EXECUTIVE ORDER MJF 96-76

Tangipahoa River Task Force

WHEREAS: the scenic Tangipahoa River is a popular recreational area in the State of Louisiana;

WHEREAS: the Tangipahoa River is also a vital part of the state's transportational and ecological systems;

WHEREAS: Senate Concurrent Resolution Number 139, authored by Senator John J. Hainkel, Jr., created the Tangipahoa River Task Force as a means to protect and preserve the recreational, ecological, functional and aesthetic aspects of the Tangipahoa River;

WHEREAS: in its Concurrent Resolution, the Louisiana Senate accurately observed that in order to protect and preserve the integrity of the Tangipahoa River's recreational, ecological, scenic, and functional attributes, it is in the best interest of the State of Louisiana to establish a Tangipahoa River Task Force to provide advisory assistance to state agencies and local governments for the management of the river and its surrounding areas; and

WHEREAS: the elimination of the Office of Permits by the Office of the Governor necessitate that the Tangipahoa River Task Force be relocated within the Office of the Governor;

NOW THEREFORE I, M.J. "MIKE" FOSTER, JR., Governor of the State of Louisiana, by virtue of the Constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

SECTION 1: The Tangipahoa River Task Force (hereafter "task force") is created and established within the Executive Department, Office of the Governor.

SECTION 2: The members of the task force shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor. The task force shall be composed of nine members selected as follows:

  • 1. one member from a list of nominees compiled by the Tangipahoa Tourist Commission;

  • 2. one member from a list of nominees compiled by the Tangipahoa Parish president;

  • 3. one member from a list of nominees compiled by the president of Southeastern Louisiana University;

  • 4. one member from a list of nominees compiled by the secretary of the Department of Economic Development;

  • 5. one member from a list of nominees compiled by the Citizens for a Clean Tangipahoa;

  • 6. one member from a list of nominees compiled by the Tangipahoa district of the Farm Bureau;

  • 7. one member of the executive staff, Office of the Governor;

  • 8. one member who is an elected mayor in the parish of Tangipahoa; and

  • 9. the commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry, or the commissioner's designee.

    • SECTION 3: The membership of the task force shall elect its chair.

    SECTION 4: In accordance with Senate Concurrent Resolution Number139, the duties of the task force include, but are not limited to, coordinating the efforts of all state agencies involved in the cleanup of the Tangipahoa River and monitoring the cleanup to insure its safety for recreational use.

    SECTION 5: Support staff for the task force and facilities for its meetings shall be provided by the Office of the Governor.

    SECTION 6: The task force shall meet at regularly scheduled intervals, and also at the call of the chair.

    SECTION 7: All departments, commissions, boards, agencies, and officers of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, are authorized and directed to cooperate with the task force in implementing the provisions of this order.

    SECTION 8: This order is effective upon signature and shall remain in effect until amended, modified, terminated, or rescinded by the governor, or terminated by operation of law.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand officially and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the City of Baton Rouge, on this 17th day of December, 1996.

    M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.
    Governor

    ATTEST BY
    THE GOVERNOR
    Fox McKeithen
    Secretary of State