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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE BILL NO. 200
BY SENATOR MILLS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
SALT DOMES. Prohibits the issuance of certain permits to create or convert a solution
mined cavern for storage purposes. (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 30:23.1, relative to permits for solution mined cavern wells; to provide for the2
prohibition of certain permits on state owned water bottoms; to provide terms,3
conditions, and requirements; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 30:23.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:6
ยง23.1 Permits for solution mined caverns near salt domes; prohibition on state7
leases of state owned water bottoms acreage8
A. For the purposes of this Section, "solution mined cavern" means a9
cavity created within the salt stock by dissolution with water.10
B. The legislature finds that Louisiana contains a significant number of11
underground salt dome formations and these formations have been subject to12
catastrophic influences caused by certain activities, permitted by the state and13
conducted in close proximity to salt domes and adjacent formations.14
C. In order to protect our precious water resources, the commissioner15
of conservation shall not authorize or issue any permits for the creation of a16
solution mined cavern or to convert a solution mined cavern to storage or waste17 SB NO. 200
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
disposal in any area where the salt stock underlying a state owned water bottom1
has structurally failed if that failure was man made.2
D. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to the United States3
Strategic Petroleum Reserve or any entity regulated by the Offshore Terminal4
Authority.5
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not6
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature7
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If8
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become9
effective on the day following such approval.10
The original instrument was prepared by Heyward Jeffers. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by McHenry Lee.
DIGEST
Mills (SB 200)
Proposed law provides a definition for "solution mined caverns".
Proposed law provides that the legislature finds that La. contains a number of salt dome
formations which have been subject to catastrophic influences caused by certain activities
permitted by the state and conducted in close proximity to salt domes and adjacent
formations.
Proposed law prohibits the commissioner of conservation from issuing permits for the
creation of a solution mined cavern or to convert a solution mined cavern to storage or waste
disposal in any area where the salt stock underlying a state owned water bottom has
structurally failed if that failure was man made.
Proposed law provides an exception for the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve or any entity
regulated by the Offshore Terminal Authority.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 30:23.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Natural Resources to
the original bill
1. Removes certain legislative findings.
2. Replaces provisions of proposed law.
3. Prohibits the commissioner from issuing certain solution mined cavern SB NO. 200
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permits.
4. Adds certain exemptions.