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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, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 585
BY SENATOR MILLS
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 30:4(N), relative to solution-mined cavern permits; to require public notice2
for certain solution-mined cavern permits in Iberia Parish; to require a public hearing3
for permits to drill, expand, operate, or convert certain solution-mined caverns; to4
provide terms, conditions, and requirements; and to provide for related matters.5
Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 30:4(N) is hereby enacted to read as follows:8
ยง4. Jurisdiction, duties, and powers of the assistant secretary; rules and regulations9
* * *10
N.(1) No permit to drill or operate a new solution-mined cavern, or11
expand or convert an existing solution-mined cavern in Iberia Parish may be12
issued until after a public hearing is held no earlier than August 15, 2015, on the13
application for the permit. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and14
regulations to provide for such public hearings and shall fix the date, time, and15
place therefor. The operator or owner, prior to such a public hearing, shall give16
public notice on three separate days within a period of thirty days prior to the17
public hearing, with at least five days between each publication notice, both in18
the official state journal and in the official journal of the parish in which the19
well is to be located. 20
(2) At least thirty days prior to such public hearing on a permit to21
expand or convert an existing solution-mined cavern or to drill and operate a22
new solution-mined cavern in Iberia Parish, the permit applicant shall submit23
a report to the commissioner of conservation, to Save Lake Peigneur, Inc., and24
to the governing authority of Iberia Parish. The report shall provide a baseline25
analysis of groundwater levels and salt content in the nearby groundwater wells26
that can be accessed for such analysis; a plan to monitor groundwater levels and27 SB NO. 585 ENROLLED
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
salt water content for the duration of the activity for the creation of cavern1
storage should a permit be granted; a geologic analysis by a qualified third2
party geologist that examines the integrity of the salt dome; and the results of3
an analysis of testing that attempts to determine the source and composition of4
intermittent foaming or bubbling appearing in Lake Peigneur.5
(3) No permit to expand or convert an existing solution-mined cavern6
or to drill and operate a new solution-mined cavern in Iberia Parish shall be7
issued prior to January 31, 2016.8
(4) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to any activity or9
operation related to safety, maintenance, inspection, testing or regulatory10
compliance, when necessary, or when required by regulators.11
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: