HLS 14RS-1249 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 54
BY REPRESENTATIVE ST. GERMAIN
SALT DOMES: Requests the office of conservation to study the effect of implementing
certain requirements for operators of salt dome caverns
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the office of conservation to study the effect of implementing certain2
requirements for operators of salt dome caverns.3
WHEREAS, there are currently twenty-eight salt domes in the state of Louisiana4
with permitted activities of brine production and storage cavern formation and operation5
with twenty-six of those salt domes located in South Louisiana; and6
WHEREAS, prior to August 2012, most residents of Louisiana had no idea whether7
or not they were living or working near a salt dome or if any of the salt domes located near8
their homes or jobs were being used for brine production or for storage of oil or gas or9
produced water or other materials associated with oil and gas production in Louisiana; and10
WHEREAS, on August 3, 2012, after many months of unexplained bubbling in and11
along the bayou, a sink hole unexpectedly opened up in the swamps near Bayou Corne in12
Assumption Parish, calling the attention of the entire country to the possibility of a salt dome13
cavern collapse; and14
WHEREAS, after the collapse of the cavern located in the Napoleonville salt dome,15
more than three hundred people were evacuated from one hundred fifty homes in the Bayou16
Corne community along LA Highway 70 due to the presence of methane, hydrogen sulfide,17
and other toxic gases associated with the production and exploration of hydrocarbons; and18
WHEREAS, in response to the disaster in Bayou Corne, the state office of19
conservation and the Legislature of Louisiana proposed and implemented reporting and20
safety measures designed to minimize the possibility of such an event reoccurring or21
occurring elsewhere in the state and to ensure public awareness and knowledge of the22 HLS 14RS-1249 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 54
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location of salt domes being used for brine production and for the storage of materials1
related to oil and gas exploration and production; and2
WHEREAS, there is still some concern, particularly among the still-evacuated3
residents of Bayou Corne, that not enough has been done to protect the public from similar4
fates and those residents are still hoping that the office of conservation will implement5
tighter restrictions on the use of salt domes for brine production and for storage, including6
such requirements as public disclosure of such caverns by a sign located at the site of the7
cavern or facility; an expanded buffer zone of five hundred feet surrounding the facility;8
scheduling public meetings at the request of twenty or more citizens residing within two9
thousand feet of a facility; submission by the owner of the facility to the office of10
conservation of a security plan for response to acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and11
accidents or equipment malfunctions; and requirements for bonds and insurance by the12
owners and operators of such facilities at sufficient levels to secure the interests of the13
businesses and residents in the area around such facilities.14
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby15
urge and request the office of conservation to study the potential effect of implementing the16
above-listed requirements for operators of salt dome caverns and the benefit to be gained17
from the implementation of such requirements.18
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of conservation report their findings19
to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee20
on Natural Resources no later than March 1, 2015.21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the22
commissioner of the office of conservation.23
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
St. Germain HCR No. 54
Urges and requests the office of conservation to study the potential effect of implementing
certain requirements for operators of salt dome caverns and the benefit to be gained from the
implementation of such requirements.