[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 125 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9561-S9563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TROPICAL STORM ISIDORE

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I come to the floor today regarding 
Tropical Storm Isidore, which made landfall last Wednesday just south 
of New Orleans and dumped nearly 25 inches of rain in 24 hours. This 
massive and destructive storm brought winds of 60 miles per hour to 
Southeast Louisiana and a storm surge of up to 6 feet.

[[Page S9562]]

  I was able to see the flooding first-hand when I traveled to 
Louisiana on Thursday with the FEMA Director, Joe Allbaugh, to survey 
the damage.
  I was relieved and grateful to learn that on Friday, the President 
declared a Federal disaster for the area. This declaration triggered 
the release of Federal funds to bring much-needed recovery assistance 
to the towns, communities, businesses, and citizens that suffered great 
loss. I would like to thank President Bush and FEMA Director Joe 
Allbaugh for their support of Louisiana's recovery efforts.
  Although the final cost of Tropical Storm Isidore is still being 
determined, Louisianans know all too well the damage a storm on this 
particular path can bring. Had this storm reached the level of strength 
earlier predicted, it would have been a category 3 hurricane, packing 
winds of 130 miles per hour and a storm surge of up to 12 feet.
  As nearly all of New Orleans area rests below sea level, a hurricane 
of that magnitude alone on the path that Tropical Storm Isidore has 
taken would devastate southeast Louisiana.
  In Louisiana and throughout the Gulf South, we deal with the threat 
of hurricanes every year. From all reports, this storm could have been 
much worse, and we are thankful it was not. But I must take this 
opportunity to bring to light what is at stake when a hurricane or 
storm takes aim on the Louisiana coast. Not only is the safety, lives 
and property of Louisiana residents at risk the Nation's critical 
energy infrastructure and energy supply as well as crucial conservation 
measures are in danger.
  Tropical Storm Isidore should serve as a wake-up call to the Federal 
Government, which must do more to protect the nation's resources in 
Louisiana.
  Because the City of New Orleans is below sea level and surrounded by 
levees, every drop of rain that lands there must be pumped out. This 
important job is accomplished by local, State, and Federal agencies 
working together to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in 
place and working much of this work is done by the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers. However, in the President's budget request submitted to 
Congress this year, funding for the southeast Louisiana Flood Control 
Project, (SELA), was cut by an astonishing 50 pecent.
  The SELA flood control project is a smart investment. By investing in 
these flood control projects, we could prevent the expenditure of 
hundreds of millions of dollars that will otherwise be spent in Federal 
flood insurance claims and other disaster assistance programs. 
Fortunately, the Senate Appropriations Committee understands this 
investment and has approved an increase for this project, which will 
allow the construction already underway to continue. However, this is 
not enough. I urge the administration to rethink its priorities and to 
include sufficient funding for the SELA project in its budget request 
for fiscal year 2004.
  Although protecting life and property should be reason enough to 
invest in infrastructure in Louisiana, there is an even bigger problem 
that faces the entire Nation when severe flooding occurs in South 
Louisiana. More than 80 percent of the Nation's offshore oil and gas is 
produced off Louisiana's coast and 25 percent of all the Nation's 
foreign and domestic oil comes across Louisiana's shores by tanker, 
barge or pipeline. In fact, according to the Minerals Management 
Service, (MMS), of the 571 million barrels of oil produced from the 
Outer Continental Shelf in 2001, 502 million were produced offshore 
Louisiana. That translates to 88 percent of production.
  Let me also tell you all about a very special highway in south 
Louisiana. This highway also happens to be a main artery for the 
Nation's energy supply. This highway is aptly named Louisiana Highway 
1. Nearly one-fifth of the Nation's entire energy supply depends on 
Louisiana 1, and we cannot continue to leave its future to the whims of 
mother nature.
  Louisiana Highway 1 connects Port Fourchon, Louisiana with the rest 
of the country. Why is it important? Consider these facts: 85 percent 
of the deep-water drilling rigs working in the Gulf are supported by 
Port Fourchon; the Department of Interior's Mineral Management Service 
has identified Port Fourchon as the focal point of deep-water activity 
in the Gulf; it is estimated that Port Fourchon services approximately 
16 percent of the U.S. domestic crude oil; natural gas production and 
imported crude oil; the Gulf of Mexico has 20,000 miles of pipelines, 
which is the most extensive network of offshore oil and gas pipelines 
in the world; Louisiana 1 is the only road servicing Port Fourchon, and 
it spends heavy rain days underwater; Louisiana 1 is the only means of 
land access to the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, (LOOP); LOOP is the 
only offshore oil terminal in the United States and alone is 
responsible for 13 percent of the United States' imported crude oil. 
LOOP transports approximately one million barrels of foreign oil a day 
and approximately 300,000 barrels of domestic crude from the Gulf of 
Mexico Outer Continental Shelf. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
estimates that 60 percent of all the Louisiana offshore drilling over 
the next 30 years will be in the service area of Port Fourchon. -In the 
event of a hurricane, this lonely little road is the way out for tens 
of thousands of my constituents.
  Last year, after giving a similar speech on this floor about the 
critical importance of Louisiana 1, it was finally designated as a 
federal ``high priority corridor.'' But Louisiana 1, like much of south 
Louisiana, is washing away, and we must act now to preserve it. You can 
see from this picture that even without a severe hurricane, this 
highway is in a precarious situation. Can you imagine what would happen 
if a hurricane hit us head on? It would be gone, and there would be 
great difficulty in servicing one-fifth of our nation's energy supply. 
I urge the administration and my Congressional colleagues to think 
about these facts and to invest more resources in critical improvements 
to this and other highway systems in south Louisiana.
  Year after year, revenues from the oil and gas production off the 
coast of my State provides most of the funds for the Land and Water 
Conservation Fund but receives precious little in return. Since 1968, 
and for most of the life of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, OCS 
revenues have served as the primary source of funding. In fact, since 
1990, OCS funds have accounted for more than 90 percent of the deposits 
in the Land and Water Conservation Fund each year.
  While approximately 80 percent of the OCS revenues collected during 
this period came from offshore Louisiana, only 1.1 percent, $27 
million, of the total Federal side Land and Water Conservation Fund 
allocated during this period actually went toward Louisiana. On the 
other hand, 23 percent, $650 million, of the funding allocated during 
this period from the Federal side of the fund went to California, but 
only 4 percent of the total OCS funds during this period came from 
offshore California. In addition, 11 percent, $327 million, of the 
funding allocated during this period went toward Florida but no OCS 
revenues come from offshore Florida. The Nation must beware. Louisiana 
cannot continue to serve as the Nation's energy and conservation 
platform for much longer without adequate revenue sharing and 
investment. If we do make these investments, there could be severe 
consequences to both the State and the Nation.
  So, what is at stake? The wetlands in Louisiana that have vanished so 
far represent an area the size of Rhode Island. Every 30 minutes, a 
parcel of low lying land the size of a football field disappears. If 
current trends continue, this will result in the loss of nearly 40 
percent of our Nation's coastal wetlands. Not only do these wetlands 
and barrier islands offer invaluable protection from hurricanes and 
storms such as Isidore for more than 2 million people living in the 
coastal zone, including the City of New Orleans, they also protect our 
Nation's energy infrastructure so much of which is found in Louisiana's 
coastal zone. Here one will find not only LOOP but also two storage 
sites for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and Henry Hub, one of 
the Nation's major natural gas distribution centers.

  From Wednesday to Friday of last week, MMS estimated that 4.5 million 
barrels of oil and 25 billion cubic feet of natural gas were 
unavailable for U.S. consumption because of Isidore. With over 4,000 
oil and gas platforms in the Gulf, storm events such as Isidore

[[Page S9563]]

threaten 95 percent of crude oil and 60 percent of natural gas 
production from offshore federal lands. Louisiana's rapidly eroding 
wetlands are invaluable in absorbing the surge of storm events like 
Isidore. Without them, one can only imagine the damage a hurricane 
could wreak on South Louisiana and the nation's energy infrastructure.
  One-third of the commercial fish harvested in the lower 48 States 
comes from Louisiana's coastal zone. As Louisiana's coastal wetlands 
disappear, so will these fisheries.
  Louisiana's wetlands are home to the Nation's largest flyway, serving 
as habitat for more than five-million birds and many endangered 
species. As the wetlands wash away this habitat is lost. Also, they act 
as a buffer for the number one port system in the United States that 
moves the Nation's goods from middle America to world markets.
  Louisiana takes pride in its role as the country's most crucial 
energy provider. Ours is a state rich in natural resources. However, 
given the contribution my State makes to the Nation, it is time for the 
Nation to carefully consider its deficient investment in South 
Louisiana and the Gulf Coast Region and to consider what would happen 
if, God forbid, a major hurricane travels the same path as Tropical 
Storm Isidore. The Land and Water Conservation Fund is just one example 
of a Federal revenue stream that will suffer. It is long past time for 
the Federal Government to adequately and fairly invest in a State that 
gives so much to the rest of the country.
  As I said a few moments ago, Tropical Storm Isidore should serve as 
our wake-up call. The examples I mentioned today, the SELA flood 
control project, Louisiana Highway 1 and other highways such as 
Interstate 49, and our Nation's wetlands, are too important to ignore.
  It is too early to tell what the final damage will be from Tropical 
Storm Isidore. However, one thing is guaranteed: it will not be the 
last. Let us act now to invest in the infrastructure necessary to 
protect the life and property of our citizens.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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