Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
A. The
secretary may revoke a certification for any of the following reasons:
1. violation by the certified land
conservation organization of or failure to continue to satisfy any requirement
under §4107 A;
2. substantial change in any of the
considerations under
§4107. B C;
3. any reason for which certification could
be denied under
§4107 D;
4. failure to comply with any requirement
under §4111;
5. the certified land
conservation organization acts or fails to act in such a manner so as to
interfere with or impede any Comprehensive Master Coastal Protection Plan or
any Annual Plan adopted by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and
the Legislature under Revised Statutes Title 49, Part II, Subpart A, or any
plan or project included in any such master plan or annual plan; however, this
Section shall not be construed to limit the certified land conservation
organization's ability to oppose any of the foregoing or to seek amendment or
alteration thereof;
6. the
certified land conservation organization is acquired, in whole or in part, by
any person that is not a certified land conservation organization.
B. Revocation proceedings may be
initiated by the secretary issuing a notice of intent to revoke certification
to the certified land conservation organization. The notice shall be sent by
United States mail, return receipt requested or with delivery confirmation, and
shall set forth the secretary's reasons for revocation.
1. The certified land conservation
organization may respond in writing within 30 days after receipt of the notice
of intent to revoke certification, explaining its reasons why the certification
should not be revoked and responding to each of the secretary's reasons for
revocation. All documents that the certified land conservation organization
contends the secretary should consider in determining whether to revoke the
certification shall be attached to the response.
a. If no response is received within 30 days
after the certified land conservation organization receives the notice of
intent to revoke certification, the certification shall be revoked, unless
excused by the secretary.
b. If a
response is received timely, the secretary shall designate one or more
reviewers to receive, review, and make recommendations to the secretary
regarding the revocation. The reviewer shall designate a department contact
with respect to the revocation, and shall provide contact information for that
person to the applicant. All communications with the department regarding the
revocation shall be made to the designated department contact, unless and until
another contact is designated to the certified land conservation organization
in writing.
2. In its
response, the certified land conservation organization may request an oral
presentation to the reviewer, to be held within 30 days after receipt of the
response unless extended by the reviewer.
3. If the reviewer requires additional
information or interview with any of the certified land conservation
organization's board, officers, or staff members, the reviewer shall so notify
the certified land conservation organization, specifying the information or
interviews required by the reviewer. The reviewer shall issue any such notice
to the certified land conservation organization in writing by United States
mail, return receipt requested or with delivery confirmation.
a. If additional information is requested,
the certified land conservation organization shall provide the requested
information within 30 days after receipt of the request.
b. The reviewer may request one or more
interviews of the certified land conservation organization's board, officers,
or staff members, by telephone, videoconference, or in person within 30 days
after receipt of the request.
c. If
requested information is not received or interviews are not provided within 30
days after the certified land conservation organization receives the reviewer's
request, the certification shall be revoked, unless excused by the
reviewer.
4. The
reviewer shall consider all information provided in or with the notice of
intent to revoke certification, the department's files, any response, any oral
presentation, any additional information provided, and any interviews. The
reviewer may disregard any information not submitted timely pursuant to this
Section.
a. The reviewer may seek and obtain
any other information or interviews from any other source, but shall notify the
certified land conservation organization of its intent to consider such
information or interviews and the basic nature of the information or materials.
The certified land conservation organization may respond in writing within 30
days after receipt of notice of such information or interviews.
5. The reviewer shall make a
recommendation to the secretary in writing regarding whether to revoke the
certification within 60 days after receipt of the certified land conservation
organization's response, any requested information, any requested interviews,
any oral presentation requested by the certified land conservation
organization, and any response to any notice of additional information or
interviews.
6. The secretary shall
render a determination regarding revocation within 60 days after receipt of the
recommendation of the reviewer.
7.
The secretary shall notify the certified land conservation organization in
writing of the secretary's determination regarding revocation, by United States
mail, return receipt requested or with delivery confirmation.
8. If the secretary determines to revoke the
certification, the secretary shall so notify the Senate Committee on Natural
Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources of the secretary's
determination.
a. The secretary may publish
public notice of the secretary's determination to revoke the
certification.
C. Upon revocation of any certification, the
organization will no longer be considered a certified land conservation
organization and will no longer be considered to meet the definition of an
acquiring authority under
R.S.
31:149, on and after the date of such
revocation.
D. Instead of revoking
a certification, the secretary may, but need not, deem a certified land
conservation organization to be non-compliant or on probationary status, for
any of the reasons stated in this Section for which certification may be
revoked. Such non-compliant or probationary status may be publicized by the
secretary in any manner he deems appropriate.
AUTHORITY NOTE:
Promulgated in accordance with
R.S.
31:149 and
R.S.
41:1702.