WHEREAS, on September 27, 2002, high winds and storm surges associated with Tropical Storm Isidore prompted the Department of Health and Hospitals to order a precautionary closure of molluscan shellfish growing areas 1 through 24 until such time as it could determine no health dangers exist in those areas;
WHEREAS, on October 3, 2002, additional high winds and storm surges associated with Hurricane Lili prompted the Department of Health and Hospitals to order additional precautionary closures of molluscan shellfish growing areas 25, 27, and 28 until such time as it could determine no health dangers exist in those areas;
WHEREAS, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has conducted dredge sampling on both public reefs and private oyster leases in those molluscan shellfish growing areas, and has found silt and vegetative overburden present;
WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Hospitals reopened molluscan shellfish growing areas 5 through 13 at official sunrise on Friday, October 11, 2002, and molluscan shellfish growing areas 1 through 4 at official sunrise on Saturday, October 12, 2002, after it determined environmental conditions in those areas are within the requirements of the Model Ordinance of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, with molluscan shellfish growing areas 14 through 25, 27, and 28 remaining closed pursuant to the precautionary closure orders of September 27, 2002, and October 3, 2002;
WHEREAS, the oyster industry is important to the culture and economy of the state of Louisiana, and silt and vegetative overburden potentially may cause widespread mortality within oyster populations; and
WHEREAS, the best interests of the citizens of the state of Louisiana are served by allowing oyster lessees with leases located in molluscan shellfish growing areas 14 through 25, 27, and 28 which remain closed on Monday, October 14, 2002, pursuant to the precautionary closures ordered by the Department of Health and Hospitals on September 27, 2002, and October 3, 2002, a one (1) day damage inspection period to inspect for silt and vegetative overburden on their oyster leases;
NOW THEREFORE, I, M.J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., Governor of the state of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:
SECTION 1: Pursuant to R.S. 29:724 and notwithstanding any other provision of state law, regulation, and/or precautionary closure order, an oyster lessee and/or a licensed oyster harvester having written permission from the oyster lessee, of an oyster lease located in molluscan shellfish growing areas 14 through 25, 27, or 28 which remains subject to precautionary closure on Monday, October 14, 2002, by order of the Department of Health and Hospitals dated September 27, 2002, or October 3, 2002, (hereafter "oyster lease holder") shall be allowed to conduct oyster lease damage inspection activities on such oyster lease on Monday, October 14, 2002, under the following conditions and in accordance with the following procedures:
SECTION 2: All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, and officers of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Departments of Health and Hospitals and Wildlife and Fisheries in implementing the provisions of this Order.
SECTION 3: This Order is effective upon signature and, unless rescinded sooner, shall expire at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 14, 2002.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Louisiana, at the Capitol, in the city of Baton Rouge, on this 11th day of October, 2002.
M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
Governor
ATTEST BY
THE GOVERNOR
Fox McKeithen
Secretary of State