If you think that Louisiana’s environmental penalty settlement process is already political – you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! Representative Wayne Waddel of Shreveport has introduced House Bill 347 in the 2005 Louisiana Legislative Session to amend the environmental statutes to require that ten percent of any fine imposed by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality or ten percent of any settlement of any environmental penalty be given to the parish governing authority for the parish where the violation occurred. The bill has been assigned to the Appropriations committee rather than the Environment committee for review. The text of this bill as well as any schedule for hearings can be located at the Legislature’s web site http://www.legis.state.la.us through the “Bill Search” feature.
