@ttite at the @uhernur ?tate at inutsiana P.O. Box 94004 BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA 70804-9004 (225) 342-70l5 GOV.LA.GOV JOHN BEL EDWARDS GOVERNOR May 19, 2016 Chris John Don Briggs Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil Gas Association Louisiana Oil Gas Association 730 North Boulevard 1331 Lakeridge Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Dear Mr. John and Mr. Briggs: Thank you for your letter on behalf of your members regarding our meeting last week on Louisiana?s coastal land loss. While I do appreciate the willingness to attend this meeting, I was disappointed that we were not able to have a more constructive dialogue about the issues facing coastal Louisiana and a possible structure to resolve the related liability issues facing the oil and gas industry. I am, however, hopeful that this meeting was just the beginning of a productive discussion that bring about sustainable coastal restoration consistent with the state Master Plan. As you lcnow, our coast is in crisis. Some communities are literally in danger of being washed away. Some could disappear with the next severe storm or hurricane. Meanwhile, we are struggling to pay for our state?s Master Plan to restore the coast and protect our citizens. Ibelieve that any realistic discussion of coastal issues must involve these claims. That is why I invited you and your members to meet with me, and why I hope you will reconsider your decision not to meet again. While these suits were ?led well before I was elected, I do not intend to be on the sidelines for an issue of such importance to Louisiana. As I stated at the meeting, I intend to be involved in all facets of the state?s coastal restoration efforts including those efforts to secure funding for the Master Plan. Contrary to the assertions in your letter, I certainly do not believe that resolution of these suits and the overall liability issues is the only answer to funding coastal restoration. Further, I agree that the oil and gas industry is not the sole cause of the destruction of the Louisiana coast, nor it should be held in any way responsible for damages it did not cause. However, these suits were ?led in an effort to hold those companies that did cause damage responsible. These discussions were meant to explore those very issues and to develop a structure to ?nd a resolution of this litigation. At this point, we have two choices work together toward an amicable solution or spend years in litigation. There should be no doubt that it is in the best interests of Louisiana and the industry to choose the former option. Chris John Don Briggs May 19, 2016 Page Two There is simply too much at stake for everyone to retreat to their corners and to put the fate of the coast on such an uncertain path. In fact, if we do so, the only two things certain to follow are that we will continue to lose our coast at unsustainable rates and the oil and gas industry will spend a tremendous amount of time and resources defending lawsuits. I am committed to a path that reverses coastal land loss and that will preserve the Louisiana coast for generations to come. I hope you will reconsider your decision and will continue discussions about resolving this matter in a way that serves the best interest of Louisiana and brings some ?nality of this litigation to the industry. My invitation to do so still stands.