HLS 16RS-2752 ENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 110
BY REPRESENTATIVE ROBBY CARTER
WATER/RESOURCES: Urges and requests the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and
the Department of Natural Resources to study the use of water from natural and
scenic rivers for certain uses
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in cooperation with the
3 Department of Natural Resources, to study the effects of certain withdrawals from
4 rivers and river segments in the natural and scenic river program and to report the
5 findings to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the
6 Senate Committee on Natural Resources.
7 WHEREAS, it is the constitutional duty of the legislature to enact laws to protect,
8conserve, and replenish the natural resources of the state, including air and water, and the
9healthful, scenic, historic, and aesthetic quality of the environment, insofar as possible and
10consistent with the health, safety, and welfare of the people; and
11 WHEREAS, in furtherance of that duty the Legislature of Louisiana enacted the
12Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act to preserve, protect, develop, reclaim, and enhance the
13wilderness qualities, scenic beauties, and ecological regime of the unique and diverse free-
14flowing rivers, streams, and bayous for the present and future benefit of Louisiana citizens;
15and
16 WHEREAS, the system of natural and scenic rivers is administered for the purpose
17of preserving aesthetic, scenic, recreational, fish, wildlife, ecological, archaeological,
18geological, botanical, and other natural and physical features and resources found along
19these streams or segments thereof; and
Page 1 of 2 HLS 16RS-2752 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 110
1 WHEREAS, Louisiana has the largest natural and scenic stream system in the nation
2including more than eighty rivers or river segments; and
3 WHEREAS, beginning in the latter half of the last decade this state experienced an
4oil and gas exploration and production boom with the economic viability of using hydraulic
5fracturing stimulation operations to produce hydrocarbons from formations such as the
6Haynesville Shale and the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale; and
7 WHEREAS, while this boom brought welcomed economic prosperity for workers,
8property owners, and the state, it also brought the need for massive amounts of water for
9these thirsty operations; and
10 WHEREAS, the United States Geological Survey estimates an average Haynesville
11Shale well requires five million seven hundred thousand gallons of water; and
12 WHEREAS, there has been occasion where operators of hydraulic fracturing
13stimulations operations obtained the required water from a river or river segment designated
14as a natural and scenic river.
15 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
16urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, in cooperation with the
17Department of Natural Resources, to study the effects of withdrawals for oil and gas
18operations from rivers and river segments in the natural and scenic river program and to
19report the findings to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the
20Senate Committee on Natural Resources on or before March 1, 2017.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
22to the secretaries of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Department of Natural
23Resources.
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)]
HCR 110 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Robby Carter
Urges and requests the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, in cooperation with the Dept. of
Natural Resources, to study the effects of withdrawals for oil and gas operations from rivers
and river segments in the natural and scenic river program and to report the findings to the
oversight committees on or before March 1, 2017.
Page 2 of 2