Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1978-10-27

Duration: 00:28:35

Subjects: Environment | Filmed panel discussions | Journalists | Environmental law | Jackson, Kirtley M., d. 1978 | Louisiana. Department of Natural Resources | Louisiana. Department of Health and Human Resources | HAZARDOUS WASTES | PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY | Cholera | Health | Water pollution | Sewage treatment plants | Elections, 1978 | First use tax | NATURAL GAS | GAS INDUSTRY | Constitutional amendments | Louisiana. Constitution (1974) | Louisiana. Legislature | Code of ethics

Contributors:

• Blome, Ron Host
• Folmar, Bill Photographer
• L'Herisson, Sandra Photographer
• Jackson, Lyle Photographer
• Blome, Ron Reporter
• Blome, Ron Editor
• George, Beth Producer
• Wolf, Thom Director
• Michaud, Larry Panelist
• Brightbill, Roy Panelist
• Coates, Guy Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” from October 27, 1978, features Ron Blome leading a panel discussion with three capitol reporters: Larry Michaud of the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate and State Times, Guy Coates of the Associated Press and Roy Brightbill of United Press International.  They discuss: the emergence of the environment as a major issue in the state after the death of teenager Kirtley Jackson at the Bayou Sorrel Hazardous Waste Pit; the fight between the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health and Human Resources over which department should have control over all of the state’s environmental functions; the problem of hazardous waste disposal in the state; the need for more funding for environmental monitoring and regulation; the cholera outbreak in Vermilion Parish and the need for more sewage treatment plants in order to alleviate the dumping of raw sewage into Louisiana’s waterways;  the upcoming vote on the first constitutional amendment to the 1974 Louisiana Constitution related to dedicating the proceeds of the first use tax on offshore natural gas to paying down state debt and the preservation of the barrier islands on the coast; and the debate in a joint committee of the legislature over establishing a code of ethics.