ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 102
BY REPRESENTATIVE JOHNSON
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the office of conservation, Department of Natural Resources, to study
and review the statutes and the department's rules, regulations, and orders providing
for the plugging and abandonment of wells.
WHEREAS, orphan wells are abandoned oil and gas wells for which no viable
responsible party can be located, or the responsible party has failed to maintain the wellsite
in accordance with rules and regulations and it is for such wells the Department of Natural
Resources created the Louisiana Oilfield Site Restoration Program to address unrestored
orphaned oilfield sites; and
WHEREAS, while the vast majority of the original three thousand wells placed on
the orphan well list have been addressed since 1993, the department currently lists just under
an additional three thousand sites as orphan wells; and
WHEREAS, R.S. 30:4 authorizes the commissioner of conservation to ". . . require
the plugging of each dry and abandoned well and the closure of associated pits, the removal
of equipment, structures, and trash, and to otherwise require a general site cleanup. . ." along
with the authority to require a reasonable bond for the performance of such requirements;
and
WHEREAS, reducing the number of wells placed on the orphan well list is desirable
and a benefit to the department, the regulated community, the citizens, and the environment;
and
WHEREAS, increasing the number of wells properly plugged and abandoned while
a responsible party for the site still exists or has the means to maintain the site may be
accomplished through changes in the regulatory structure; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 102
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WHEREAS, areas of the regulatory structure that are appropriate for review include
the circumstances for exemptions from financial security requirements and for allowing
wells to remain unplugged on the basis of the future utility of the well.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the office of conservation, Department of Natural Resources, to study and
review the statutes and department's rules, regulations, and orders providing for the plugging
and abandonment of wells in an effort to identify improvements and efficiencies in the
regulatory structure, particularly exemptions from financial security requirements and
determining the status of future utility wells, to ensure the proper closure of wellsites and
ultimately reduce the number of orphan wellsites.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commissioner of conservation, on the basis
of the study and review, is hereby requested to initiate rule making or issue any orders
necessary to implement such improvements or efficiencies pursuant to current statutory
authority and to make recommendations for any necessary statutory changes to the House
Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and to the Senate Committee on Natural
Resources on or before March 1, 2015.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
the commissioner of conservation.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE