[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 92 (Friday, July 15, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 15, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                        LaBRANCHE WETLANDS BILL

                                 ______


                        HON. W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 1994

  Mr. TAUZIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation that 
has two very important purposes: First, preserving significant wetlands 
habitat and second, protecting the rights of private property owners. 
My bill directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire the 
LaBranche Wetlands located in St. Charles Parish, LA, from voluntary 
sellers for inclusion in the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife 
Refuge.
  Acquisition of the LaBranche Wetlands by the Fish and Wildlife 
Service is very important to the preservation of wetlands in Louisiana. 
The LaBranche Wetlands is an ideal candidate for refuge status because 
of its high visibility to travelers along Interstate 10 between New 
Orleans and Baton Rouge, and it could easily be included within the 
already existing Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge because of its 
close proximity. The LaBranche Wetlands is located adjacent to New 
Orleans and could serve as an excellent educational tool for the 
citizens and school children of the New Orleans area. The LaBranche 
Wetlands contain significant wetlands habitat and could provide a model 
for other coastal and marsh restoration efforts throughout the nation. 
The LaBranche Wetlands has been the site of one of the first projects 
to use Christmas trees as sediment traps, a practice now widely used in 
coastal restoration efforts.
  Federal acquisition as a wildlife refuge is needed to better 
establish and preserve wildlife habitat and restore the wetlands. 
Unified management and improvement projects conducted by Federal 
employees is essential in creating a showplace for wetlands and coastal 
restoration.
  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquisition of the LaBranche Wetlands 
is also critical in preserving the rights of private landowners. A 
large number of landowners bought land within the LaBranche Wetlands 
with the understanding that the land could be developed both 
residentially and commercially. However, due to subsequent changes in 
the wetlands regulatory program, these landowners were not allowed to 
use and develop their land. In the past, I have requested that the Fish 
and Wildlife Service acquire this land for use as a refuge. The Service 
has informed me that it has no intention to acquire the LaBranche 
Wetlands because the wetlands are not a high priority. Many individuals 
and organizations at the state and local level disagree. I believe that 
the real reason the Federal Government has not already acquired the 
LaBranche property is that, in effect, they already have it. Because of 
Federal wetlands permitting regulations, affected landowners are unable 
to do anything with their land other than pay taxes on it.
  This legislation is needed to ensure that private property owners in 
the affected area are protected. Private landowners should not be 
forced to bear the burden of what society deems to be a mutual benefit 
shared by all. Let me make it clear that I fully support the societal 
goal of preservation of wetlands. However, private landowners should 
not bear the entire burden of achieving that goal. Equally important, 
this bill is needed to ensure that LaBranche Wetlands are preserved in 
the best way possible. Unified management and control by the Federal 
Government along with Federal resources and manpower are the key to 
making the LaBranche Wetlands the showplace for coastal restoration and 
wetlands habitat that it can truly be.

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