2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 154
BY SENATOR MILLS
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Department of Natural Resources to study potential solutions that
may mitigate spoil banks.
WHEREAS, Louisiana's lower Atchafalaya Basin has been adversely impacted by
spoil banks that block natural water flows; and
WHEREAS, historically, when constructing pipelines, operators have been allowed
to discard their spoil as permitted or required by landowners, or required by the state of
Louisiana, thus creating spoil banks; and
WHEREAS, spoil banks shut off the natural flow of water that restricts the carrying
capacity of the flood way and damages water quality; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Natural Resources, office of conservation, division
of pipeline safety regulates the maintenance of intrastate pipelines.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby urge and request the Department of Natural Resources to study potential
solutions that may mitigate spoil banks created on the lower Atchafalaya Basin affecting the
natural water flows and fishing activities, including but not limited to the following:
(1) Whether any spoil banks are adversely affecting fishing activities.
(2) Whether the spoil should be placed into the water bottom or removed off site to
an approved location such that there be no remaining spoil bank.
(3) Whether the pipeline should be removed at the end of its useful life.
(4) Whether any construction, maintenance, or any other work should be permitted
between the East Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee and West Atchafalaya Basin
Protection Levee.
(5) Whether permits for new pipelines should be granted to companies that are
out-of-compliance with prior issued permits, until such time as those previously-issued
permits are brought back into compliance.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
hereby urge and request the Department of Natural Resources to request the following
entities to participate in this study:
(1) The United States Army Corps of Engineers.
(2) The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
(3) The Atchafalaya Basin Research and Promotion Board.
(4) The Sierra Club Delta Chapter.
(5) The Louisiana Crawfish Producers Association West.
(6) The Atchafalaya Basinkeeper.
(7) The Louisiana Landowners Association.
(8) The Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association.
(9) The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
(10) The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
(11) The Department of Natural Resources, office of conservation, division of
pipeline safety.
(12) The office of state lands.
(13) The Department of Justice, natural resources division.
(14) The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association.
(15) A crawfish wholesale buyer located on the east side of the Atchafalaya Basin.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department shall make recommendations to
the Senate Committee on Natural Resources no later than February 1, 2018.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department shall provide a report to the
Senate Committee on Natural Resources no later than February 1, 2018, that includes the
number and location of spoil banks between the East Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee
and West Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee, the name of the pipeline company associated
with the spoil bank, and the approximate date the pipeline was constructed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Natural Resources.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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