The federal Small Business Administration recently granted Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s request to issue an economic injury disaster declaration for Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Tammany parishes, and Jindal has asked that for 13 additional parishes be added to the list.
The declaration makes Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) available to small businesses – including fishing businesses – that have been impacted by the ongoing oil spill that began with a fire and explosion that occurred on an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20.
The 13 additional parishes are Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Livingston, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, Iberia and St. Martin
The state has been under a state of emergency declaration in response to the oil spill and Louisiana price gouging laws are now in effect.
The price gouging statutes prohibit the raising of prices above the pre-emergency levels unless there is a national or regional market commodity shortage. This means that gasoline, petroleum products, hotels, motels, and retailers are prohibited from raising prices during this state of emergency unless they incur a spike in the price of doing business.
The price gouging laws carry both civil and criminal penalties.
Source: Louisiana Governor’s Office; Louisiana Attorney General’s Office
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