SECRETARY’S EMERGENCY ORDER

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COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

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WHEREAS, pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, La. R.S. 29:721, et seq., the Governor declared a Public Health emergency in Proclamation No. 25 JBE 2020 and has extended those provisions until May 15, 2020 in a subsequent proclamation in order to protect the health and safety of the public from the threat of COVID-19;

WHEREAS, in the days since the declaration of public health emergency, the COVID-19 outbreak in Louisiana has expanded significantly;

WHEREAS, additional measures are necessary to protect the health and safety of the public;

WHEREAS, to deal with emergencies or disasters and to ensure that preparations of this state will be adequate to deal with such emergencies or disasters, and to preserve the lives and property of the citizens of the state of Louisiana, including the authority to suspend the provisions of any regulatory statute prescribing the procedures for conduct of state business, or the orders, rules, or regulations of any state agency, if strict compliance with the provisions of any statute, order, rule, or regulation would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with the emergency;

WHEREAS, Proclamation No. 41-JBE-2020 Section 5(k) states, “Any state department or agency or political subdivision is hereby granted authority to further extend any non-essential deadline for a period of no longer than 30 days if deemed necessary to respond to the threat of COVID-19”; and,

WHEREAS, COVID-19 is impacting physical interaction of citizens throughout the state of Louisiana by the implementation of Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidance to all citizens to utilize social distancing and eliminating personal contact during the Covid-19 virus pandemic.

NOW THEREFORE, I, SHAWN DAVID WILSON, Secretary of Department of Transportation and Development, State of Louisiana, by virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Louisiana, do hereby order and direct as follows:

SECTION 1: With respect to the Statewide Flood Control Program pre-application filing deadline of May 1, 2020 and any ensuing deadlines established in the program:

1. The pre-application deadline and any ensuing deadlines in the program are hereby extended to June 15, 2020.

SECTION 3: This Order is effective as of May 1, 2020 and shall remain in effect until June 16, 2020, unless amended, modified or rescinded.
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Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D.
Department of Transportation and Development