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Looking into the future the Pelican feeding its young from a self-induced wound in its own breast (as depicted, mysteriously, on the state flag of Louisiana) is accepted as an appropriate symbol of both self-sacrifice and rebirth. Through his selfless efforts, man is raised from the slavery of ignorance to the condition of freedom conferred by wisdom. Given the current state of affairs in Louisiana, one hopes that the understanding of the Pelican as a symbol shall point the way towards a new consciousness of ourselves as a whole, and lead us to face our futures with strength, grace, wisdom and faith, to learn from our mistakes and carry our successes and zest for living to future generations.

Letter to Senator Boxer & Congressman Miller: SOWL opposed to the Landrieu-Tauzin Bill

CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED June 24, 1999

Senator Barbara Boxer
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Rep. George Miller
United States Congress
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Senator Boxer and Congressman Miller:

SOWL is opposed to the Senator Landrieu-Billy Tauzin bill and support the Permanent Protection for America Resources 2000 Act. The Landrieu bill encourages increased drilling activities by tying the state's shares to production without enough safeguards to ensure the money is spent wisely. Oil company canals are a major reason for the loss of Louisiana wetlands. No drilling should be encouraged.

Louisiana has lost about 1,500 square miles of coast line since 1950, an area the size of Rhode Island. Much of the blame can be placed on the United States Army Corps of Engineers. For example, the Corps' construction of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet has destroyed over 5,000 acres of wetlands that were a natural hurricane barrier. This Corps' MRGO is pouring massive Gulf of Mexico salt water into our rapidly eroding wetland hurricane tidal barriers. St. Bernard, Plaquemines and Orleans Parishes are now sitting ducks for major flooding thanks to the Corps.

The Corps' permitting procedures to protect Louisiana wetlands have been a dismal failure -- if not an utter joke! The Corps along with Louisiana state officials have joined hands in rubber stamping an "OK" for every wetland development permit placed before their bureaucratic fingers. For example, the Corps and State officials have rubber stamped thousands upon thousands of oil company canals to be dredged through Louisiana wetlands, causing salt water intrusion and another major cause for disappearance of Louisiana wetlands.

SOWL has well documented the evils, if not malfeasance and possibly criminal acts by Crops and state officials, in permitting the destruction of 5,200 acres of a vast coastal estuary on the North shores of Lake Pontchartrain, Slidell, Louisiana. Please see the attached letter from Arthur Lemann, IV, Esq. to Lt. Gov. Joe. Ballard dated March 26, 1998. And now thanks to the Corps and Louisiana state agencies recklessly rubber stamping wetland destruction permits to land developers in St. Tammany Parish, urban sprawl spreads over once vast north shore coastal estuaries, inviting major flooding - disasters to human lives, property values and to our federal flood insurance programs.

SOWL requests the introduction of a resolution in the United States Senate to investigate the Corps and the State of Louisiana rubber-stamping wetland destruction permits. Hopefully, the United States Senate will pass new wetland protection legislation removing the Corps and the State of Louisiana from their permitting power authority in wetland coastal matters. This authority should be governed by the EPA, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Do you really think it wise to grant $347 million envisioned in Landrieu's Reinvestment Act to Louisiana State officials? Gov. Foster's legislature just authorized $9 million to build a golf course over 250 acres of wetlands in Westwego, Louisiana. What madness is this? How destructive to wetlands can you get? See the Clydia Davenport letter attached.

Finally, any wetland proposal attached to Billy Tauzin's name should be subject to suspicion. Tauzin is an enemy of wetland protection and preservation. His push to gut the Clean Water Act in the United States Congress speaks loud and clear. See SOWL's letter of April 10, 1996 to President Clinton attached.

The Landrieu-Tauzin Bill should be rejected in favor of Senator Boxer's and Rep. Miller's Bill.

Sincerely,

Save Our Wetlands, Inc. (S.O.W.L.)

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