Saturday, November 19, 2005
Somethings to remember any time Louisiana's aid requests are portrayed as outrageous (Houma Today July 23,2005):
Or from the same paper one week earlier:
Or from House Resources Committee Archives":
That testimony is four years old by the way. I'll let any reader draw his own conclusions.
Advocates in Louisiana argue that inland states split oil royalties from federal property 50-50 with the federal government. But Louisiana receives relatively little from oil-and-gas drilling occurring in the Outer Continental Shelf in federal waters far offshore.
For instance, Louisiana received less than 0.5 percent of the $5 billion in oil-and-gas royalties generated in federal waters off its coast in 2001. According to the U.S. Minerals Management Service, the state brought in more royalties than any state -- $7.5 billion.
Or from the same paper one week earlier:
While inland states enjoy 50 percent of the tax revenue from drilling on their federal lands, Louisiana gets back a mere $35 million of the $5 billion it contributes to the federal treasury each year from offshore drilling, or less than one percent
Or from House Resources Committee Archives":
About a fourth of the nation's entire oil and gas supply comes to rest on Louisiana's shores by pipeline, tanker or barge. In light of today's energy crisis, this is a staggering thought. A more disturbing thought, however, is that the coastal wetlands that protect that industry's infrastructure are disappearing. Without their protection, the ecological consequences of a Category Four hurricane making a direct hit on more than 20,000 miles of oil and gas pipelines coming on shore is unthinkable.
.....
During the past 50 years, Louisiana has lost more than 1,000 square miles of its coast. Even with current efforts, we expect to lose another 1,000 square miles over the next 50 years. This loss represents 80 % of all coastal wetland loss in the entire continental U.S. .....
The price tag to do the job is estimated at $16 billion to $20 billion, but the cost of doing nothing is far greater. The cost to the nation of lost infrastructure alone would be close to $150 billion. .....
The price tag to do the job is estimated at $16 billion to $20 billion, but the cost of doing nothing is far greater. The cost to the nation of lost infrastructure alone would be close to $150 billion. .......
For example, in 1997, the state of Wyoming hosted development of Federal mineral resources that generated more than $569 million in revenues. Wyoming received $239 million for its share of 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 for its share of the revenues produced in Federal offshore waters.
That testimony is four years old by the way. I'll let any reader draw his own conclusions.
