil and gas resources into renewable, sustainable resources”.

Editors: For more information, please contact the DNR Public Information Office at 225-342-8955.