Reports - Mississippi Renewal

172 | ROAD MAP TO ACCOUNTABILITYRECOMMENDATIONS8 Income derived from salvage cuts in the affected areas should be exempt from federal income tax of up to $2.5 million for eachlandowner who has fi led reforestation plans by 2010.9 A casualty loss should be allowed for landowners with no basis in timber, which would allow a loss to be taken on some percentage ofmarket value prior to the disaster, rather than on basis.10 MDOT should construct a bypass for Highway 98 which will allow traffi c to fl ow south and west of Hattiesburg MDOT11 MDOT should construct a four lane highway connecting Mobile, Alabama with McComb, Mississippi, thereby creating the “Mobile toMcComb Highway.”12 MDOT should widen U.S. Highway 26 to four lanes from Lucedale west to the Pearl River Bridge near Bogalusa. MDOT13 MDOT should widen U.S. Highway 589 to four lanes from Seminary, adjacent to U. S. Highway 49, south to I-59 at the Purvis exit. MDOT14 The state should obtain a federal exemption, allowing for forestry and agricultural commodities to be hauled on interstate highways withstate weight limits and restrictions.15 Congress should appropriate $2 million to the USDA Forest Service's Cooperative Lands Forest Health Management Program. Congress16 The Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory should receive $2 million and the USDA Forest Service should receive an additional $1million to assess wildlife, fi sheries, wetlands, scenic and natural areas, hunting and fi shing losses, tourism potential, and related topics.17 Mississippi State University’s College of Forest Resources and Forest and Wildlife Research Center should be utilized for a forest resourcesassessment.18 The following programs in the designated Presidential Disaster Areas should be funded: Low interest loans and cost share program;expansion of national agricultural insurance programs; tax credits; development of alternative fuel plants; a crop disaster direct paymentprogram; Land, Water and Timber Resources Act; Mississippi Development Authority’s Agriculture Business Loan Program.19 Direct compensation through USDA grant sources should offset the following categories: fuel, income interruption, and house damageand loss.Responsible Entities and Funding SourcesFederal governmentFederal governmentMDOTState governmentCongressMississippi State UniversityState legislature and Congress20 The state should immediately rebuild the commercial components of the port facilities in Pascagoula and Gulfport. State government21 The state legislature should lower the state tax on replacement parts and services to the industry standard. State legislature22 FEMA assistance should be secured to reimburse affected dairy producers for up to 100 gallons of diesel fuel per day. FEMA23 A dairy disaster assistance program should be funded. Federal government24 Federal funding should be provided in the amount of $17 million for the livestock assistance program. Federal government25 USDA should appropriate supplemental funds to reimburse catfi sh farmers for their losses similar to the previously funded Catfi sh FeedAssistance Program.26 The Nursery and Tropical Fruit Producer Hurricane Relief Act (H.R. 4031) should be used to provide emergency relief to growers sufferinglosses from the hurricane.27 Provisions set forth in the Florida Vegetable, Fruit and Tropical Fruit Disaster Program authorized with Section 32 funds should beexpanded.28 Congress should provide funds to assist producers through the Tree Assistance Program, authorized in the Farm Security and Rural InvestmentAct of 2002.29 Seafood infrastructure should be immediately rebuilt with funds from public and private sector sources, and temporary infrastructureshould be provided while long-term rebuilding efforts are underway.30 The United States Coast Guard and other federal agencies should lead the effort to remove hurricane-related hazards to waterwaynavigation.31 The state should set-aside tracts of land to establish public and privately funded seafood industrial parks in Hancock, Harrison, andJackson Counties.Federal government. Funding available through USDS grantsources.USDALocal growersCongressCongressPrivate entities, Mississippi Department of Marine ResourcesU.S. Coast GuardState government32 Some form of direct federal compensation should be provided as a retention incentive for fi shermen. Federal Government33 The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources should use federal funds to restore oyster reefs, shrimp nursery areas, coastal marshes,and other estuarine habitats.Mississippi Department of Marine Resources34 Riverine fl oodplains and near-shore resources should be restored and enhanced. Mississippi Department of Marine Resources