HLS 19RS-616 ENGROSSED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 31
BY REPRESENTATIVE MARCELLE
WATER/RESOURCES: Urges and requests the commissioner of conservation to study the
necessity of declaring an area of groundwater concern or critical area of ground
water concern in the Baton Rouge area
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the commissioner of conservation to study, outline the requirements,
3 and make recommendations as to the necessity of an area of groundwater concern
4 or a critical area of groundwater concern declaration in the Baton Rouge area to limit
5 saltwater intrusion and protect regional groundwater supplies for the future and to
6 submit a report of the study no later than February 15, 2020.
7 WHEREAS, the four hundred fifty thousand people living in East Baton Rouge
8Parish are dependent on local groundwater resources from the Southern Hills Aquifer for
9safe drinking water; and
10 WHEREAS, major industries in East Baton Rouge Parish also use these groundwater
11resources for commercial purposes to secure jobs and economic growth for the region; and
12 WHEREAS, the main supplier of safe drinking water in East Baton Rouge Parish is
13the Baton Rouge Water Company, a privately-owned utility regulated by the Louisiana
14Public Service Commission; and
15 WHEREAS, as many as ninety thousand people in Ascension Parish also draw their
16safe drinking water from groundwater from East Baton Rouge Parish through the Baton
17Rouge Water Company's subsidiary, Ascension Water Company; and
18 WHEREAS, the United States Geological Survey (USGS), through numerous
19scientific studies and models, has identified serious water level declines and saltwater
20intrusion in Baton Rouge aquifers; and
Page 1 of 4 HLS 19RS-616 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 31
1 WHEREAS, the USGS has identified large groundwater withdrawals for public
2supply and industrial use in East Baton Rouge Parish as the cause of water level declines and
3saltwater intrusion; and
4 WHEREAS, the USGS has stated that if groundwater withdrawals in Baton Rouge
5continue into the future at historic rates, saltwater intrusion will continue to occur; and
6 WHEREAS, the office of conservation has stated in a previous report to the
7legislature that without "publicly released plans for major groundwater pumpage reductions
8from the users in East Baton Rouge" groundwater use rates at the "present level or along a
9slightly upward trend seems a logical assumption, with all attendant consequences"; and
10 WHEREAS, the chief financial officer of the Baton Rouge Water Company stated
11in open testimony at a Louisiana Public Service Commission hearing in 2013 that, "Our
12long-term solution, obviously, is the treatment plant with water from the Mississippi"; and
13 WHEREAS, it is expected that the costs of such a transition from groundwater to
14surface water will be borne by the customers of the Baton Rouge Water Company, which
15are the people of East Baton Rouge Parish and Ascension Parish; and
16 WHEREAS, such a transition likely will entail a sacrifice of drinking water quality
17and could result in costly and hazardous situations commonly associated with a change of
18drinking water source, as seen in Flint, Michigan, and elsewhere; and
19 WHEREAS, the legislature affirms its desire to see all actions necessary be taken to
20maintain groundwater as the main source of safe drinking water for the public in East Baton
21Rouge Parish and surrounding parishes; and
22 WHEREAS, the Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission (CAGWCC)
23is charged with the regional management of groundwater resources in the Baton Rouge area;
24and
25 WHEREAS, since its creation in 1974, the CAGWCC has never adopted a
26comprehensive management plan for local groundwater resources; and
27 WHEREAS, the commissioner of conservation has the statutory authority to prevent
28or alleviate damaging saltwater movement or water level decline and loss of sustainability
29in the state's aquifers and to determine areas of groundwater concern and designate critical
30areas of groundwater concern; and
Page 2 of 4 HLS 19RS-616 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 31
1 WHEREAS, groundwater sustainability is defined in law as the development and use
2of groundwater in a manner that can be maintained for the present and future time without
3causing unacceptable environmental, economic, social, or health consequences; and
4 WHEREAS, the office of conservation has stated in a previous report to the
5legislature that such "unacceptable effects on sustainability" already exist in East Baton
6Rouge Parish; and
7 WHEREAS, the CAGWCC is mandated by R.S. 38:3076 to work in conjunction with
8the commissioner of conservation in his responsibilities.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
10urge and request the commissioner of conservation to study, outline the requirements, and
11make recommendations as to the necessity of an area of groundwater concern or a critical
12area of groundwater concern declaration in the Baton Rouge area to limit saltwater intrusion
13and protect regional groundwater supplies for the future.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study shall include recommendations that
15provide for the role and necessary actions required of the Capital Area Ground Water
16Conservation Commission in any plan to preserve and manage the groundwater resources
17of the Baton Rouge area.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the commissioner of conservation shall submit
19a report of the study no later than February 15, 2020, to the governor, the House Committee
20on Natural Resources and Environment, the House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and
21Cultural Affairs, the House Committee on Health and Welfare, the Senate Committee on
22Environmental Quality, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, the Senate Committee
23on Local and Municipal Affairs, and the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
25commissioner of conservation.
Page 3 of 4 HLS 19RS-616 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 31
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 31 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Marcelle
Urges and requests the commissioner of conservation to study and outline the requirements,
and make recommendations as to the necessity of an area of groundwater concern or a
critical area of groundwater concern declaration in the Baton Rouge area and to submit a
report of the study to the governor and oversight committees no later than Feb. 15, 2020.
Page 4 of 4