SLS 10RS-933 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2010
SENATE BILL NO. 636
BY SENATOR SHAW
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. Provide relative to certain water wells.(2/3-CA7s2.1(A))
(8/15/10)
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 38:3097.7, relative to rig supply water wells; to require certain actions for the2
protection of aquifers; to provide for civil penalties; to provide terms and conditions;3
and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 38:3097.7 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 6
ยง3097.7. Rig supply water wells7
A. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, in order to protect the8
ground water resources of this state from surface contamination by preventing9
the entrance of objectionable materials and wastes into aquifers traveling10
through open or improperly sealed water wells and holes, rig supply wells shall11
be plugged and abandoned within ten days of cessation of drilling activities.12
B. In no circumstance shall rig supply wells be left in place or used for13
purposes other than rig supply.14
C. Any rig supply well drilled after August 15, 2010, shall be secured by15
the placement of a cement pad and four non-movable metal posts at each corner16
of such cement pad. Such posts shall be no less than four inches in diameter,17 SB NO. 636
SLS 10RS-933 ORIGINAL
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
placed no less than two feet deep, and be at least three feet above ground.1
D. In addition to any other penalties, whoever violates the provisions of2
this Section shall be subject to a civil penalty in the amount of ten thousand3
dollars per day for each day of violation and for each act of violation.4
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Cathy R. Wells.
DIGEST
Proposed law requires rig supply wells to be plugged and abandoned within 10 days of
cessation of drilling activities in order to protect the ground water resources of this state
from surface contamination by preventing the entrance of objectionable materials and wastes
into aquifers traveling through open or improperly sealed water wells and holes.
Proposed law prohibits any rig supply well be left in place or used for purposes other than
rig supply.
Proposed law requires that any rig supply well drilled after August 15, 2010, be secured by
the placement of a cement pad and 4 non-movable metal posts at each corner of such cement
pad. Further requires such posts to be no less than 4 inches in diameter, placed no less than
2 feet deep, and be at least 3 feet above ground.
Proposed law provides for civil penalties to the owner of such non-compliant rig supply well
in the amount of $10,000 per day for each day of violation and for each act of violation.
Effective August 15, 2010.
(Adds R.S. 38:3097.7)