SLS 14RS-4921 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 172
BY SENATOR LONG
CONSERVATION. Requests the office of conservation, in conjunction with the Public
Service Commission, to study landowner's rights concerning expropriation or condemnation
for the purpose of construction and operation of pipelines transporting any form of
hydrocarbon in a liquid or gaseous state.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the office of conservation, in conjunction with the Public Service2
Commission, to study landowner's rights concerning expropriation or condemnation3
for the purpose of construction and operation of pipelines transmitting any form of4
hydrocarbon in a liquid or gaseous state.5
WHEREAS, the right to own land is one of the most sacred rights in our nation,6
enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and the Louisiana Constitution; and7
WHEREAS, the legislature should be ever mindful of preserving this fundamental8
right, particularly in cases where the landowner's property may be acquired by expropriation9
or condemnation by a governmental authority; and10
WHEREAS, the development of oil and gas fields may necessitate the construction11
and operation of pipelines, including interstate pipelines, to transmit hydrocarbons for the12
nation's energy needs; and13
WHEREAS, the commissioner of conservation is charged with promulgating rules,14
regulations, and orders for the construction, operation, and maintenance of pipelines; and15
WHEREAS, such rules, orders, and regulations should always seek to inform and16
protect landowners.17
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby18 SCR NO. 172
SLS 14RS-4921 ORIGINAL
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urge and request the commissioner of conservation to study the feasability and impact of1
providing a prepared written declaration of rights to be distributed to landowners concerning2
expropriation or condemnation for the purpose of construction and operation of pipelines3
transporting any form or hydrocarbon.4
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such written declaration include a description5
of the expropriation and condemnation procedure, the acquiring entity's obligations to the6
landowner, and the landowner's right to compensation to a trial by a court and appeal.7
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study should include the feasibility of8
creating and maintaining a registry made available to the public, listing the authorities with9
the power to expropriate and condemn property.10
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commissioner of conservation shall11
cooperate with any state, federal, or private entity, including the Public Service Commission,12
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the United States Department of13
Transportation, in the study to ensure the appropriate distribution of the declaration of rights14
to the greatest extent possible, or to maintain the accuracy of the registry of entities.15
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the findings and recommendations of the study shall16
be made to the legislature no later than sixty days prior to the 2015 Regular Session.17
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to18
commissioner of conservation and the Public Service Commission.19
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by McHenry Lee.
DIGEST
Long SCR No. 172
Requests the commissioner of conservation to study the feasibility of providing a written
declaration of landowner's rights, concerning expropriation or condemnation for the purpose
of construction and operation of pipelines transporting any form of hydrocarbon in a liquid
or gaseous state, and to maintain a registry of entities with expropriation and condemnation
authority.