SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 2023 Regular Session SENATE BILL NO. 103 BY SENATOR LAMBERT Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana. NATURAL RESOURCES DEPT. Renames the Department of Natural Resources. (1/10/24) 1 AN ACT 2 To amend and reenact R.S. 3:304(B), 1221(C), 3302(2), 3366(C), and 3712(E) and (H), R.S. 3 9:1152(B), and 2800.14, R.S. 13:5107(C), the introductory paragraph of R.S. 4 17:202(A)(2) and 218(2), the introductory paragraph of R.S. 30:4(D), the 5 introductory paragraph of 4(D)(1), 30:4(D)(1)(d), (2), and (3)(a)(ii), (G), (M)(6)(b), 6 (N)(1) and (5), the introductory paragraph of 4.1(B), 21.2, 23(D)(1), 25(A)(2), (3), 7 and (7), 26(A), 29(A), (B)(1), and (C)(3)(b)(i), 73(1), 81(B), 82(1), (4), and (13), 8 83(A), (B)(1), (F)(5), and (H), 86(E)(1) and (7), 89.1, 91(B)(2)(c), 95(D), 101.2(A), 9 101.3(2), (4), and (7), 101.4(A), 101.13(B)(3) and (C)(4), 121(A) and (C), 124(A), 10 126(B)(3), 132, 135, 136(A)(1)(a), 136.3(D), 142(E)(1)(a), 143(C), (D)(1), (2), (4), 11 and (6), (E), and (F), the introductory paragraph of 144(A), 150(A), (B)(7), (D), 12 (F)(2), and (H), 206, 209(4)(b), 212(A), 215(A), 216(C)(2), 401, 503(1), the 13 introductory paragraph of 546(A), 702(1), 723(G), 731(1), 904(5) and (20), 905(A) 14 and (B)(9), 905.1(A), 953(C), 962(2), 963(A), 1103(7), 1105(B), 1109(F), the 15 introductory paragraph of 1152(A), the introductory paragraph of 1154(A), the 16 introductory paragraph of 1154(A)(9)(a), 1202(8), 1354(6), 1401(B) and (C), 17 1402(B) and (D), 2004(12)(a), 2011(D)(20), 2015.1(L), 2035(B)(2), 2074(C) and Page 1 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 (E), 2248(C)(1), 2397, 2458(A)(4), 2459(A) and (D), 2460(A)(14), 2469(E), 2495, 2 and 2575(D), R.S. 31:149(A), R.S. 32:1511 and 1513.1(A), R.S. 33:1236(56), 3 1236.25(C), 1236.27, 1419.1(C), the introductory paragraph of 1419.2(1), 1419.2(6), 4 1419.3, 1419.4(A) and (D)(1), 1419.5(1) and (4), 1419.6(A), (B), (D), and (E), 5 4064.4(E) and (J), 4065.3(E) and (I), 4522, 4523, 4524, 4526, and 4546.21(B), R.S. 6 34:3116(B) and 3304(B), R.S. 36:4(A)(7), 8.1(C)(11), 351(A), (B), and (C)(1), 353, 7 354(A)(13), (B)(1)(b), (4), (6), and (8), 356(A) and (B), 357(A), 358(A), the 8 introductory paragraph of 359(A), the introductory paragraph of 359(B), 359(B)(1) 9 and (2), and (C), 629(J)(2) through (8), and 957(A), R.S. 37:711.4(E), 1377(K)(1), 10 and 3151(1), R.S. 38:25(A), 327(F), 3087.134(E)(5), 3092(7), 3097.3(B), the 11 heading of 3098.2, the introductory paragraph of 3098.6(A), and 3098.6(A)(2), R.S. 12 39:99.29(A), 253(A)(2), 2007(D)(1), and 2177(D), R.S. 40:1730.22(F), 13 1730.28.4(B)(1), 1892, 1893, and 1894, R.S. 41:642(A)(2)(b) and (B), 1602(B)(1), 14 1701.1(C) and (D), 1702(D)(1) and (2)(a)(i), the introductory paragraph of (ii), (H), 15 and (I), 1703(B), 1712(D), 1731, 1732(A), 1733(B) and (C), and the introductory 16 paragraph of 1734(A), R.S. 42:1113(D)(1)(a)(ii)(hh) and (6)(f), 1124(A)(2)(f), and 17 1266(C)(1)(f), R.S. 44:4(10), R.S. 47:301(10)(gg) and (18)(p), 633(7)(c)(iii)(bb), 18 (iv)(aa), (bb), and (cc), and (d), (9)(d)(i) and (iii), the introductory paragraph of 19 633.4(B)(1), 633.5(A), the introductory paragraph of 648.2(1), 648.3, 1508(B)(9), 20 1515.2, 1989(C)(2)(a)(vi)(cc), and 6035(D), R.S. 48:224(C), R.S. 21 49:74(A)(5)(b)(i)(aa)(VI), 191(12)(c), 214.5.1(B)(2), 214.6.2(C)(1) and (D)(8), 22 214.8.6(B)(4), 214.23(12), 214.24(D), 214.25(C), 214.26(A)(1), 214.31(B), 23 214.33(B)(6), 214.36(J)(1)(a), 259(A) and (D), 330(A)(4), 966(B)(11), and 24 1053(C)(11), R.S. 51:1601(H), 1602(3), (5), (8), (13), and (15), the introductory 25 paragraph of 1603, 1603(7)(c), and 1605(B)(12) through (15), R.S. 56:4, 26 301.10(E)(2) and (3), 421(B)(3) and (E)(4), 432.1(C)(2), 494(E)(2) and (3), 27 700.11(4) and (7), 700.13(A), 796(B)(1)(p), 1431(E), 1808(A), 1932(A)(6), 28 1933(A)(1)(g), and 2011(E), and the introductory paragraph of Code of Civil 29 Procedure Art. 1552 and 1563(A)(2) and (B), relative to the renaming of the Page 2 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Department of Natural Resources; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for 2 related matters. 3 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: 4 Section 1. R.S. 3:304(B), 1221(C), 3302(2), 3366(C), and 3712(E) and (H) are 5 hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 6 §304. Master farmer certification 7 * * * 8 B. The commissioner may adopt rules and regulations setting out the 9 requirements for obtaining a certification. The curriculum shall be established by the 10 Louisiana State University AgCenter. The Louisiana State University AgCenter may 11 consult with other agencies and organizations as needed, including but not limited 12 to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana Department of 13 Energy and Natural Resources, Louisiana Farm Bureau, the United States 14 Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Conservation Service, and the 15 State Soil and Water Conservation Commission. The curriculum shall include but is 16 not limited to the instruction on environmental issues in agriculture, nonpoint source 17 pollution, best management and conservation practices, soil and water quality 18 monitoring demonstrations, and development and implementation of an individual 19 comprehensive soil and water conservation plan. 20 * * * 21 §1221. Carbon sequestration; emissions reduction of carbon dioxide and other 22 greenhouse gases 23 * * * 24 C. The provisions of this Section do not affect the authority of the Louisiana 25 Department of Energy and Natural Resources or benefits, credits, or offsets derived 26 from projects approved and undertaken by the Coastal Protection and Restoration 27 Authority in the coastal area. 28 * * * 29 §3302. Definitions Page 3 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 As used in this Part, the following words shall have the following meanings 2 ascribed to them: 3 * * * 4 (2) "Appropriate governmental agency" means any federal, state, or local 5 agency which has jurisdiction over or expertise in the subject matter affected by this 6 Part, and includes but is not limited to, the United States Department of Agriculture, 7 the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geological 8 Survey, the Department of Environmental Quality, the Louisiana Department of 9 Health, the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the Department of 10 Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Department of Transportation and Development. 11 * * * 12 §3366. Administrative rules 13 * * * 14 C. Persons engaged in structural pest control work shall be governed 15 exclusively by the rules and regulations adopted by the commission. If the rules and 16 regulations adopted by the commission conflict with any rules or regulations adopted 17 by any other agency, including but not limited to the Department of Energy and 18 Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Quality, or the Department of 19 Public Safety and Corrections the rules and regulations adopted by the commission 20 shall prevail. 21 * * * 22 §3712. Purchase of feedstock by operators of renewable fuel manufacturing 23 facilities; notice requirements; annual report 24 * * * 25 E. To improve dissemination of information regarding supply needs of 26 renewable fuel manufacturing facilities operating in Louisiana and to assure that 27 Louisiana farmers are adequately and timely informed about the feedstock needs of 28 these facilities, the operators of all renewable fuel manufacturing facilities shall, at 29 least one hundred eighty days prior to the start of commercial operation of such Page 4 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 facilities, provide notice to the commissioner of agriculture and forestry, the 2 secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources and the secretary of 3 the Department of Economic Development. 4 * * * 5 H. Each renewable fuels manufacturing facility operating in Louisiana shall 6 provide an annual report to the commissioner of agriculture and forestry, the 7 secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources and the secretary of 8 the Department of Economic Development certifying that it has purchased all of the 9 competitively priced Louisiana feedstock available during its operations. The report 10 shall also list the production levels for the previous twelve months, the amount and 11 type of feedstock used to achieve the production levels, the location from where the 12 feedstock originated, and the steps taken to obtain Louisiana harvested feedstock. 13 The report shall also itemize the financial benefits the facility has received from the 14 state, including but not limited to: the use of state grants, state assisted financing, 15 participation in the Quality Jobs Program, the Enterprise Zone Program and the 16 10-Year Industrial Exemption Program. 17 * * * 18 Section 2. R.S. 9:1152(B), and 2800.14 are hereby amended and reenacted to read 19 as follows: 20 §1152. Grant of mineral servitude on lands acquired by the state from agencies or 21 political subdivisions by subsidence or erosion 22 * * * 23 B. The boundaries of such servitudes shall be fixed as follows: 24 (1) The state agency or political subdivision having an interest therein may 25 submit to the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources a 26 certified map or plat of survey prepared by a registered land surveyor showing the 27 exact extent of the servitude area, along with such other proof of the boundaries 28 thereof as the secretary may reasonably require. Upon sufficient showing of the 29 boundaries of the servitude area, the secretary shall indicate his assent thereto on said Page 5 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 plat and on his certificate evidencing the boundaries of such servitude. 2 (2) The office of mineral resources of the Department of Energy and Natural 3 Resources and the agency or political subdivision holding such servitude may fix the 4 boundaries of such servitudes or otherwise fix their respective interest with respect 5 to such servitude by written agreement. 6 (3) In the event the boundaries cannot be fixed in either manner provided for 7 above, then the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the 8 office of mineral resources of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, or 9 the agency or political subdivision holding such servitude may institute an action in 10 the parish where the property is located to fix the boundaries of such servitude in 11 accordance with applicable law. 12 (4) A true and certified copy of any certificates, plats, agreements or 13 judgments fixing the boundaries of such servitudes shall be filed with the secretary 14 of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources and shall be recorded in the 15 parish where the affected property is located. 16 * * * 17 §2800.14. Limitation of liability for damages to oyster leases 18 Oil companies, including drilling, exploration, production, pipeline, and 19 marine contractors, and persons performing related services who cause any loss or 20 damage to oyster leases from exploration, excavation, construction, maintenance, 21 remediation, operations, release and response, or events and activities, which include 22 the transportation of materials or equipment to or from existing or proposed drilling 23 sites, well sites, rights of way, or production, storage, and pumping facilities within 24 a designated water route or navigable waters approved by the Department of Energy 25 and Natural Resources shall only be liable for the diminution in market value of the 26 oyster leases. Diminution in market value of the oyster leases shall be calculated in 27 accordance with the method used by the Louisiana Oyster Lease Damage Evaluation 28 Board. This Section shall have no effect as to judgments rendered by a court of 29 competent jurisdiction prior to August 15, 2004. Page 6 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Section 3. R.S. 13:5107(C) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 2 §5107. Service of citation and process 3 * * * 4 C. In all suits in which title to lands or waterbottoms under the jurisdiction 5 of the state land office is or may be at issue, and in all possessory actions, boundary 6 disputes, trespass actions, actions involving alleged acquisitive prescription of 7 immovable property, declaratory judgments, injunctions and concursus proceedings 8 involving such lands or waterbottoms, citation and service of all pleadings also shall 9 be made on the register of the state land office. In all suits in which property rights, 10 mineral rights, or authorities under the jurisdiction of the State Mineral and Energy 11 Board may also be at issue, citation and service of all pleadings shall also be made 12 on the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 13 * * * 14 Section 4. The introductory paragraph of R.S. 17:202(A)(2) and 218(2) are hereby 15 amended and reenacted to read as follows: 16 §202. Louisiana Environmental Education Commission; creation; membership; 17 duties 18 A.(1) * * * 19 (2) The commission shall consist of the secretary of the Department of 20 Wildlife and Fisheries or his designee, the state superintendent of education or his 21 designee, the secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality or his designee, 22 the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or his designee, 23 the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health or his designee, the 24 commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry or his designee, the 25 chancellor of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center or his designee, the 26 chancellor of Southern University Agricultural and Mechanical College or his 27 designee, the governor's executive assistant for coastal activities or his designee, and 28 the following members appointed by the governor: 29 * * * Page 7 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 §218. Professional development 2 In-service teachers should develop the same environmental education 3 competencies specified for pre-service teachers as follows: 4 * * * 5 (2) The Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the Department of 6 Environmental Quality, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Louisiana 7 Department of Health, the office of state parks within the Department of Culture, 8 Recreation and Tourism, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the 9 Department of Education shall develop and publicize environmental education 10 teacher in-service or professional internships related to their mission and shall be 11 encouraged to develop such programs if they do not exist. 12 * * * 13 Section 5. The introductory paragraph of R.S. 30:4(D), the introductory paragraph 14 of 4(D)(1), 30:4(D)(1)(d), (2), and (3)(a)(ii), (G), (M)(6)(b), (N)(1) and (5), the introductory 15 paragraph of 4.1(B), 21.2, 23(D)(1), 25(A)(2), (3), and (7), 26(A), 29(A), (B)(1), and 16 (C)(3)(b)(i), 73(1), 81(B), 82(1), (4), and (13), 83(A), (B)(1), (F)(5), and (H), 86(E)(1) and 17 (7), 89.1, 91(B)(2)(c), 95(D), 101.2(A), 101.3(2), (4), and (7), 101.4(A), 101.13(B)(3) and 18 (C)(4), 121(A) and (C), 124(A), 126(B)(3), 132, 135, 136(A)(1)(a), 136.3(D), 142(E)(1)(a), 19 143(C), (D)(1), (2), (4), and (6), (E), and (F), the introductory paragraph of 144(A), 150(A), 20 (B)(7), (D), (F)(2), and (H), 206, 209(4)(b), 212(A), 215(A), 216(C)(2), 401, 503(1), the 21 introductory paragraph of 546(A), 702(1), 723(G), 731(1), 904(5) and (20), 905(A) and 22 (B)(9), 905.1(A), 953(C), 962(2), 963(A), 1103(7), 1105(B), 1109(F), the introductory 23 paragraph of 1152(A), the introductory paragraph of 1154(A), the introductory paragraph 24 of 1154(A)(9)(a), 1202(8), 1354(6), 1401(B) and (C), 1402(B) and (D), 2004(12)(a), 25 2011(D)(20), 2015.1(L), 2035(B)(2), 2074(C) and (E), 2248(C)(1), 2397, 2458(A)(4), 26 2459(A) and (D), 2460(A)(14), 2469(E), 2495, and 2575(D) are hereby amended and 27 reenacted to read as follows: 28 §4. Jurisdiction, duties, and powers of the assistant secretary; rules and regulations 29 * * * Page 8 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 D. The assistant secretary shall make, after notice and public hearing as 2 provided in this Chapter, any reasonable rules, regulations, and orders that are 3 necessary: 4 (1) To require that all pipelines, excluding field transmission, flow, and 5 gathering lines; all wells; and all associated structures, including any fittings, tie- 6 overs, appliances, and equipment, which are constructed on state water bottoms 7 pursuant to the grant of a right-of-way by the secretary of the Department of Energy 8 and Natural Resources or the issuance of a lease by the State Mineral and Energy 9 Board shall conform to the following provisions: 10 * * * 11 (d) If determined by the governor and the secretary of the Department of 12 Energy and Natural Resources to be in the best interests of the state, the owner or 13 operator of a pipeline, well, or associated structure shall not be required to have it 14 removed but shall be required to adequately mark it for the duration of the 15 obstruction according to regulations of the Coast Guard and of the assistant 16 secretary. 17 * * * 18 (2) To require that all field transmissions, flow, and gathering lines 19 constructed on state water bottoms pursuant to the grant of a right-of-way by the 20 secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or the issuance of a 21 lease by the State Mineral and Energy Board shall meet all requirements of the 22 United States Army Corps of Engineers for burial and shall be located, installed, 23 marked, and maintained in a proper manner, to be approved by the assistant 24 secretary, so as to minimize undue interference with persons making other uses of 25 state waters or water bottoms, including mariners and fishermen. 26 (3) To require that all equipment, machinery, and materials associated with 27 the construction, operation, maintenance, or abandonment of all pipelines, including 28 field transmission, flow, and gathering lines; all wells; and all associated structures, 29 which are constructed on state water bottoms pursuant to the grant of a right-of-way Page 9 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 by the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or the issuance 2 of a lease by the State Mineral and Energy Board shall conform to the following 3 provisions: 4 (a)(i) * * * 5 (ii) If the inspection reveals any equipment, machinery, or material above the 6 mudline, the owner shall be responsible for its removal to avoid its constituting an 7 obstruction which may unduly interfere with other uses, including navigation or 8 fishing. However, the assistant secretary may by rule grant such exceptions or 9 variances from this requirement if the location of the equipment, machinery, or 10 material would cause removal to be extraordinarily onerous or impractical. 11 Moreover, removal shall not be required if the governor and the secretary of the 12 Department of Energy and Natural Resources determine that in the best interests of 13 the state removal shall not be required. However, the owner shall be required to mark 14 it for the duration of the obstruction according to regulations of the Coast Guard and 15 the assistant secretary. 16 * * * 17 G. The office of conservation of the Department of Energy and Natural 18 Resources through the commissioner, shall implement the provisions of Subsections 19 D, E, and F of this Section as to interstate pipelines insofar as those requirements 20 may be consistent with the regulations for interstate pipelines adopted by the United 21 States Department of Transportation. In such event, the office shall further 22 implement the provisions of Subsections D, E, and F of this Section insofar as those 23 requirements may be consistent with the regulations for interstate pipelines adopted 24 by the United States Department of Energy. 25 * * * 26 M. * * * 27 (6) Permit requirements that include the following: 28 * * * 29 (b) Reimbursement to the state or any political subdivision of the state for Page 10 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 reasonable and extraordinary costs incurred in responding to or mitigating a disaster 2 or emergency due to a violation of this Subsection or any rule, regulation, or order 3 promulgated or issued pursuant to this Subsection. Such costs shall be subject to 4 approval by the director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and 5 Emergency Preparedness prior to being submitted to the permitee for reimbursement. 6 Such payments shall not be construed as an admission of responsibility or liability 7 for the emergency or disaster. The Department of Energy and Natural Resources, 8 office of conservation, is hereby authorized to adopt rules and regulations in 9 accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to collect reimbursement under 10 this Section. 11 * * * 12 N.(1) The Cross-Unit Well Study Commission is hereby created within the 13 Department of Energy and Natural Resources, office of conservation. The 14 commission shall study the legal implications of the prescription of nonuse in 15 relation to the drilling of any well located closer than three hundred thirty feet from 16 the property boundary of a drilling unit or lease. 17 * * * 18 (5) The chairman shall hold the first public meeting of the commission on or 19 before September 1, 2014, at the headquarters of the Department of Energy and 20 Natural Resources, office of conservation. After the first meeting, the commission 21 shall hold monthly public meetings at the headquarters of the Department of Energy 22 and Natural Resources, office of conservation. 23 * * * 24 §4.1. Underground injection control 25 * * * 26 B. The assistant secretary of the office of conservation of the Department of 27 Energy and Natural Resources, hereafter referred to as the "assistant secretary", 28 shall have authority to make, after notice and hearings as provided in this Chapter, 29 any reasonable rules, regulations, and orders that are necessary from time to time in Page 11 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 the proper administration and enforcement of this Section including, but not limited 2 to rules, regulations, or orders for the following purposes: 3 * * * 4 §21.2. Bohemia Spillway Cost Recovery 5 Upon the final disposition of each claim filed with the Department of Energy 6 and Natural Resources pursuant to Act 233 of the 1984 Regular Session, the 7 secretary shall condemn one or more of the parties to the claim to pay the actual cost 8 of administering the claim and may apportion such cost among the parties. The funds 9 received pursuant to this Section shall be deposited immediately into the state 10 treasury. 11 * * * 12 §23. Underground storage of liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons or both, carbon 13 dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, ammonia, compressed air, or noble 14 gases not otherwise prohibited by law 15 * * * 16 D.(1) In furtherance of the development of comprehensive energy policy for 17 the state, the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall 18 determine the feasibility of initiating projects, by the state or by contract on behalf 19 of the state, for the storage of emergency supplies of state-owned oil and gas, carbon 20 dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, ammonia, compressed air, or noble gas not otherwise 21 prohibited by law. Such determination shall include consideration of the techniques, 22 costs, quantities of oil and gas, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, ammonia, 23 compressed air, or noble gas not otherwise prohibited by law available for such 24 purpose and priorities for allocation in time of emergency. 25 * * * 26 §25. Closure of production pits in the wetlands 27 A.(1) * * * 28 (2) Each production pit located within the inland tidal waters, lakes bounded 29 by the Gulf of Mexico, and saltwater marshes shall be closed by January 1, 1993. Page 12 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 The Department of Energy and Natural Resources through the office of 2 conservation shall adopt rules to enforce the provisions of this Section and may issue 3 compliance orders, cease and desist orders, and other such orders as are necessary 4 to enforce the requirements of this Section and the rules of the department. 5 (3) The exemptions and exceptions for production pits located within the 6 inland tidal waters, lakes bounded by the Gulf of Mexico, and saltwater marshes 7 provided for by the rules of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, office 8 of conservation in Statewide Order No. 29-B, Section XV, Paragraph 2.2(K) and (M) 9 are hereby declared null, void, and without effect. After June 30, 1989, no new 10 production pits shall be constructed within the inland tidal waters, lakes bounded by 11 the Gulf of Mexico, and saltwater marshes. 12 * * * 13 (7) No permit or approval from any agency, department, or authority other 14 than the Department of Energy and Natural Resources office of conservation shall 15 be required or sought in connection with any activity mandated by, arising out of, or 16 resulting from the requirements of this Section. 17 * * * 18 §26. Applications and notification of completeness 19 A. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the secretary of the 20 Department of Energy and Natural Resources and the commissioner of conservation 21 shall, after notification by the department to the applicant that the application is 22 complete, grant or deny all applications for all permits, licenses, registrations, or 23 compliance in this or any other Title within sixty days. The notification of 24 completeness shall be issued within fourteen days, exclusive of holidays, by the 25 department. If the application is not complete the department shall notify the 26 applicant in writing of the deficiencies which cause the application not to be 27 complete. If the secretary or the commissioner does not grant the application, he 28 shall provide written reasons for his decision to deny, and copies of the decision shall 29 be provided to all parties. The secretary and the commissioner may delegate the Page 13 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 power to grant permits, licenses, registrations, variances, or compliance schedules 2 to an assistant. 3 * * * 4 §29. Remediation of oilfield sites and exploration and production sites 5 A. The legislature hereby finds and declares that Article IX, Section 1 of the 6 Constitution of Louisiana mandates that the natural resources and the environment 7 of the state, including ground water, are to be protected, conserved, and replenished 8 insofar as possible and consistent with the health, safety, and welfare of the people 9 and further mandates that the legislature enact laws to implement this policy. It is the 10 duty of the legislature to set forth procedures to ensure that damage to the 11 environment is remediated to a standard that protects the public interest. To this end, 12 this Section provides the procedure for judicial resolution of claims for 13 environmental damage to property arising from activities subject to the jurisdiction 14 of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, office of conservation. The 15 provisions of this Section shall be implemented upon receipt of timely notice as 16 required by Paragraph (B)(1) of this Section. The provisions of this Section shall not 17 be construed to impede or limit provisions under private contracts imposing 18 remediation obligations in excess of the requirements of the department or limit the 19 right of a party to a private contract to enforce any contract provision in a court of 20 proper jurisdiction. 21 B.(1) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, immediately upon the filing 22 or amendment of any litigation or pleading making a judicial demand arising from 23 or alleging environmental damage, the provisions of this Section shall apply and the 24 party filing same shall provide timely notice to the state of Louisiana through the 25 Department of Energy and Natural Resources, commissioner of conservation and 26 the attorney general. The litigation shall be stayed with respect to any such judicial 27 demand until thirty days after such notice is issued and return receipt is filed with the 28 court. 29 * * * Page 14 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 C.(1) * * * 2 (3)(a) * * * 3 (b)(i) If the department preliminarily approves or structures a preliminary 4 plan that requires the application of regulatory standards of an agency other than the 5 department or that provides an exception from the department's standards, within 6 fifteen days of such preliminary structuring or approval, the department shall submit 7 the plan to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, the Department of 8 Environmental Quality, and the Department of Energy and Natural Resources for 9 review and comment. Within thirty days after the department's submission of the 10 plan to all of the agencies, each agency may provide written comments regarding the 11 plan. Each agency providing written comments shall submit a schedule of the 12 agency's costs for review of the plan to the court for reimbursement by the 13 responsible party. Failure of an agency to respond to the department shall not affect 14 the validity of the plan approved by the department. The department and agency 15 heads shall coordinate in order to establish protocol to ensure inter-agency 16 communication regarding plan development, timely delivery of all proposed plans 17 to the appropriate agency heads, and timely receipt of all agency comments back to 18 the department. 19 * * * 20 §73. Definitions 21 As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to 22 them in this Section, unless the context or use clearly indicates otherwise: 23 (1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of the office of conservation 24 within the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or his authorized 25 representatives from the injection and mining division of that office. 26 * * * 27 §81. Policy and purpose 28 * * * 29 B. It is in the public interest and within the police power of this state to Page 15 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 establish an oilfield site restoration commission and an oilfield site restoration fund 2 to provide for the proper and timely cleanup, closure, and restoration of oilfield sites, 3 to be administered by the assistant secretary of the office of conservation within the 4 Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 5 * * * 6 §82. Definitions 7 As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to 8 them in this Section, unless the context or use clearly indicates otherwise: 9 (1) "Assistant secretary" means the assistant secretary of the office of 10 conservation within the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or his 11 authorized representatives. 12 * * * 13 (4) "Department" means the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 14 * * * 15 (13) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Energy and 16 Natural Resources. 17 * * * 18 §83. Oilfield Site Restoration Commission; Department of Energy and Natural 19 Resources 20 A. The Oilfield Site Restoration Commission is hereby created within the 21 office of the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. The 22 commission shall have the power to sue and be sued and shall be domiciled in the 23 parish of East Baton Rouge. Venue for any suit brought by or against the 24 commission shall be in the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. 25 B. The commission shall consist of ten members comprised as follows: 26 (1) The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, who 27 shall serve as the chairman and the assistant secretary, who shall serve as vice 28 chairman. The undersecretary of the department may serve as a proxy member of the 29 board in the absence of the secretary with full authority to act for the secretary as a Page 16 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 member of the board. 2 * * * 3 F. The powers of the commission shall be limited to the following: 4 * * * 5 (5) Review administration of site restoration activities and review the 6 adequacy of site restoration assessments and reopen the funding needs and 7 arrangements for site-specific trust accounts every four years. However, unless the 8 oilfield site is transferred from one party to another after the adoption of a standard 9 for evaluation, site-specific trust accounts established prior to the adoption of a 10 standard for evaluation by the office of conservation, Department of Energy and 11 Natural Resources shall not be reassessed if the operator of record provides to the 12 office on an annual basis, utilizing the methodology in use at the time the site- 13 specific trust account was established, proof that the security is adequate to ensure 14 proper closure of the wells upon completion of activity. 15 * * * 16 H. The Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall adopt rules and 17 regulations, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, to implement the 18 provisions of this Part and to provide for procedures for site assessments and 19 restoration. 20 * * * 21 §86. Oilfield Site Restoration Fund 22 * * * 23 E. Except as otherwise provided in this Section, the monies in the fund may 24 be disbursed and expended pursuant to the authority and direction of the secretary 25 or assistant secretary for the following purposes and uses: 26 (1) Any oilfield site assessment or restoration conducted by the Department 27 of Energy and Natural Resources pursuant to this Part, and the payment of the 28 principal, interest, and legal fees, credit enhancement fees, trustee fees, and other 29 related costs of issuance or ongoing expenses in connection with issuance of bonds Page 17 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 or other debt obligations on behalf of the commission, at the direction of the 2 secretary, pursuant to R.S. 30:83.1 for the purpose of financing the costs of such 3 oilfield site assessments and restorations. 4 * * * 5 (7) Except for the costs of administration of this Part by the Department of 6 Energy and Natural Resources not exceeding the limitations set by the United States 7 Congress or administering federal agency for the federal funds appropriated or 8 granted, the monies deposited into the fund pursuant to Paragraphs (D)(9), (10), and 9 (11) of this Section shall be used only for the purposes of assessing and restoring 10 orphan oilfield sites. Notwithstanding any other requirements in this Part, such 11 monies may be expended by the secretary through a contract entered into under any 12 competitive process authorized by Title 38 or 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes 13 of 1950. The contract may be awarded to any qualified party whether or not the party 14 is on the approved list of contractors acceptable to conduct site assessment and 15 restoration by the commission. 16 * * * 17 §89.1. Credits for judgments or compromises 18 In the event an owner of a property interest in an oilfield site, or in other 19 property affected by oil or gas exploration, development, or production activities on 20 an oilfield site, obtains a final judgment from a court of competent jurisdiction, 21 pursuant to the provisions of this Title or any other law or regulation or any 22 obligation whatsoever, including but not limited to obligations imposed by contract 23 or by law, or enters into a binding compromise, which judgment or compromise 24 awards damages or other relief for injury to such property interest resulting from oil 25 or gas exploration, development, or production activities on an oilfield site, including 26 but not limited to damages equivalent to the costs of site assessment or restoration, 27 or which judgment or compromise requires the performance of site assessment, 28 restoration, or any other operations or activities on an oilfield site, in any action, 29 judicial or administrative, by the state of Louisiana or any state agency to enforce Page 18 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 any law or regulation with regard to the consequences of the same oil or gas 2 exploration, development, or production activities on the same oilfield site, then 3 solely to the extent that a judgment or compromise after June 30, 2006, is shown to 4 have been satisfied or discharged by the actual performance of site restoration in 5 accordance with the appropriate regulatory standards of the Department of Energy 6 and Natural Resources, office of conservation at a minimum, or by actual site 7 assessment, the party against whom such judgment was rendered, or who is obligated 8 by such compromise, shall be given full credit against the obligation sought to be 9 enforced by the state of Louisiana or any state agency, and such obligation shall be 10 reduced proportionately, in amounts equal to the portion of such judgment or 11 compromise paid, satisfied, or discharged or the costs of the performance of any site 12 assessment, restoration, or other operations or activities required by such judgment 13 or compromise. 14 * * * 15 §91. Orphaned oilfield sites 16 * * * 17 B.(1) * * * 18 (2)(a) * * * 19 (c) In the event that lienholder is not properly notified as provided herein, any 20 claim by the holder or holders against the commission, Department of Energy and 21 Natural Resources, office of conservation, or the contractors for the value of the 22 salvaged property shall be limited to the actual cash value of the salvaged property 23 at the time of salvage. 24 * * * 25 §95. No inference of liability on the part of the state 26 * * * 27 D. No party contracting with the Department of Energy and Natural 28 Resources, office of conservation, or the commission under the provisions of this 29 Part shall be deemed to be a public employee or an employee otherwise subject to Page 19 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 the provisions of Parts I through IV of Chapter 15 of Title 42 of the Louisiana 2 Revised Statutes of 1950. 3 * * * 4 §101.2. Policy and purpose 5 A. The legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest and within 6 the police power of this state to establish a fishermen's gear compensation and 7 underwater obstruction removal program and a fishermen's gear compensation and 8 underwater obstruction removal dedicated fund account to provide for the proper and 9 timely identification, inventory, and removal of underwater obstructions that are a 10 hazard to navigation and commercial fishing in the state, and to compensate 11 commercial fishermen for damage to their fishing gear from the underwater 12 obstructions. The program and fund account shall be administered, for purposes of 13 fishermen's gear compensation, by the assistant secretary of the office of coastal 14 management and, for purposes of underwater obstruction, by the assistant secretary 15 of the office of conservation, both with the Department of Energy and Natural 16 Resources. 17 * * * 18 §101.3. Definitions 19 As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to 20 them in this Section, unless the context or use clearly indicates otherwise: 21 * * * 22 (2) "Assistant secretary" means the assistant secretary of the office of 23 conservation within the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or his 24 authorized representatives. 25 * * * 26 (4) "Department" means the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 27 * * * 28 (7) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural 29 Resources or his authorized representatives. Page 20 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 * * * 2 §101.4. Underwater Obstruction Removal Program 3 A. The Fishermen's Gear Compensation and Underwater Obstruction 4 Removal Program is hereby created within the office of the secretary of the 5 Department of Energy and Natural Resources and shall be administered, for 6 purposes of fishermen's gear compensation, by the assistant secretary of the office 7 of coastal management and, for purposes of underwater obstruction, by the assistant 8 secretary of the office of conservation. 9 * * * 10 §101.13. Disbursement of funds; eligibility; hearings 11 * * * 12 B. In order to be eligible to receive reimbursement from the account, a 13 commercial fisherman shall show that he has a valid claim. A valid claim shall be 14 established by the hearing examiner, based on evidence that the following conditions 15 have been met: 16 * * * 17 (3) The fisherman made a good faith effort to locate the financially 18 responsible party. Evidence of a good faith effort shall be established by regulation 19 and shall include attempts to identify the responsible party with the assistance of the 20 Department of Energy and Natural Resources where necessary. 21 C. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsections A and B of this Section, no 22 payment: 23 * * * 24 (4) Shall be made for any claim at a site that has been certified by the 25 assistant secretary of the office of conservation for the Department of Energy and 26 Natural Resources as having been cleared under the provisions of this Part. Once a 27 site has been cleared under the Louisiana Fishermen's Gear Compensation and 28 Underwater Obstruction Removal Program, the assistant secretary shall certify that 29 the site of at least two hundred yards in diameter is free of obstructions, and future Page 21 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 claims at a site so certified shall be denied. Whenever four or more claims are 2 reported after a site has been certified as clear, the site shall be revisited and the new 3 or leftover obstruction shall be located and, if the department determines it is 4 feasible, removed. 5 * * * 6 §121. State Mineral and Energy Board created; composition and powers 7 A. The State Mineral and Energy Board, as created by Act No. 93 of the 1936 8 Regular Session, is hereby continued. The board shall be composed of the governor 9 and the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, ex officio, 10 and nine members appointed by the governor. Each appointment by the governor 11 shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation. Six members shall constitute a 12 quorum. 13 * * * 14 C. The governor shall be ex officio chairman or may designate the board to 15 elect its chairman to serve for two years. The board shall be a body corporate with 16 power to sue and be sued. The domicile of the board shall be in Baton Rouge and it 17 shall possess in addition to the powers herein granted, all the usual powers incident 18 to corporations. If the governor serves as ex officio chairman, in case of a tie, the 19 vote of the governor shall determine the issue. If the governor has designated the 20 board to elect its chairman, the chairman may vote only once on any motion. The 21 deputy secretary or the undersecretary of the Department of Energy and Natural 22 Resources may serve as a proxy member of the board in the absence of the secretary 23 with full authority to act for the secretary as a member of the board. 24 * * * 25 §124. Board may lease public lands; fee 26 A. The legislature finds that the state, through the Department of Energy and 27 Natural Resources, should promote the generation and use of alternative energy 28 sources, including but not limited to wind energy, geothermal energy, solar energy, 29 and hydrokinetic energy, throughout the state to ensure the viability of the state's Page 22 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 natural resources, to provide a continuing utility-scale clean energy source for the 2 citizens and businesses of Louisiana, to support economic development through job 3 retention and creation in Louisiana, and to promote a clean environment. 4 * * * 5 §126. Inspection; quantity of land; advertisements for bids; fees 6 * * * 7 B.(1) * * * 8 (3) On its own motion and after complying with the provisions of R.S. 9 36:354(A)(2), or at the request of the secretary of the Department of Energy and 10 Natural Resources, the board shall advertise for bids for a lease in the same manner 11 as if an application had been made therefor. 12 * * * 13 §132. Attorney for the board 14 The attorney general shall be the attorney for the board, but the board shall 15 have authority to employ additional counsel and fix and pay the compensation for 16 such additional counsel or counselors, subject, however, to the authority of the 17 attorney general and the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural 18 Resources to approve such counsel whereupon the attorney general shall issue, under 19 his power of appointment of assistants, a commission to such counsel as assistant 20 attorney general. However, any contract for legal services which exceed two hundred 21 fifty thousand dollars shall be subject to approval by the Joint Legislative Committee 22 on the Budget. 23 * * * 24 §135. Secretary and other employees 25 The Department of Energy and Natural Resources, through the office of 26 mineral resources shall provide the necessary staff functions to assist the board in its 27 leasing, supervisory, and other activities and the assistant secretary thereof shall 28 serve as secretary to the board. 29 §136. Funds, disposition and appropriation of; penalties Page 23 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 A.(1)(a) All bonuses, rentals, royalties, shut-in payments, or other sums 2 payable to the state as the lessor under the terms of valid existing mineral leases 3 entered into under this Subpart or previously granted by the state and under the 4 supervision of the board or from leases hereafter granted shall be paid to the office 5 of mineral resources, by check or electronic wire transfers only, and all such 6 payments if made payable to the register of the state land office as previously 7 required, may be endorsed and otherwise processed by the secretary of the 8 Department of Energy and Natural Resources pursuant to his general authority in 9 regard to the functions of that office as provided in R.S. 36:921 through R.S. 36:926. 10 A payor of royalty whose total monthly payment is fifty thousand dollars or more 11 shall pay the royalty payment by electronic wire transfer. 12 * * * 13 §136.3. Mineral and Energy Operation Fund 14 * * * 15 D. The monies in the fund shall be appropriated by the legislature to the 16 Department of Energy and Natural Resources to be used solely for the 17 administration and regulation of minerals, ground water, and related energy 18 activities. Additionally, monies deposited into the fund pursuant to Paragraph (B)(5) 19 of this Section shall be used solely for the administration and regulation of solar 20 power generation facilities. 21 * * * 22 §142. Board as agency to receive, administer, and control royalties in-kind; contract 23 authority 24 * * * 25 E.(1)(a) Upon receipt of a written proposal by an applicant to enter into a 26 contract with the board authorized by Subsection C of this Section concerning the 27 acquisition and use of available in-kind natural gas royalties and after publication of 28 its intent to do so in the official journal of the state, the board may undertake arm's- 29 length negotiations with the applicant resulting in terms which it deems to be most Page 24 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 advantageous to the state and assuring that the applicant will use the in-kind royalties 2 to satisfy and meet bona fide human needs, as defined herein. Under any such 3 contract, the price at which any natural gas is to be sold shall be not less than the first 4 of the month published price for the subject month for Henry Hub natural gas as 5 reported in McGraw-Hill Companies' Platts Inside FERC's Gas Market Report or its 6 successor, plus or minus the basis differential for the pipeline system into which the 7 natural gas is delivered. However, for those leases for which an existing pricing 8 mechanism provides a higher price than the above published price, the price the state 9 receives for those specific leases shall not be less than the existing pricing 10 mechanism. If the Inside FERC's Gas Market Report ceases to be published, the 11 secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall designate a 12 substitute published source for the price data. If the above-referenced Henry Hub 13 natural gas spot market price is discontinued, the secretary of the Department of 14 Energy and Natural Resources shall designate a substitute reference price, to ensure 15 a reasonably consistent pricing mechanism, until the legislature adopts a 16 replacement. 17 * * * 18 §143. Transfer of solid mineral leases, approval by board 19 * * * 20 C. When a transfer is proposed under the circumstances described in 21 Subsection B hereof, the proposed transferee shall first make application on forms 22 to be prescribed by the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural 23 Resources pursuant to regulation. Such regulations shall require at a minimum, 24 detailed information concerning the competence and integrity of the proposed 25 transferee, including its financial and performance capabilities, as these bear upon 26 its ability to perform all obligations under the lease or sublease in such a manner as 27 not to adversely affect the public interest of the state as respects its natural resources, 28 including potential economic and physical waste and development of such resources, 29 or both. All applications shall be accompanied by a fee of one hundred dollars and Page 25 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 a bond to secure payment by the applicant of the actual costs of any investigation or 2 hearing hereunder. 3 D.(1) Prior to any action by the board on any such application, the secretary 4 of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall conduct a hearing on the 5 application, which shall be conducted as expeditiously as practicable consistent with 6 developing a full factual record. The seller, assignor, or sublessor of the lease or 7 sublease or the corporate entity whose stock the transferee proposes to acquire under 8 the circumstances described in Subsection B hereof shall be a necessary party to any 9 hearing hereunder, and to any investigation or other proceedings had in connection 10 therewith. 11 (2) In advance of any such hearing, the secretary of the Department of 12 Energy and Natural Resources shall have the same powers as are conferred upon the 13 commissioner of conservation by R.S. 30:909 to investigate, receive written 14 statements, administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses, compel their 15 attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, 16 correspondence, memoranda, contracts, agreements, or other records or documents; 17 and any party to any such hearing shall have the right to take the testimony of any 18 witness and to compel any witness to appear and depose and to produce books, 19 papers, correspondence, memoranda, contracts and agreements, or other records or 20 documents, on the same terms as are contained in R.S. 30:909. 21 * * * 22 (4) Promptly after the conclusion of the hearing, the secretary of the 23 Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall prepare written findings of fact 24 and a recommended decision on the application. He shall transmit these to the State 25 Mineral and Energy Board together with a certified copy of the hearing record. After 26 giving due consideration to whether the evidence establishes that the proposed 27 transferee is competent and otherwise qualified to perform all of the obligations 28 under the lease or sublease in such a manner as not to adversely affect the public 29 interest of the state as respects its natural resources, the State Mineral and Energy Page 26 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Board shall issue a written decision granting or denying the application in whole or 2 in part or upon such conditions as it may deem appropriate. 3 * * * 4 (6) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the secretary of the 5 Department of Energy and Natural Resources may transmit a recommended 6 decision to the State Mineral and Energy Board without first conducting an 7 investigation or holding a hearing if (i) all necessary parties to the hearing file 8 affidavits with the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources 9 attesting their belief that there are no substantial issues requiring an investigation or 10 hearing and (ii) the secretary independently determines that there are no substantial 11 issues requiring an investigation or hearing. 12 E. The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall 13 have authority to issue all necessary or appropriate regulations to implement this 14 Section. 15 F. Whenever it appears to the State Mineral and Energy Board or the 16 secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources that any person has 17 engaged or is about to engage in any act or practice constituting a violation of any 18 provision of this Section, the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural 19 Resources may investigate and issue orders and notices. In addition to all other 20 remedies, the State Mineral and Energy Board or the secretary of the Department of 21 Energy and Natural Resources may bring an action in any court of competent 22 jurisdiction in the name and on behalf of this state against any person or persons 23 participating in or about to participate in a violation of this Section, to enforce 24 compliance with this Section, or enjoin any action in violation of this Section. 25 * * * 26 §144. Sale of royalties in-kind to small refiners 27 A. On or before December 31, 1979, the secretary of the Department of 28 Energy and Natural Resources shall submit to the State Mineral and Energy Board 29 for implementation a regulatory program for the sale and/or processing of in-kind Page 27 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 crude oil royalties to refiners in the state and procedures for the sale and/or 2 processing, delivery, and use of royalty crude oil, which at a minimum include the 3 following: 4 * * * 5 §150. Louisiana Royalty Relief Dry Hole Credit Program; requirements; conditions; 6 limitations; expiration 7 A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the 8 Department of Energy and Natural Resources may by rule provide a dry hole credit 9 program as set forth in this Section for certain drilling in mineral leases on state- 10 owned lands or state-owned water bottoms in the coastal zone, as defined in R.S. 11 49:214.24. 12 B. The requirements for the royalty relief dry hole credit are as follows: 13 * * * 14 (7) The dry hole well records and reports shall at all times be open to 15 inspection and audit by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 16 * * * 17 D. If a dry hole credit is offered as provided in this Section, the Department 18 of Energy and Natural Resources, office of mineral resources, shall certify 19 qualification for the royalty relief dry hole credit, and provide forms and procedures 20 relative to such certification. Application and obtaining certification as a well 21 qualified to receive the royalty relief dry hole credit must be completed prior to 22 drilling of the qualifying well. 23 * * * 24 F. To utilize the royalty relief dry hole credit: 25 * * * 26 (2) The applicant shall agree to fully compensate for the adverse impacts to 27 coastal wetlands in an amount equal to at least one hundred twenty-five percent of 28 the habitat value of the affected wetlands, calculated in accordance with an 29 evaluation method adopted by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. Page 28 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 * * * 2 H. The Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall promulgate and 3 adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the 4 provisions of this Section if a dry hole credit program is established. 5 * * * 6 §206. Publication of survey 7 The results of the geological surveys shall be published by the Department 8 of Energy and Natural Resources. 9 * * * 10 §209. State Mineral and Energy Board, authority of 11 In order to carry out the provisions of R.S. 30:208, the State Mineral and 12 Energy Board may: 13 * * * 14 (4)(a) * * * 15 (b) The office of mineral resources, on behalf of the mineral board, shall 16 administer all operating agreements. After deposit of all production payments to the 17 Bond Security and Redemption Fund, an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the 18 production payments from any operating agreement entered into after August 15, 19 1997, shall be credited to the Mineral and Energy Operation Fund for appropriation 20 to the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 21 * * * 22 §212. Permits for surveys on public lands 23 A. The State Mineral and Energy Board shall have exclusive authority to 24 grant exclusive and nonexclusive permits to conduct geophysical and geological 25 surveys of any kind on state-owned lands, including water bottoms. No person shall 26 conduct a geophysical or geological survey on state-owned lands, including water 27 bottoms, without obtaining a permit. These permits shall be granted pursuant to rules 28 promulgated under the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act by the 29 Department of Energy and Natural Resources. No permit shall be granted covering Page 29 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 lands over which the state has a mere servitude without consent of the owner of the 2 abutting property. 3 * * * 4 §215. Nonexclusive geophysical permits 5 A. A nonexclusive permit to conduct seismic, geophysical, or geological 6 surveying upon state-owned lands, including water bottoms, shall be valid for one 7 year from the date of issuance. However, if operations commence within the year 8 and are ceased due to unforeseen circumstances, the term may be extended for up to 9 one year from the cessation of operations by the secretary of Department of Energy 10 and Natural Resources. The permittee shall pay to the office of mineral resources at 11 the time of application for the seismic permit a fee. Such fee shall be determined by 12 the State Mineral and Energy Board at least every twelve months or as often as 13 necessary. The fee shall be based upon market value but shall be no more than thirty 14 dollars and no less than five dollars per acre. 15 * * * 16 §216. Exclusive geophysical permits 17 * * * 18 C.(1) * * * 19 (2) The board may also cause notices to be sent to those whom the board 20 determines would be interested in submitting bids. Upon the request of the board, the 21 office of mineral resources shall prepare and mail the notice of publication. A 22 reasonable fee adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act to cover the 23 cost of preparing the mailing of the notice of publication may be charged by the 24 office of mineral resources. On its own motion and after complying with the policies 25 adopted pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 36:354(A)(2), or at the request of the 26 secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the board shall 27 advertise for bids for a permit in the same manner as if an application had been made 28 therefor. 29 * * * Page 30 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 §401. Advisory Commission for Louisiana's Energy, Environment, and Restoration; 2 purpose 3 There is hereby created the Advisory Commission for Louisiana's Energy, 4 Environment, and Restoration within the Department of Energy and Natural 5 Resources. The commission shall support programs designed to demonstrate to the 6 general public the importance of the Louisiana oil and natural gas exploration, 7 production, and service industry; encourage the wise and efficient use of energy; 8 promote environmentally sound production methods and technologies; develop 9 existing supplies of Louisiana's oil and natural gas resources; support research and 10 educational activities concerning the oil and gas exploration and production industry; 11 cause remediation of historical oilfield environmental problems; and to have such 12 other authority as provided by law. 13 * * * 14 §503. Definitions 15 As used in this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the meaning 16 ascribed to them in this Section except as otherwise provided in this Chapter or 17 unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context: 18 (1) "Assistant secretary" means the assistant secretary of the office of 19 conservation of the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 20 * * * 21 §546. General powers to control natural resources and energy 22 A. The assistant secretary of the office of conservation of the Department of 23 Energy and Natural Resources shall have the powers and duties of: 24 * * * 25 §702. Definitions 26 As used in this Part, the following words and phrases have the meanings 27 hereinafter ascribed to them: 28 (1) "Assistant secretary" means the assistant secretary of the office of 29 conservation of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. Page 31 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 * * * 2 §723. Expropriation authority 3 * * * 4 G. Water used in the transportation of coal by pipeline to any point in 5 Louisiana shall conform to regulations of the Stream Control Commission and the 6 Department of Energy and Natural Resources prior to its discharge into rivers or 7 streams or holding pits from which seepage can occur. 8 * * * 9 §731. Definitions 10 As used in this Part, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings 11 hereinafter ascribed to them: 12 (1) "Assistant secretary" means the assistant secretary of the office of 13 conservation of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 14 * * * 15 §904. Definitions 16 * * * 17 (5) "Department of Energy and Natural Resources" and "department" means 18 the Department of Energy and Natural Resources of the State of Louisiana. 19 * * * 20 (20) "Secretary of Natural Resources" or "Secretary" means the Secretary of 21 Natural Resources of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources of the State 22 of Louisiana. 23 * * * 24 §905. Jurisdiction and powers; rules and regulations 25 A. The Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Office of 26 Conservation, or such persons as may be designated by the commissioner, is hereby 27 designated as the official agency whose duty it is to administer the regulations and 28 guidelines contained in this Chapter and to institute such other reasonable regulations 29 and guidelines, after notice and public hearing, as may become necessary pursuant Page 32 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 to this Chapter to protect state and private lands from unreasonable degradation by 2 any operator engaged in surface coal mining operations. Exclusive jurisdiction over 3 all aspects of surface coal mining and reclamation shall be vested in the Department 4 of Energy and Natural Resources, Office of Conservation. The Secretary of Natural 5 Resources shall be responsible for the policies of the State relating to the 6 development of the State's lignite reserves, including the transportation and 7 utilization thereof, and shall formulate plans and shall advise the Governor and the 8 Legislature with respect to short and long term policies of the State concerning the 9 development of the State's lignite reserves, including the transportation and 10 utilization thereof, and the integration of the development of the State's lignite 11 reserves into the development of the State's fuel sources. The secretary of the 12 Department of Energy and Natural Resources in cooperation with the Commissioner 13 of Conservation shall establish, for the purpose of avoiding duplication, a process for 14 coordinating the review and issuance of permits for surface coal mining and 15 reclamation operations with any other federal or state permit process applicable to 16 the proposed operations. 17 B. The authority shall be vested in the commissioner, and such other persons 18 as may be designated by the commissioner, to administer and enforce the provisions 19 of this Chapter, and he shall seek the accomplishment of the purposes of this Chapter 20 by all practicable and economically feasible methods and in so doing shall have the 21 following duties and powers: 22 * * * 23 (9) To contract, upon such terms as he may agree upon, for legal, financial, 24 engineering and other professional services necessary to expedite the conduct of the 25 affairs of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, 26 under the provisions of this Act. 27 * * * 28 §905.1. Abandoned mine reclamation; fund participation 29 A. The commissioner is authorized to take all action necessary to ensure Page 33 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Louisiana's participation to the fullest extent practicable in the abandoned mines 2 reclamation fund established by the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, 3 as amended, 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq.; and the office of conservation of the Department 4 of Energy and Natural Resources shall function as the state's agency for such 5 participation. Pursuant to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, as 6 amended, 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., the commissioner shall by rule establish priorities 7 that meet the terms of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act as amended, 8 30 U.S.C. 1201 et seq., and applicable federal regulations for the expenditure of 9 those funds; designate the land and water eligible for reclamation or abatement 10 expenditures; submit reclamation plans, annual projects, and applications to the 11 appropriate authorities; undertake emergency reclamation projects pursuant to the 12 terms of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, as amended, 30 U.S.C. 13 1201 et seq., and applicable federal regulations; and administer all money received 14 for abandoned mine reclamation or related purposes. 15 * * * 16 §953. Limitations 17 * * * 18 C. A copy of the bylaws of the Interstate Mining Commission shall be placed 19 on file with the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources and 20 be available for inspection at any reasonable time by the legislature or any interested 21 citizen. 22 * * * 23 §962. Definitions 24 As used in this Chapter, the following words, terms, and phrases have the 25 meanings ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly indicates a 26 different meaning: 27 * * * 28 (2) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural 29 Resources, and his designees. Page 34 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 §963. Management by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources 2 A. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Department of Energy and 3 Natural Resources shall be the state agency charged with managing and monitoring 4 the implementation of all cooperative endeavor agreements to withdraw running 5 surface water or assignments thereof. The secretary shall have the authority to 6 designate where within his agency the various functions of this Chapter are to be 7 performed, to issue contracts or enter into agreements with other public entities when 8 required in his opinion for the efficient administration of this Chapter, and to 9 establish any necessary policy or promulgate, in accordance with the provisions of 10 the Administrative Procedure Act, any regulations that in his opinion are necessary 11 for the efficient implementation of this Chapter. 12 * * * 13 §1103. Definitions 14 Unless the context otherwise requires, the words defined in this Section have 15 the following meaning when found in this Chapter: 16 * * * 17 (7) "Office" means the office of conservation, Department of Energy and 18 Natural Resources. 19 * * * 20 §1105. Hearings; notice; rules of procedures; emergency; service of process; public 21 records; request for hearings; orders and compliance orders 22 * * * 23 B. All rules, regulations, and orders made by the commissioner under this 24 Chapter shall be in writing and shall be entered in full by him in a book kept for that 25 purpose. This book shall be a public record and shall be open for inspection at all 26 times during reasonable office hours and shall be available on the Department of 27 Energy and Natural Resources website. A copy of a rule, regulation, or order, 28 certified by the commissioner, shall be received in evidence in all courts of this state 29 with the same effect as the original. Page 35 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 * * * 2 §1109. Cessation of storage operations; liability release 3 * * * 4 F. No party contracting with the Department of Energy and Natural 5 Resources, office of conservation, or the commissioner under the provisions of this 6 Chapter shall be deemed to be a public employee or an employee otherwise subject 7 to the provisions of Parts I through IV of Chapter 15 of Title 42 of the Louisiana 8 Revised Statutes of 1950. 9 * * * 10 §1152. Development and coordination of program; priorities 11 A. The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or his 12 designee, hereafter in this Chapter referred to as the "secretary," shall develop and 13 coordinate a program of research and development in solar energy supply, 14 consumption, and conservation and the technology of siting facilities and shall give 15 priority to those forms of research and development which are of particular 16 importance to the state, including, but not limited to, all of the following: 17 * * * 18 §1154. Regulations governing solar power generation facilities; solar leases 19 A. The secretary shall develop and adopt, in cooperation with affected utility, 20 agricultural, and solar industries, landowners, and consumer representatives and after 21 one or more public hearings, regulations governing solar power generation facilities 22 and property leases for the exploration, development, and production of solar energy. 23 The regulations shall be designed to encourage the development and use of solar 24 Energy and to provide maximum information to the public concerning solar devices 25 and solar power generation facilities. The regulations may include all of the 26 following: 27 * * * 28 (9)(a) Requirements for a permit to construct or operate a solar power 29 generation facility shall include a bond or other acceptable financial security in an Page 36 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 amount determined by the secretary to ensure proper site closure. Any bond shall be 2 executed by the permittee and a corporate surety licensed to do business in the state. 3 The bond or other instrument shall be payable to the Department of Energy and 4 Natural Resources, except the secretary may accept any financial security provided 5 to the landowner or lessor for facilities exempted from permit fees pursuant to 6 Paragraph (D)(3) of this Section. Any bond or other instrument shall ensure the 7 following: 8 * * * 9 §1202. Definitions 10 Except where the context clearly indicates otherwise, as used in this Chapter: 11 * * * 12 (8) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural 13 Resources or his designee. 14 * * * 15 §1354. Definitions 16 As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have the following 17 meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: 18 * * * 19 (6) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural 20 Resources. 21 * * * 22 §1401. Statement of findings 23 * * * 24 B. With the approval of the United States Department of Energy, the 25 Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources administers the federal oil 26 overcharge monies due the state, as appropriated by the legislature. Early legislative 27 input and recommendations on state expenditure plans will maximize efficient 28 delivery of services and benefits to Louisiana's consumers, particularly those interest 29 groups including low income persons, educational institutions, and hospitals, served Page 37 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 by mandated federal programs. 2 C. The legislature finds and declares that in order to provide legislators with 3 information as to expenditure restrictions and to encourage interaction among the 4 Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the legislature, and the 5 United States Department of Energy, a special joint legislative committee on federal 6 oil overcharge monies shall be created. 7 §1402. Joint legislative committee on federal oil overcharge monies 8 * * * 9 B. The Joint Committee on Federal Oil Overcharge Monies shall review the 10 oil overcharge refund program as a whole and provide legislative guidance to the 11 Department of Energy and Natural Resources relative to the development of state 12 plans to expend federal oil overcharge refund monies. 13 * * * 14 D. In the conduct of its studies and proceedings, the Joint Committee on 15 Federal Oil Overcharge Monies shall utilize the personnel and services of the staff 16 of the Senate and House of Representatives. The Department of Energy and Natural 17 Resources shall assist the committee in the performance of its duties and functions 18 as the committee shall request. 19 * * * 20 §2004. Definitions 21 The following terms as used in this Subtitle, unless the context otherwise 22 requires or unless redefined by a particular Chapter hereof, shall have the following 23 meanings: 24 * * * 25 (12) "Pollutant" means those elements or compounds defined or identified as 26 hazardous, toxic, or noxious, or as hazardous, solid, or radioactive wastes under this 27 Subtitle and regulations, or by the secretary, consistent with applicable laws and 28 regulations. For the purposes of the Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination 29 System, as defined in R.S. 30:2073(6), "pollutant" means dredged spoil, solid waste, Page 38 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 incinerator residue, filter backwash, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, 2 chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials, except those regulated 3 under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq., as amended, heat, 4 wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt, and industrial, municipal, 5 and agricultural waste discharged into water. For the purposes of the Louisiana 6 Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, as defined in R.S. 30:2073(6), "pollutant" 7 does not mean: 8 (a) Water, gas, waste, or other material which is injected into a well for 9 disposal in accordance with a permit approved by the Department of Energy and 10 Natural Resources or the Department of Environmental Quality. 11 * * * 12 §2011. Department of Environmental Quality created; duties; powers; structure 13 * * * 14 D. The secretary shall have the following powers and duties: 15 * * * 16 (20) To develop and implement a nonpoint source management and 17 groundwater quality protection program and a conservation and management plan 18 for estuaries, to receive federal funds for this purpose and provide matching state 19 funds when required, and to comply with terms and conditions necessary to receive 20 federal grants. The nonpoint source conservation and management plan, the 21 groundwater protection plan, and the plan for estuaries shall be developed in 22 coordination with, and with the concurrence of the appropriate state agencies, 23 including but not limited to the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the 24 Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, 25 and the State Soil and Water Conservation Commission in those areas pertaining to 26 their respective jurisdictions. 27 * * * 28 §2015.1. Purpose; remediation of usable ground water 29 * * * Page 39 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 L. This Section shall not apply to oilfield sites or exploration and production 2 (E&P) sites regulated by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, office 3 of conservation. "Oilfield site"or "exploration and production (E&P) site" means any 4 oilfield site or exploration and production site as defined in R.S. 30:29(I)(4). 5 * * * 6 §2035. Environmental Emergency Response Training Program 7 * * * 8 B.(1) * * * 9 (2) In order to encourage training programs to further the purposes of the 10 Louisiana Environmental Quality Act, as provided in R.S. 30:2011(D)(8), the 11 department may make allocations available only for those training programs which 12 meet certain basic guidelines for emergency response training established by the 13 Department of Public Safety and Corrections or the Department of Energy and 14 Natural Resources in conjunction with the Peace Officers Standard Training (POST). 15 At a minimum, such guidelines shall require that training provide instruction in 16 emergency response situations peculiar or applicable to Louisiana. 17 * * * 18 §2074. Water quality control; secretary of environmental quality; powers and duties 19 * * * 20 C. The office of the secretary shall, in conjunction and coordination with the 21 Department of Energy and Natural Resources, conduct a risk analysis of the 22 discharge of produced waters, excluding cavern leach waters, from oil and gas 23 activities onto the ground and into the surface waters in the coastal wetlands of this 24 state. The analysis shall examine the environmental risks and economic impact of 25 allowing such discharges in the coastal wetlands and the economic impact on the oil 26 and gas industry if such discharges are prohibited. The analysis shall be completed 27 and delivered to the committees on natural resources of the House of Representatives 28 and Senate no later than April 1, 1988. 29 * * * Page 40 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 E. No later than October 1, 1995, the secretary shall adopt rules and 2 regulations to govern the discharge from commercial facilities of liquid wastes that 3 contain methanol alcohol. The rules and regulations shall require pre-treatment of 4 such waste before entering any sewer system, septic tank, or any surface waters of 5 the state. The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to veterinarians and 6 hospitals. The rules adopted pursuant to this Subsection shall not be applicable to 7 industrial facilities required to obtain permits for discharge of liquid wastes from 8 Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the United States Environmental 9 Protection Agency, or the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 10 * * * 11 §2248. Modification of contribution report 12 * * * 13 C.(1) After all adjustments provided for in this Chapter, the total amount of 14 dry weight tons contributed by any disposer or generator to the hazardous waste 15 content of Louisiana lands shall be reduced by the total amount of dry weight tons 16 of hazardous wastes generated or disposed because of an order by the secretary, the 17 secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, or a court, ordering 18 the cleanup of any abandoned waste site where the parties held responsible for the 19 waste at the site are bearing the cost of the cleanup. 20 * * * 21 §2397. Distribution of revenue 22 The state treasurer shall each fiscal year deposit the revenues generated under 23 the provisions of this Chapter, from taxes applicable to the sale of reclaimed water, 24 or other sources as provided for by law into the Bond Security and Redemption 25 Fund. Out of the funds from such sources remaining in the Bond Security and 26 Redemption Fund after a sufficient amount is allocated from that fund to pay all 27 obligations secured by the full faith and credit of the state which become due and 28 payable within any fiscal year, the treasurer shall deposit an amount equal to one- 29 quarter of the revenues generated from the reclaimed water program into the Clean Page 41 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Water State Revolving Fund, enacted in R.S. 30:2301 et seq., which shall be used for 2 making grants to local governments to finance primary waste treatment facilities; 3 one-quarter into the Coastal Resources Trust Dedicated Fund Account, created in 4 R.S. 49:214.40, and the remainder shall be used by the Department of Energy and 5 Natural Resources for the protection of groundwater resources. Use of these funds 6 shall be subject to an appropriation by the legislature. 7 * * * 8 §2458. Interagency council 9 A. The coordinator shall convene at least twice annually and as deemed 10 necessary and serve as chairperson to a cooperative council, the interagency council, 11 composed of the following: 12 * * * 13 (4) The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or his 14 designee. 15 * * * 16 §2459. State oil spill contingency plan 17 A. The coordinator shall develop and distribute to the public a state oil spill 18 contingency plan of response for actual or threatened unauthorized discharges of oil 19 and clean up of pollution from such discharges. In addition, the Department of 20 Environmental Quality, in cooperation with the coordinator, shall recommend 21 provisions of the plan relating to unauthorized discharges of oil. The Department of 22 Wildlife and Fisheries, in cooperation with the coordinator, shall recommend 23 provisions of the plan providing for protection, rescue, and rehabilitation of aquatic 24 life and wildlife and appropriate habitats on which they depend under its jurisdiction. 25 The executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, in 26 cooperation with the coordinator, shall recommend provisions of the plan for 27 providing for the protection and restoration of the coastal areas of the state. The 28 Department of Energy and Natural Resources, in cooperation with the coordinator, 29 shall recommend provisions of the plan providing for protection and rehabilitation Page 42 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 of appropriate resources under its jurisdiction. The Department of Public Safety and 2 Corrections, in cooperation with the coordinator, shall recommend provisions of the 3 plan providing for emergency response coordination to protect life and property, 4 excluding prevention, abatement, containment, and removal of pollution from an 5 unauthorized discharge. 6 * * * 7 D. Prior to adopting the state oil spill contingency plan, the coordinator shall 8 adopt a fully delineated inland boundary for coastal waters as defined in this Chapter, 9 which boundary shall be based upon data provided by, including but not limited to 10 the United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Department of the 11 Interior, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Louisiana Department 12 of Energy and Natural Resources, and the oil and gas industry. The coordinator 13 shall be authorized to amend the boundary by rule as conditions may warrant. The 14 boundary, as adopted, shall be clearly marked on large scale maps or charts, official 15 copies of which shall be available for public inspection in the Coastal Protection and 16 Restoration Authority, the office of coastal management in the Department of 17 Energy and Natural Resources, in each agency comprising the interagency council, 18 and in the parish seat of each parish located within the boundary. 19 §2460. Contingency plan provisions 20 A. The plan shall include all of the following: 21 * * * 22 (14) Procedures established in cooperation with the Department of 23 Environmental Quality, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Coastal Protection 24 and Restoration Authority, and Department of Energy and Natural Resources for 25 assessment of natural resources damages and plans for mitigation of damage to and 26 restoration, protection, rehabilitation, or replacement of damaged natural resources. 27 Pursuant to R.S. 49:214.1 et seq., the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority 28 is responsible for integrated coastal protection in the coastal area of the state, 29 therefore, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the Coastal Page 43 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Protection and Restoration Authority Board shall assist the coordinator in a primary 2 role in assessing natural resource damages in the coastal area. 3 * * * 4 §2469. Derelict vessels and structures 5 * * * 6 E. The office of conservation in the Department of Energy and Natural 7 Resources may petition the coordinator to abate an unauthorized discharge or the 8 threat of a discharge from a facility or structure which the secretary certifies to be 9 involved in an actual discharge or poses a threat of a discharge and for which the 10 secretary certifies that the office of conservation cannot immediately locate a viable 11 responsible party. Upon approval of the department's petition the coordinator shall 12 reimburse the office of conservation for all expenses incurred, within the limits of 13 provisions of this Section, and he shall seek reimbursement for the fund as provided 14 elsewhere in this Chapter. The coordinator shall use monies in the fund for this 15 purpose, which shall not exceed two million dollars in any fiscal year. 16 * * * 17 §2495. Institutions of higher education 18 The coordinator by interagency contract may provide grants to state 19 institutions of higher education for research, testing, and development of discharge 20 prevention and response technology, discharge response training, wildlife and natural 21 resources protection, rescue, and rehabilitation, development of computer models to 22 predict the movements and impacts of discharges, and other purposes consistent with 23 and in furtherance of the purposes of this Chapter. Contracts or agreements relating 24 to wildlife, aquatic resources, and habitats under the jurisdiction of the Department 25 of Wildlife and Fisheries shall be made in coordination with that department. 26 Contracts or agreements relating to wetlands and coastal resources under the 27 jurisdiction of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall be made in 28 coordination with that department. To the greatest extent possible, contracts shall be 29 coordinated with studies being done by other state agencies, the federal government, Page 44 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 or private industry to minimize duplication of efforts. 2 * * * 3 §2575. Restrictions on the sale of certain mercury-added products 4 * * * 5 D. On and after July 1, 2007, no mercury dairy or natural gas manometers 6 shall be offered for final sale or use or distributed for promotional purposes in 7 Louisiana. Manufacturers that produce and sell mercury dairy or natural gas 8 manometers shall notify retailers about the provisions of this product ban and how 9 to dispose of the remaining inventory properly. The Department of Environmental 10 Quality in consultation with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry 11 and the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall examine the 12 feasibility of implementing a collection and replacement program for dairy and 13 natural gas manometers, respectively, including technical and monetary assistance 14 to operations that once contained mercury manometers. 15 Section 6. R.S. 31:149(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 16 §149. Mineral rights reserved from acquisitions of land by governments or agencies 17 thereof imprescriptible; prescription period in acquisitions for 18 economic development 19 A. "Acquiring authority" for the purposes of this Section means (1) the 20 United States, the state of Louisiana, and a subdivision, department or agency of 21 either the United States or the state of Louisiana; (2) any legal entity with authority 22 to expropriate or condemn, except an electric public utility acquiring land without 23 expropriation. An electric public utility acquiring land through expropriation shall 24 be considered as an acquiring authority; and (3) a nonprofit entity, recognized under 25 Sections 501(c)(3) and 170 of the Internal Revenue Code as being organized and 26 operated as a public charitable organization, that is certified by the secretary of the 27 Department of Energy and Natural Resources to be a state or national land 28 conservation organization. The certification shall be in writing and shall be a public 29 record. Such certification shall not for that reason alone be construed to authorize the Page 45 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 nonprofit entity to exercise expropriation powers. With respect to certifications 2 occurring on and after August 1, 2004, an entity's certification shall require approval 3 by official action of both the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the House 4 Committee on Natural Resources and Environment. 5 * * * 6 Section 7. R.S. 32:1511 and 1513.1(A) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as 7 follows: 8 §1511. Illegal discharge of hazardous materials 9 No person shall intentionally discharge or cause to be discharged the contents 10 of any transport vehicle containing hazardous material between the points of origin 11 and the points of billed destination, except as authorized by representatives of the 12 Department of Public Safety or the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 13 * * * 14 §1513.1. Immunity from civil liability; limitations 15 A. A person qualified by training, education, or experience, shall be immune 16 from civil liability for the rendering of care, assistance, or advice, in the area of these 17 qualifications, if responding to an emergency dealing with the prevention or 18 management of an incident resulting from the storage or transportation of hazardous 19 materials at the request of the local civil defense director or his designee, the chief 20 local law enforcement officer in the jurisdiction where the incident occurs or his 21 designee, the state police, or the hazardous waste division's emergency response 22 section within the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 23 * * * 24 Section 8. R.S. 33:1236(56), 1236.25(C), 1236.27, 1419.1(C), the introductory 25 paragraph of 1419.2(1), 1419.2(6), 1419.3, 1419.4(A) and (D)(1), 1419.5(1) and (4), 26 1419.6(A), (B), (D), and (E), 4064.4(E) and (J), 4065.3(E) and (I), 4522, 4523, 4524, 4526, 27 and 4546.21(B) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 28 §1236. Powers of parish governing authorities 29 The police juries and other parish governing authorities shall have the Page 46 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 following powers: 2 * * * 3 (56) The Ouachita Parish Police Jury shall have the authority to enact 4 ordinances regulating the excavation of land within the unincorporated areas of the 5 parish of Ouachita, including but not by way of limitation the requirement that a 6 permit be obtained prior to any excavation of land; that all excavations of land 7 conform to certain prescribed design criteria, and for such other similar rules and 8 regulations as may be enacted by the Ouachita Parish Police Jury. However, nothing 9 herein shall be construed to apply to facilities permitted or regulated by the 10 Department of Environmental Quality or the Department of Energy and Natural 11 Resources. 12 * * * 13 §1236.25. Pointe Coupee Parish; False River; encroachments 14 * * * 15 C. Any ordinance adopted in accordance to Subsections A and B of this 16 Section shall not become effective until the ordinance is approved by the Department 17 of Energy and Natural Resources. 18 * * * 19 §1236.27. Cameron Parish; liquid or solid waste 20 A. The governing authority of Cameron Parish may provide by ordinance for 21 zoning and land use regarding any public or private facility for the disposal, 22 incineration, or storage of liquid or solid waste within the parish. The types and 23 quantities of the waste to be disposed of, incinerated, or stored at such a facility shall 24 be in compliance with any permit granted by the Department of Environmental 25 Quality and with any permit issued by the office of conservation of the Department 26 of Energy and Natural Resources. 27 B. The authorization provided for in this Section shall not supersede the 28 authority of the Department of Environmental Quality or the authority of the 29 Department of Energy and Natural Resources. Page 47 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 * * * 2 §1419.1. Legislative findings 3 * * * 4 C.(1) To assist in financing its political subdivisions for these purposes, the 5 Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving Loan Fund Program is established in this 6 Subpart to facilitate a state effort and to operate to the extent determined feasible by 7 the Department of Energy and Natural Resources in conjunction with federal 8 assistance under a state transportation plan or any other federal or private source of 9 assistance or funding, or both. 10 (2) The financial administration of the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving 11 Loan Fund shall be with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 12 (3) Relative to the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving Loan Fund Program, 13 the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall have the authority to 14 establish assistance priorities and perform oversight and other related activities. 15 §1419.2. Definitions 16 As used in this Subpart, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed 17 to them in this Section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: 18 (1) "Administrative costs" means costs incurred by the Department of 19 Energy and Natural Resources in the administration of the program, including but 20 not limited to: 21 * * * 22 (6) "Department" means the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 23 * * * 24 §1419.3. Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving Loan Fund Program 25 A. There shall be an Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving Loan Fund Program 26 within the Department of Energy and Natural Resources through which the state 27 may provide financial assistance to a local governing authority in the manner 28 provided for in this Subpart for the costs of converting all or a portion of the local 29 governing authority's fleet of motor vehicles to qualified clean fuel vehicles Page 48 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 propelled by an alternative fuel. 2 B. The Department of Energy and Natural Resources may promulgate rules 3 and regulations as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Subpart, in 4 accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, subject to oversight by the Senate 5 Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources 6 and Environment. 7 §1419.4. Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving Loan Fund 8 A. There is hereby established the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving Loan 9 Fund, hereinafter referred to in this Subpart as the "alternative fuels loan fund", 10 which shall be maintained, operated, and administered by the Department of Energy 11 and Natural Resources. 12 * * * 13 D.(1) The money in the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving Loan Fund shall 14 be appropriated by the legislature and shall be used by the Department of Energy 15 and Natural Resources solely for administrative costs of and the purposes of the 16 Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving Loan Fund Program as provided for in this 17 Subpart. 18 * * * 19 §1419.5. Use of the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving Loan Fund 20 Money from the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving Loan Fund may be used: 21 (1) To provide loans at or below market interest rates for a period not to 22 exceed ten years from the completion date of the conversion of all or a portion of 23 local governing authorities' fleets of motor vehicles to qualified clean fuel vehicles 24 propelled by alternative fuels which are financed by such loans. All such loans shall 25 be subject to approval by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 26 * * * 27 (4) To provide a source of revenue or security for the payment of principal, 28 interest, or premium on revenue or general obligation bonds or other evidences of 29 indebtedness issued by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, or any Page 49 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 political subdivision, governmental agency, public corporation, public trust, or any 2 other entity having the authority to issue debt for or on behalf of the state, if the net 3 proceeds of such debt instruments are deposited in the alternative fuels loan fund, or 4 are used to finance a fleet conversion approved by the Department of Energy and 5 Natural Resources or are used to refund any obligation which finances a fleet 6 conversion approved under this Subpart. 7 §1419.6. Loan conditions and repayment 8 A. Upon approval of an application by the Department of Energy and 9 Natural Resources, the department may lend amounts on deposit in the Alternative 10 Fuel Vehicle Revolving Loan Fund to a local governing authority to finance all or 11 a portion of the cost of a fleet conversion. Such loans are subject to the borrower's 12 compliance with the conditions of the loan, as well as any applicable rules or 13 regulations promulgated by the department. 14 B. Prior to making a loan, the Department of Energy and Natural Resources 15 shall determine that the clean fuel vehicles will be fully insured and that the local 16 governing authority has the ability to repay the loan, and may require a dedicated 17 source of repayment and impose additional requirements as the department deems 18 necessary. 19 * * * 20 D.(1) The interest rate on each loan shall be established by the secretary of 21 the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, subject to any limitations 22 provided for federal assistance under a state transportation plan or other limitations 23 required for the use of other federal funds by applicable federal law. Criteria to be 24 considered in the development of such interest rate shall include but are not limited 25 to administrative costs of the program, program priorities established by the 26 department, the creditworthiness of the applicant, the cost of bonds issued to provide 27 loan funding, and the long-term viability of the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Revolving 28 Loan Fund. 29 (2) The interest rate for a loan may include any additional rate that the Page 50 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Department of Energy and Natural Resources considers reasonable or necessary to 2 provide a reserve for the repayment of the loan. The additional rate may be fixed or 3 variable, may be calculated according to a formula, and may differ from the rate 4 established for any other loans. 5 E. Each loan shall be evidenced by a bond, note, or other evidence of 6 indebtedness of the borrower, in a form prescribed or approved by the Department 7 of Energy and Natural Resources. Such evidences of indebtedness shall be 8 consistent with the provisions of this Subpart and, if federal funds are used, 9 consistent with the terms of the appropriate federal act, and are not required to be 10 identical for all loans. 11 * * * 12 §4064.4. Powers of commission 13 * * * 14 E. The commission may perform such tasks relative to sewerage and water 15 systems as it may be authorized to perform by the Louisiana Department of Health, 16 the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Transportation and 17 Development, the Department of Public Service, and the Department of Energy and 18 Natural Resources. The aforesaid departments shall be authorized to assist the 19 commission in the enforcement of its promulgated rules and regulations, to notify 20 and advise the commission of any condition, hazard, or other factor which may affect 21 public health, and to make such recommendations to the commission which may 22 affect the correction of said condition, hazard, or factor. Each aforesaid department 23 shall be authorized to execute with the commission a letter of understanding and/or 24 agreement, the intent of which shall be to assure no parallel, preemptive, and/or 25 converse enforcement or regulatory action by either entity. 26 * * * 27 J. In exercising its authority under this Subpart, the commission shall be 28 subject to the authority of the Department of Health and Human Resources, the 29 Department of Environmental Quality, and the Department of Energy and Natural Page 51 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Resources. 2 * * * 3 §4065.3. Powers of commission 4 * * * 5 E. The commission may perform such tasks relative to sewerage and water 6 systems as it may be authorized to perform by the Louisiana Department of Health, 7 the Department of Environmental Quality, and the Department of Energy and 8 Natural Resources. 9 * * * 10 I. In exercising its authority under this Subpart, the commission shall be 11 subject to the authority of the Louisiana Department of Health, the Department of 12 Environmental Quality, and the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 13 * * * 14 §4522. Malodorants required 15 All natural and other odorless gases shall be malodorized by the use of a 16 malodorant in accordance with pipeline safety rules and regulations promulgated by 17 the assistant secretary of the office of conservation of the Department of Energy and 18 Natural Resources, or in the case of liquefied petroleum gas in accordance with R.S. 19 40:1846(B)(5) and (6). 20 §4523. Method of use and containers and equipment regulated 21 The method of using the malodorant and the containers and equipment used 22 in connection therewith are under the direction and subject to the approval of the 23 assistant secretary of the office of conservation of the Department of Energy and 24 Natural Resources. 25 §4524. Enforcement; rules and regulations 26 The office of conservation of the Department of Energy and Natural 27 Resources shall enforce the provisions of this Subpart. The assistant secretary of the 28 office may prescribe any rules and regulations and conduct such inspections as he 29 deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this Subpart. Page 52 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 In addition to the rights, powers, and duties granted under this Subpart, the 2 assistant secretary shall exercise, relative to this Subpart, all of the rights, powers, 3 and duties granted under R.S. 30:501 et seq.; however, the provisions of R.S. 30:544 4 shall not apply to this Subpart. 5 Whenever the assistant secretary shall find any violation of this Subpart, the 6 assistant secretary may report such violation and submit the evidence thereof to the 7 district attorney of the district or parish court having jurisdiction over the area 8 wherein the violation occurred. 9 * * * 10 §4526. Construction of Subpart, surrender of powers 11 Nothing contained in this Subpart shall be construed as surrendering to the 12 office of conservation of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources any of 13 the powers of supervision, regulation, or control over any local public utility by any 14 town or city, other than those specifically provided herein. 15 * * * 16 §4546.21. Construction contracts 17 * * * 18 B. Whenever such a project includes a pipeline facility that is publicly bid, 19 the authority or the participating political subdivision in which the project will be 20 completed may require, as part of the bidding process, the prequalification of 21 contractors and subcontractors to ensure compliance with the certification 22 requirements of 49 CFR 192.801 et seq., as mandated by the United States 23 Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 24 Administration or the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources. Any 25 such project subject to prequalification shall otherwise comply with the provisions 26 of R.S. 38:2211 et seq. and any other applicable provisions regarding public 27 procurement or public bidding. 28 Section 9. R.S. 34:3116(B) and 3304(B) are hereby amended and reenacted to read 29 as follows: Page 53 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 §3116. Coordination and cooperation 2 * * * 3 B. The executive director shall take affirmative steps to fully coordinate all 4 aspects of the authority development program with the secretary of the Department 5 of Energy and Natural Resources or his designee charged with the development of 6 the coastal zone management plan. 7 * * * 8 §3304. Coordination and cooperation 9 * * * 10 B. The secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development is 11 authorized to call upon the Department of Economic Development, the Department 12 of Energy and Natural Resources, the Board of Commissioners of the Port of Iberia, 13 and all other port commissions and districts and state agencies, departments, and 14 political subdivisions of the state for full and complete cooperation and assistance 15 in carrying out the provisions of this Chapter, and all such entities are hereby 16 directed and it shall be their duty to cooperate and assist the department to the fullest 17 possible extent. 18 * * * 19 Section 10. R.S. 36:4(A)(7), 8.1(C)(11), 351(A), (B), and (C)(1), 353, 354(A)(13), 20 (B)(1)(b), (4), (6), and (8), 356(A) and (B), 357(A), 358(A), the introductory paragraph of 21 359(A), the introductory paragraph of 359(B), 359(B)(1) and (2), and (C), 629(J)(2) through 22 (8), and 957(A) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 23 §4. Structure of executive branch of state government 24 A. In accordance with the provisions of Article IV, Section 1 and Article 25 XIV, Section 6 of the Constitution of Louisiana, all offices, boards, commissions, 26 agencies, and instrumentalities of the executive branch of state government, whether 27 constitutional or statutory, and/or their functions, powers, duties, and responsibilities 28 shall be allocated, either in the Act by which this Title was created or by legislation 29 enacted subsequent thereto, within the departments listed in this Section, except as Page 54 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 provided in Subsections B and C of this Section, and in order to comply with this 2 constitutional mandate, the agencies of the executive branch of state government 3 hereinafter enumerated, whether heretofore created by the constitution or by statute, 4 and/or their functions, powers, duties, and responsibilities are allocated, in the 5 manner hereinafter set forth in this Title, within the following designated 6 departments: 7 * * * 8 (7) Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 9 * * * 10 §8.1. Litigation oversight; reports to the legislature 11 * * * 12 C. The provisions of this Section shall apply to any civil action filed by the 13 following departments or offices, including offices and agencies thereof, collectively 14 referred to in this Section as "agency": 15 * * * 16 (11) Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 17 * * * 18 §351. Department of Energy and Natural Resources; creation, domicile; 19 composition; purposes and functions 20 A. The Department of Energy and Natural Resources is created and shall be 21 a body corporate with the power to sue and be sued. The domicile of the department 22 shall be in Baton Rouge. 23 B. The Department of Energy and Natural Resources, through its offices and 24 officers, shall be responsible for the conservation, management, and development of 25 water, minerals, and other such natural resources of the state, including coastal 26 management, except timber and fish and wildlife and their habitats. 27 C.(1) The Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall be composed 28 of the executive office of the secretary, the office of management and finance, the 29 office of conservation, the office of mineral resources, the office of coastal Page 55 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 management, the Oilfield Site Restoration Commission, and such other offices as 2 shall be created by law. 3 * * * 4 §353. Secretary of natural resources 5 There shall be a secretary of natural resources, who shall be appointed by the 6 governor with consent of the Senate and who shall serve at the pleasure of the 7 governor at a salary fixed by the governor, which salary shall not exceed the amount 8 approved for such position by the legislature while in session. The secretary shall 9 serve as the executive head and chief administrative officer of the Department of 10 Energy and Natural Resources and shall have the responsibility for the policies of 11 the department except as otherwise provided by this Title, and for the administration, 12 control, and operation of the functions, programs, and affairs of the department; 13 provided that the secretary shall perform his functions under the general control and 14 supervision of the governor. The secretary shall be an ex officio member of the State 15 Mineral and Energy Board. 16 §354. Powers and duties of secretary of natural resources 17 A. In addition to the functions, powers, and duties otherwise vested in the 18 secretary by law, he shall: 19 * * * 20 (13) Contract, if the secretary so desires, or, if the secretary deems necessary, 21 designate one of the offices within the department or its assistant secretary, under the 22 secretary's supervision, to do so, with private or public research organizations for the 23 purchase, out of funds available to the Department of Energy and Natural 24 Resources, of services in scientific, economic, and technological research, including 25 but not limited to surveys, studies, and experiments with a view toward protecting 26 and replenishing the natural resources of the state under the jurisdiction of the 27 Department of Energy and Natural Resources, toward preventing the waste, 28 wasteful use, and wasteful utilization thereof, except as defined in R.S. 30:3, toward 29 preventing the use of said natural resources in such a manner and in such quantities Page 56 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 as will threaten with premature exhaustion, extinction, and destruction of the supply 2 of these resources in the state, and toward the energy policy of this state, and to 3 prepare and implement plans and programs in relation thereto. 4 * * * 5 B. The secretary shall have authority to: 6 (1)(a) * * * 7 (b) All of the above are to be accomplished in accordance with applicable 8 civil service laws, rules, and regulations, and with policies and rules of the 9 Department of Energy and Natural Resources, and all are subject to budgetary 10 control and applicable laws. 11 * * * 12 (4) Contract upon such terms as he may agree upon, for legal, financial, 13 engineering, and other professional services necessary or expedient in the conduct 14 of the affairs of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources under the 15 provisions of this Chapter. 16 * * * 17 (6) Represent, or designate the assistant secretary of the office of 18 conservation to represent, the state in all matters involving or affecting the interest 19 of the state and its residents, relative to energy and natural resources within the 20 jurisdiction of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources before all federal 21 agencies, offices, and officials, and congressional committees, and in all judicial 22 actions arising out of the proceedings of such agencies, offices, and committees or 23 in relation thereto. Those employed or contracted with as provided by this Section 24 shall be entitled to represent the state and the secretary and to appear in the courts 25 and before agencies of this state or the agencies, officials, and courts of the United 26 States and of other states, to carry out the purposes of this Chapter. 27 * * * 28 (8) Obtain from the federal government and its agencies, the offices of the 29 Department of Energy and Natural Resources, and other state agencies any Page 57 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 information and data collected by such entities relating to energy, natural resources, 2 or the environment, upon mutually agreeable terms and conditions or as required by 3 law; however, information and data subject to nondisclosure under R.S. 44:4 shall 4 maintain such status while in the custody of the secretary. 5 * * * 6 §356. Undersecretary; functions; office of management and finance 7 A. There shall be an undersecretary of the Department of Energy and 8 Natural Resources, who shall be appointed by the governor with consent of the 9 Senate and who shall serve at the pleasure of the governor at a salary fixed by the 10 governor, which salary shall not exceed the amount approved for such position by 11 the legislature while in session. The undersecretary shall be directly responsible to 12 and shall perform his functions under the supervision and control of the secretary. 13 B. The undersecretary shall direct and be responsible for the functions of the 14 office of management and finance within the Department of Energy and Natural 15 Resources. In such capacity he shall be responsible for accounting and budget 16 control, procurement and contract management, data processing, management and 17 program analysis, personnel management, and grants management for the 18 department and all of its offices, including all agencies transferred to the Department 19 of Energy and Natural Resources, except as otherwise specifically provided in this 20 Title. He shall employ, appoint, remove, assign, and promote such personnel as is 21 necessary for the efficient administration of the office of management and finance 22 and the performance of its powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities, in 23 accordance with applicable civil service laws, rules, and regulations, and with 24 policies and rules of the department, all subject to budgetary control and applicable 25 laws. The undersecretary shall exercise all powers and authority granted to him in 26 this Title subject to the overall direction and control of the secretary. 27 * * * 28 §357. Assistant secretaries 29 A. Each office within the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Page 58 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 except the office of management and finance, shall be under the immediate 2 supervision and direction of an assistant secretary. The assistant secretary of each 3 such office shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate and 4 shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. Each assistant secretary shall be paid a 5 salary which shall be fixed by the governor, which salary shall not exceed the salary 6 approved for such position by the legislature while in session. The commissioner of 7 conservation shall serve as the assistant secretary for the office of conservation and 8 shall be selected in accordance with law. 9 * * * 10 §358. Offices; purposes and functions 11 A. The purposes for which the offices of the Department of Energy and 12 Natural Resources are created shall be as set forth in this Section. 13 * * * 14 §359. Transfer of agencies and functions to Department of Energy and Natural 15 Resources 16 A. The following agencies are transferred to the Department of Energy and 17 Natural Resources and shall exercise and perform their powers, duties, functions, and 18 responsibilities as provided by law: 19 * * * 20 B. The following agencies are transferred to the Department of Energy and 21 Natural Resources and shall exercise and perform their powers, duties, functions, and 22 responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 36:802: 23 (1) State Department of Conservation (Article V, Section 18 and Article VI, 24 Section 1(c) of the 1921 Constitution of Louisiana made statutory by Article XIV, 25 Section 16(A)(2) and (3) of the 1974 Constitution of Louisiana; Part I of Chapter 1 26 of Subtitle I of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and other 27 provisions of Title 30 that directly apply to the department), except that the secretary, 28 deputy secretary, and undersecretary of the department shall have no authority to 29 exercise, review, administer, or implement the quasi judicial, licensing, permitting, Page 59 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 regulatory, rulemaking, or enforcement powers or decisions of the assistant secretary 2 of the office of conservation. The assistant secretary shall be authorized to employ, 3 appoint, remove, assign, and promote such personnel as is necessary for the efficient 4 administration required in making these decisions, in accordance with applicable 5 civil service laws, rules, and regulations, and with policies and rules, subject to 6 budgetary control of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, and 7 applicable laws. 8 (2) State Mineral and Energy Board (R.S. 30:121 et seq.), except the 9 secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall be an ex officio 10 member of the State Mineral and Energy Board. The State Mineral and Energy 11 Board shall retain the authority to lease for development and production of minerals, 12 oil, and gas, any lands belonging to the state, or the title to which is in the public, 13 including road beds, water bottoms, and land adjudicated to the state at tax sale. The 14 State Mineral and Energy Board shall retain supervision of all mineral leases granted 15 by the state, and it shall retain general authority to take action for and on behalf of 16 and to protect the interests of the state in accordance with the provisions of Title 30 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and applicable laws. 18 * * * 19 C. The Oilfield Site Restoration Commission (R.S. 30:80 et seq.) is placed 20 within the Department of Energy and Natural Resources and shall perform its 21 powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of 22 R.S. 36:901 et seq. 23 * * * 24 §629. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to the 25 Department of Agriculture and Forestry 26 * * * 27 J. The Louisiana Forestry Commission (Article IX, Section 8(B) and (C) of 28 the Constitution of Louisiana and Chapter 28 of Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised 29 Statutes of 1950) hereafter shall be within the Department of Agriculture and Page 60 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Forestry in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 36:802, except as otherwise 2 provided in this Subsection: 3 * * * 4 (2) All employees of the office of forestry of the Department of Energy and 5 Natural Resources are transferred to the office of forestry of the Department of 6 Agriculture and Forestry. 7 (3) An appropriate percentage of the administrative employee positions, and 8 the employees holding those positions, of the Louisiana Forestry Commission which 9 were transferred to the Department of Energy and Natural Resources are transferred 10 to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The secretary of natural resources and 11 the commissioner of agriculture and forestry shall jointly determine the appropriate 12 number of administrative positions and personnel to be transferred. This 13 determination and the resulting transfer shall be effected no later than the last day of 14 September of 1986. 15 (4) All funds appropriated to the Louisiana Forestry Commission and the 16 office of forestry of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall be 17 transferred to those entities in the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. 18 (5) Any appropriation for Fiscal Year 1986-1987 to the Louisiana Forestry 19 Commission or the office of forestry within the Department of Energy and Natural 20 Resources shall be deemed to be appropriated to those entities within the Department 21 of Agriculture and Forestry. 22 (6) All property and facilities owned and operated by, or leased by or for the 23 Louisiana Forestry Commission or the office of forestry of the Department of 24 Energy and Natural Resources are transferred to those entities within the 25 Department of Agriculture and Forestry. 26 (7) The fleet of airplanes operated by the Louisiana Forestry Commission and 27 the office of forestry of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources is 28 specifically transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. All airplanes 29 operated by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry shall be under the exclusive Page 61 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 jurisdiction of that department. Subject to the provisions of R.S. 2:1 et seq., the 2 department may provide guidelines and procedures for the use and operation of its 3 aircraft. 4 (8) The office of forestry of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry shall 5 be the successor of the office of forestry of the Department of Energy and Natural 6 Resources. For purposes of the transfer of functions of the office of forestry from the 7 Department of Energy and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture and 8 Forestry, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry shall be the successor to the 9 Department of Energy and Natural Resources. All unfinished business of the former 10 office and of the former department related thereto shall be completed by, all 11 references in laws and documents to the former office and to the former department 12 related thereto shall be deemed to refer to, and all obligations of the former office 13 and of the former department related thereto shall be the obligations of the successor 14 office and department. All legal proceedings of the former office and of the former 15 department related thereto shall be continued in the name of such former office and 16 department and further proceedings shall be in the name of the successor office and 17 department without the necessity for amendment of any document. 18 * * * 19 §957. Effective date of certain transfers and abolitions; continued merger and 20 consolidation within departments 21 A. The transfer or abolition of each agency transferred or abolished by this 22 Title, which agency or the functions thereof are transferred to one of the following 23 departments, shall be effective upon the effective date of this Part: the Department 24 of State Civil Service, the Department of Economic Development, the Department 25 of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the Louisiana Workforce Commission, the 26 Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the Department of Public Safety and 27 Corrections, the Department of Revenue, the Department of Transportation and 28 Development, and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. 29 * * * Page 62 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Section 11. R.S. 37:711.4(E), 1377(K)(1), and 3151(1) are hereby amended and 2 reenacted to read as follows: 3 §711.4. Board; appointments; terms 4 * * * 5 E. On or after January 1, 2013, no employee of the Department of Energy 6 and Natural Resources, including but not limited to the office of conservation, or the 7 Department of Environmental Quality shall be appointed to the board. 8 * * * 9 §1377. Definitions; exceptions 10 * * * 11 K. Gas Fitting. "Gas fitting" means the work or business of installing, 12 repairing, improving, altering, or removing natural gas piping, fittings, valves, or 13 tanks used for conveying fuel gas for appliances on or in premises or in buildings 14 annexed to immovable property. For purposes of this Chapter, gas fitting does not 15 include the following: 16 (1) The installation or maintenance of piping by any entity of a municipal or 17 gas district system that is subject to the regulatory authority of the Public Service 18 Commission, the New Orleans City Council, or the office of pipeline safety in the 19 Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 20 * * * 21 §3151. Definitions 22 As used in this Chapter, the following words shall have the meaning ascribed 23 to them in this Section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: 24 (1) "Assistant Secretary" means the assistant secretary of the office of 25 environmental affairs of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 26 * * * 27 Section 12. R.S. 38:25(A), 327(F), 3087.134(E)(5), 3092(7), 3097.3(B), the heading 28 of 3098.2, the introductory paragraph of 3098.6(A), and 3098.6(A)(2) are hereby amended 29 and reenacted to read as follows: Page 63 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 §25. Exemptions for other programs; additional requirements 2 A. Where the impoundment of liquid substances or hazardous wastes and 3 materials by dikes, dams, or barriers is permitted or regulated under the Department 4 of Energy and Natural Resources, that office shall adopt rules and regulations for 5 the construction, operation and maintenance of said facilities in accordance with the 6 requirements, rules and regulations promulgated under this Chapter and such 7 impoundments are exempted from the provisions of this Chapter. 8 * * * 9 §327. Lake Borgne Basin Levee District Board of Commissioners; powers and 10 duties 11 * * * 12 F. The board shall operate and maintain the Violet Siphon in accordance with 13 an operation and maintenance plan developed jointly by the Lake Borgne Basin 14 Levee District and the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, office of 15 coastal restoration and management. 16 * * * 17 §3087.134. Board of commissioners; tenure; replacement; compensation 18 * * * 19 E. In addition, the following may serve at their pleasure as ex officio 20 nonvoting members of the board and shall not be considered in determining a 21 quorum for the purpose of board meetings: 22 * * * 23 (5) The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or his 24 designee. 25 * * * 26 §3092. Definitions 27 Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall have the 28 following meanings for purposes of this Chapter: 29 * * * Page 64 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 (7) "Office" means the office of conservation, Department of Energy and 2 Natural Resources. 3 * * * 4 §3097.3. Commissioner of conservation; powers and duties 5 * * * 6 B. The commissioner is authorized to employ, assign, and remove personnel, 7 including a deputy, within the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, office 8 of conservation, to provide administrative and technical staff functions the 9 commissioner deems necessary to carry out the powers, functions, and duties under 10 this Chapter. Personnel actions shall be in accordance with applicable civil service 11 laws, rules, and regulations, and with the policies and rules of the department, all 12 subject to budgetary control and applicable laws. 13 * * * 14 §3098.2. Powers of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, office of 15 conservation resources 16 * * * 17 §3098.6. Advisory committee 18 A. The Department of Energy and Natural Resources is hereby authorized 19 to appoint a committee to serve in an advisory capacity and to make 20 recommendations for the regulation and control of water well drillers as defined in 21 this Chapter. This advisory committee shall consist of the following members: 22 * * * 23 (2) The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or his 24 designee. 25 * * * 26 Section 13. R.S. 39:99.29(A), 253(A)(2), 2007(D)(1), and 2177(D) are hereby 27 amended and reenacted to read as follows: 28 §99.29. Governing board; membership; terms; compensation and expenses; 29 chairman and vice chairman; quorum; employees, agents; limitation Page 65 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 of liability 2 A. The board of the corporation shall exercise all powers, rights, and duties 3 conferred by this Subpart or other provisions of law upon the corporation. The board 4 shall consist of the governor, the state treasurer, attorney general, president of the 5 Senate and speaker of the House of Representatives, chairman of the Coastal 6 Protection and Restoration Authority Board, secretary of the Department of Energy 7 and Natural Resources, secretary of the Department of Transportation and 8 Development, or their designees, and seven members appointed by the governor with 9 one member appointed from each congressional district and the remaining member 10 or members appointed from the state at large. The members of the board who are 11 appointed by the governor shall represent the state's diverse population as near as 12 practicable, and shall have a background and significant experience in financial 13 management and investments. The members of the board appointed by the governor 14 shall be subject to Senate confirmation and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor 15 for terms of four years each, or until their successors shall have been appointed and 16 qualified, as designated by the governor. Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the 17 board shall be made for the unexpired term of the member whose death, resignation, 18 or removal created such vacancy. Members on the board may be appointed to an 19 additional term. 20 * * * 21 §253. Development and coordination of policy 22 A.(1) * * * 23 (2) The division of administration shall use this information to develop and 24 maintain a database on all state buildings and facilities and their associated energy 25 use, energy demand, and energy cost. The Department of Energy and Natural 26 Resources shall provide energy management training upon request to certain state 27 personnel, such as building managers, financial administrators, and others. 28 * * * 29 §2007. Responsibilities of the commissioner of administration; training; reporting Page 66 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 * * * 2 D.(1) The commissioner shall conduct a training program at least 3 semiannually to acquaint small entrepreneurships with state procurement and public 4 contract proposal and bidding practices. This shall include all state procurements 5 which are governed by Chapter 10 of Title 38, Chapter 17 of this Title, and Parts 6 XIII and XIII-A of Chapter 1 of Title 48 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. 7 The commissioner shall also secure the assistance of staff from either the 8 Department of Transportation and Development, Department of Energy and Natural 9 Resources, or Department of Environmental Quality who are knowledgeable about 10 state procurements undertaken pursuant to Chapter 10 of Title 38 and Parts XIII and 11 XIII-A of Chapter 1 of Title 48 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, for the 12 purpose of providing practical advice to small entrepreneurships relative to 13 procurements and public contracts governed by such law. 14 * * * 15 §2177. Responsibilities of the commissioner of administration; training; reporting 16 * * * 17 D. The commissioner shall conduct a training program at least semiannually 18 to acquaint veteran and service-connected disabled veteran-owned small 19 entrepreneurships with state procurement and public contract proposal and bidding 20 practices. This shall include all state procurements which are governed by Chapter 21 10 of Title 38, Chapter 17 of this Title, and Parts XIII and XIII-A of Chapter 1 of 22 Title 48 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950. The commissioner shall also 23 secure the assistance of staff from the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs for 24 veteran-specific information and data, and either the Department of Transportation 25 and Development, Department of Energy and Natural Resources, or Department of 26 Environmental Quality who are knowledgeable about state procurements undertaken 27 pursuant to Chapter 10 of Title 38 and Parts XIII and XIII-A of Chapter 1 of Title 28 48 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, for the purpose of providing practical 29 advice to veteran and service-connected disabled veteran-owned small Page 67 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 entrepreneurships relative to procurements and public contracts governed by such 2 law. 3 * * * 4 Section 14. R.S. 40:1730.22(F), 1730.28.4(B)(1), 1892, 1893, and 1894 are hereby 5 amended and reenacted to read as follows: 6 §1730.22. Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council; membership; 7 function of council; meeting requirements; immunity 8 * * * 9 F.(1) Training and technical assistance in the implementation of the 10 Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code residential and commercial building 11 energy code provisions shall be the responsibility of the technology assessment 12 division of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources in collaboration with 13 the council, as provided for in Subsection C of this Section. 14 (2) The technology assessment division of the Department of Energy and 15 Natural Resources shall continue training and technical assistance as funding allows. 16 * * * 17 §1730.28.4. Energy Code Commission: members; purpose; procedure; termination 18 * * * 19 B. In addition to the voting members of the commission, the commission 20 shall be composed of the following nonvoting members: 21 (1) The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or his 22 designee. 23 * * * 24 §1892. Malodorants required 25 All natural and other odorless gases shall be malodorized by the use of a 26 malodorant in accordance with pipeline safety rules and regulations promulgated by 27 the assistant secretary of the office of conservation of the Department of Energy and 28 Natural Resources, or in the case of liquefied petroleum gas in accordance with R.S. 29 40:1846(B)(5) and (6). Page 68 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 §1893. Method of use and containers and equipment regulated 2 The method of using the malodorant and the containers and equipment used 3 in connection therewith are under the direction and subject to the approval of the 4 office of conservation of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 5 §1894. Enforcement of Part; rules and regulations 6 The office of conservation of the Department of Energy and Natural 7 Resources shall enforce the provisions of this Part. The assistant secretary of the 8 office of conservation may prescribe any rules and regulations on this subject 9 necessary to carry out the purposes of this Part. In addition to the rights, powers, and 10 duties granted under this Part, the assistant secretary shall exercise relative to this 11 Part all of the rights, powers, and duties granted under R.S. 30:501 et seq.; however, 12 the provisions of R.S. 30:544 shall not apply to this Part. 13 Section 15. R.S. 41:642(A)(2)(b) and (B), 1602(B)(1), 1701.1(C) and (D), 14 1702(D)(1) and (2)(a)(i), the introductory paragraph of (ii), (H), and (I), 1703(B), 1712(D), 15 1731, 1732(A), 1733(B) and (C), and the introductory paragraph of 1734(A) are hereby 16 amended and reenacted to read as follows: 17 §642. Sixteenth section lands; erosion; title and revenues 18 A.(1) * * * 19 (2)(a) * * * 20 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, in 21 the event sixteenth section lands are comprised entirely of state-owned water 22 bottoms and no school indemnity lands were provided for such sixteenth section 23 lands, all proceeds received by the state from production and other revenues 24 generated after July 1, 2007, from any oil and gas lease or other contract granted by 25 the state in its sovereign capacity attributable to the sixteenth section lands shall be 26 credited, subject to an appropriation specifically for proceeds attributable to Fiscal 27 Years 2007-2008, 2008-2009, and 2009-2010, to the account of the school fund of 28 the parish in which such sixteenth section lands are located. Beginning in Fiscal Year 29 2010-2011 and thereafter, such proceeds shall be credited to the account of the Page 69 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 current school fund of the parish in which such sixteenth section lands are located. 2 The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall certify to 3 the treasurer the amount of proceeds to be credited pursuant to this Subparagraph. 4 B. Proof of the extent of erosion or subsidence which may have occurred 5 after the title to the sixteenth section land or indemnity lands vested in the state as 6 trustee for the benefit of the school children of the townships in which such lands are 7 located shall be made by the school board having an interest therein to the 8 Department of Energy and Natural Resources and shall consist of a certified map 9 or plat of survey prepared by a professional land surveyor qualified and currently 10 licensed by the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board, 11 showing the exact extent of land claimed to be lost through erosion or subsidence 12 and by such evidence as may be required by the secretary showing the extent of the 13 erosion or subsidence claimed. 14 * * * 15 §1602. Louisiana Archaeological Survey and Antiquities Commission 16 * * * 17 B.(1) The commission shall be composed of eleven members. The person 18 designated as state archaeologist and one representative each from the Department 19 of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and the Department of Energy and Natural 20 Resources, and the Governor's Commission on Indian Affairs shall be ex officio 21 voting members of the commission. The governor shall appoint seven members to 22 the commission from a list of two nominees submitted to him by the ex officio 23 members for each appointment he is to make, provided that at least one appointment 24 shall be a member of the Louisiana Archaeological Society. 25 * * * 26 §1701.1. State Land Office; powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities 27 * * * 28 C. Subject to the approval of the commissioner of administration, the 29 governor, the attorney general, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Page 70 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the State Land Office shall develop 2 and promulgate a comprehensive state master plan for the administration of state 3 lands and water bottoms and shall ensure that all public lands and water bottoms are 4 protected, administered, and conserved in a manner consistent with the constitution. 5 D. The State Land Office shall identify all public lands and water bottoms 6 within the state and develop and maintain a current master list of those lands and 7 water bottoms. All state agencies, including but not limited to Department of 8 Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, 9 the Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration, the Department of Wildlife and 10 Fisheries, the Department of Transportation and Development, the Louisiana 11 Geological Survey, the state's colleges and universities, all levee boards, drainage 12 boards, parish governing authorities, and any districts created under the jurisdiction 13 of levee boards, drainage boards, or parish governing authorities, shall cooperate 14 with the State Land Office in developing the master list. 15 * * * 16 §1702. Reclamation of lands lost through erosion, compaction, subsidence, and sea 17 level rise; land acquisition for certain coastal projects; requirements 18 * * * 19 D. * * * 20 (1) The administrator of the State Land Office may issue a permit for the 21 carrying out of the work necessary to implement the recovery of the land lost through 22 erosion, compaction, subsidence, or sea level rise; however, no such permit shall be 23 issued until plans and specifications for such work have been first submitted to the 24 governing authority of the parish in which the proposed project is located, the 25 Department of Transportation and Development, the Department of Wildlife and 26 Fisheries, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, and the Department of 27 Energy and Natural Resources for review and comment not less than sixty days 28 prior to the issuance of such permit. No permit shall be required for projects to 29 facilitate the development, design, engineering, implementation, operation, Page 71 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 maintenance, or repair of integrated coastal protection projects by the Coastal 2 Protection and Restoration Authority under R.S. 49:214.1 et seq. or other applicable 3 law or projects for the Atchafalaya Basin Program. Within sixty days of completion 4 of the reclamation project, the riparian owner shall submit to the State Land Office 5 proof of the extent of the land area actually reclaimed in the manner provided in 6 Subsection C of this Section for showing the submerged area, which map or plat 7 shall be employed for fixing the definitive boundary between the reclaimed land area 8 and the state water bottoms. Permits issued pursuant to these provisions shall be 9 effective for a period not to exceed two years from the date of issuance and shall 10 thereupon expire. All work remaining or any additional work may be completed only 11 by application in the manner provided by this Section. 12 (2)(a)(i) To facilitate the development, design, and implementation of 13 integrated coastal protection projects, including hurricane protection and flood 14 control, pursuant to R.S. 49:214.1 et seq., the executive director of the Coastal 15 Protection and Restoration Authority, after consultation with other state agencies, 16 including the Department of Energy and Natural Resources and the State Land 17 Office, may enter into agreements with owners of land contiguous to and abutting 18 navigable water bottoms belonging to the state who have the right to reclaim or 19 recover such land, including all oil and gas mineral rights, as provided in Subsection 20 B of this Section, which agreements may establish in such owner the perpetual, 21 transferrable ownership of all subsurface mineral rights to the then-existing coast or 22 shore line. Such agreements may also provide for a limited or perpetual alienation 23 or transfer, in whole or in part, to such owner of subsurface mineral rights owned by 24 the state relating to the emergent lands that emerge from waterbottoms that are 25 subject to such owner's right of reclamation in exchange for the owner's compromise 26 of his ownership and reclamation rights within such area and for such time as the 27 executive director deems appropriate and in further exchange for the owner's 28 agreement to allow his existing property to be utilized in connection with the project 29 to the extent deemed necessary by the executive director. Page 72 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 (ii) When land is acquired from any person by an "acquiring authority" as 2 defined in R.S. 31:149, for the principal purpose of facilitating the development, 3 design, and implementation of integrated coastal protection projects, including 4 hurricane protection and flood control, by the state, its political subdivisions, or by 5 the state and federal government, the executive director of the Coastal Protection and 6 Restoration Authority, after consultation with other state agencies, including the 7 Department of Energy and Natural Resources and the State Land Office, may, in 8 accordance with rules and regulations adopted in accordance with the Administrative 9 Procedure Act by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority after consultation 10 with other state agencies, including the Department of Energy and Natural 11 Resources and the State Land Office, enter into an agreement under this Section with 12 respect to the ownership of minerals and other matters to the same extent as 13 authorized under Item (i) of this Paragraph. In addition, such agreement shall, at a 14 minimum, specify: 15 * * * 16 H. No reclamation by a riparian landowner shall be permitted if, in the 17 determination of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the State Land 18 Office, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, or the attorney general, 19 such activity would unreasonably obstruct or hinder the navigability of any waters 20 of the state or impose undue or unreasonable restraints on the state rights which have 21 vested in such areas pursuant to Louisiana law, and to that extent the land area 22 sought to be reclaimed may be limited. 23 I. Any person aggrieved either by a substantive agency decision made 24 pursuant to the provisions of this Section, including interlocutory decisions relating 25 to boundaries and determinations of areas reclaimed, or by a failure of the agency to 26 render such decisions timely, may seek immediate judicial review of the agency 27 action. Proceedings for review of decisions by the Department of Energy and 28 Natural Resources, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, or the State 29 Land Office may be instituted by filing a petition in the Nineteenth Judicial District Page 73 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Court within thirty days after mailing of notice of the final decision by the 2 administrator or secretary. Any party may request and be granted a trial de novo. 3 * * * 4 §1703. Permits and licenses for encroachments other than reclamation projects 5 * * * 6 B. The office, with the aid of the division, the Department of Energy and 7 Natural Resources, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of 8 Transportation and Development, and the attorney general, shall adopt regulations 9 to implement this Chapter, including the granting and revoking of permits, leases or 10 licenses, processing of applications, establishing fee schedules, collecting of fees or 11 revenues for all manner of encroachments, and shall create an overall and 12 comprehensive plan for the orderly development and preservation of state lands so 13 as to ensure maximum benefit and use, all in accordance with the law. The office 14 shall maintain a current inventory of state lands and a depository in which shall be 15 recorded and preserved all records, surveys, plats, applications, permits, leases, 16 licenses, and other evidence pertaining to the trust lands, their description, 17 disposition, and encroachments thereon. 18 * * * 19 §1712. Leases and permits, grant or denial; title 20 * * * 21 D. When permit or lease applications involve projects over which the United 22 States Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, 23 or any other federal or state agency asserts jurisdiction, and such governmental 24 agencies have, by public notice or regulations, established timetables for receipt of 25 objections, public hearings, or other proceedings, the office, to least inconvenience 26 the applicant and prevent multiple hearings, shall adopt and conform to such 27 timetables or evidentiary requirements and shall attempt to coordinate any public 28 hearing with such agencies whenever feasible. When the United States Army Corps 29 of Engineers or other interested agencies do not assert jurisdiction over a given Page 74 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 project, thirty days from date of published notice by the applicant shall be allowed 2 for receipt of objections in writing by the office. 3 * * * 4 §1731. Legislative findings 5 To ensure the viability of the state<s natural resources, to provide a continuing 6 energy source for the citizens and businesses of Louisiana, to promote economic 7 development through job retention and creation in Louisiana, and to promote a clean 8 and lasting environment, the Louisiana Legislature finds that the state, through the 9 Department of Energy and Natural Resources, should promote the generation and 10 use of the renewable energy derived from wind. 11 §1732. Lease authority and royalties 12 A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law except Subsection B of this 13 Section, the State Mineral and Energy Board in conjunction with the secretary of the 14 Department of Energy and Natural Resources, shall have the authority to lease for 15 the exploration, development, or production of energy from wind any lands 16 belonging to the state or the title to which is held by the state, including water 17 bottoms, vacant state lands, and lands adjudicated to the state at tax sale, except 18 lands that form any portion of state highway right-of-way. The leases shall be 19 granted through a public bid process which shall be promulgated by the adoption of 20 rules and regulations by the State Mineral and Energy Board. All bonuses, rentals, 21 royalties, payments, or other sums due the state as the lessor under the terms of 22 leases granted under the provisions of this Subsection for the exploration, 23 development, and production of energy from wind shall be paid to the office of 24 mineral resources. Revenues received from these leases by the office of mineral 25 resources shall be remitted to the state treasurer who, after compliance with Article 26 VII, Section 9 of the state constitution, shall credit an amount equal to twenty-five 27 percent of the revenues to the Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Fund and an 28 amount equal to the seventy-five percent to the state general fund. The funds 29 generated under leases granted under the provisions of this Section shall not be Page 75 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 included in calculations for the Budget Stabilization Fund. 2 * * * 3 §1733. Award of state wind leases 4 * * * 5 B. After certification by the other state agencies, the State Mineral and 6 Energy Board shall forward the applications and certification with copies of any 7 other leases on the proposed location to the secretary of the Department of Energy 8 and Natural Resources who shall evaluate whether the lands proposed for lease best 9 support the exploration, development, or production of energy from wind. In 10 evaluating the proposed lease, the secretary of the Department of Energy and 11 Natural Resources shall consider the capability of the lease proposal to fulfill the 12 intent of this Chapter, the environmental impact of the placement of wind turbines 13 and other equipment necessary for the exploration, development, or production of 14 energy from wind, the impact of the proposed lease on any other leases, including 15 leases for the exploration or production of subsurface deems appropriate. When 16 evaluating the proposed lease, the secretary of the Department of Energy and 17 Natural Resources shall consult with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries when 18 the proposed lease lies within the confines of properties under the jurisdiction of the 19 Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission or the Department of Wildlife and 20 Fisheries and may consult any other state agency or governmental entity that may 21 have jurisdiction within the confines of the proposed lease. 22 C. If the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources 23 determines that a proposed lease for the exploration, development, or production of 24 energy from wind is appropriate he shall recommend to the State Mineral and Energy 25 Board that the board conduct a public bid process. If the secretary of Department of 26 Energy and Natural Resources determines that a proposed lease for the exploration, 27 development, or production of energy from wind is not appropriate, he shall notify 28 the State Mineral and Energy Board who shall then notify the applicant that no bid 29 process shall occur. Page 76 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 * * * 2 §1734. Powers and duties of the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural 3 Resources 4 A. The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall 5 promulgate rules and regulations pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act to 6 implement the provisions of this Chapter and to institute reasonable fees for services 7 performed by the department. The rules and regulations shall include all provisions 8 necessary to accomplish the intent of the legislature as stated in this Chapter and 9 shall provide for the following: 10 * * * 11 Section 16. R.S. 42:1113(D)(1)(a)(ii)(hh) and (6)(f), 1124(A)(2)(f), and 12 1266(C)(1)(f) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 13 §1113. Prohibited contractual arrangements; exceptions; reports 14 * * * 15 D.(1)(a)(i) * * * 16 (ii) The provisions of this Subparagraph and other provisions which reference 17 this Item shall apply to the following persons: 18 * * * 19 (hh) The secretary, deputy secretary, undersecretary, and each assistant 20 secretary, or the equivalent position of the Department of Energy and Natural 21 Resources. 22 * * * 23 (6) The provisions of R.S. 42:1113(D)(1)(a)(i), R.S. 42:1113(D)(1)(b), and 24 other provisions which reference these provisions of law shall not apply to the 25 spouses and immediate family members of the deputy secretaries, undersecretaries, 26 assistant secretaries, or equivalent positions in the following agencies: 27 * * * 28 (f) Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 29 * * * Page 77 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 §1124. Financial disclosure; statewide elected officials; certain public servants 2 A. The following persons shall annually file a financial statement as provided 3 in this Section: 4 * * * 5 (2) The secretary of each of the following departments of state government: 6 * * * 7 (f) The Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 8 * * * 9 §1266. Required education; certain unclassified officials and employees 10 * * * 11 C.(1) This Section shall apply to each person serving in the state unclassified 12 service in one of the following positions: 13 * * * 14 (f) The secretary, deputy secretary, undersecretary, and each assistant 15 secretary, or an equivalent position of the Department of Energy and Natural 16 Resources. 17 * * * 18 Section 17. R.S. 44:4(10) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 19 §4. Applicability 20 This Chapter shall not apply: 21 * * * 22 (10) To any records, data, writings, accounts, reports, letters, exhibits, 23 pictures, photographs, drawings, charts, maps, or copies or memoranda thereof, 24 whether written or oral, filed by or received from the Energy Information 25 Administration of the United States Department of Energy by the secretary of the 26 Department of Energy and Natural Resources or any official or employee in the 27 Department of Energy and Natural Resources if nondisclosure to any other person 28 or public body was a requirement for obtaining same and the information could not 29 otherwise be obtained by law from that agency; and to any records or information Page 78 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 filed with or received by the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural 2 Resources or any official or employee in the Department of Energy and Natural 3 Resources from any person who is required by federal law to supply same to the state 4 which information is not available to the public under federal law. Statistical reports 5 which do not reveal, directly or by inference, the identity of the individual sources 6 of the information compiled by the Department of Energy may be released to the 7 public by the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 8 * * * 9 Section 18. R.S. 47:301(10)(gg) and (18)(p), 633(7)(c)(iii)(bb), (iv)(aa), (bb), and 10 (cc) and (d), (9)(d)(i) and (iii), the introductory paragraph of 633.4(B)(1), 633.5(A), the 11 introductory paragraph of 648.2(1), 648.3, 1508(B)(9), 1515.2, 1989(C)(2)(a)(vi)(cc), and 12 6035(D) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 13 §301. Definitions 14 As used in this Chapter, the following words, terms, and phrases have the 15 meanings ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly indicates a 16 different meaning: 17 * * * 18 (10)(a)(i) * * * 19 * * * 20 (gg) For purposes of sales and use tax imposed by the state under R.S. 21 47:302, 321, and 331 or any political subdivision of the state, the term "sale at retail" 22 shall not include the sale of anthropogenic carbon dioxide for use in a qualified 23 tertiary recovery project approved by the assistant secretary of the office of 24 conservation of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources pursuant to R.S. 25 47:633.4. 26 * * * 27 (18)(a)(i) * * * 28 (p) Solely for purposes of sales and use tax imposed by the state under R.S. 29 47:302, 321, and 331 or any political subdivision of the state, the term "use" shall not Page 79 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 mean or include the purchase, importation, storage, distribution or exercise of any 2 right or power over anthropogenic carbon dioxide used in a qualified tertiary 3 recovery project approved by the assistant secretary of the office of conservation of 4 the Department of Energy and Natural Resources pursuant to R.S. 47:633.4. 5 * * * 6 §633. Rates of tax 7 The taxes on natural resources severed from the soil or water levied by R.S. 8 47:631 shall be predicated on the quantity or value of the products or resources 9 severed and shall be paid at the following rates: 10 * * * 11 (7)(a) * * * 12 (c)(i)(aa) * * * 13 (iii) * * * 14 (bb) Payout of well cost shall be the cost of completing the well to the 15 commencement of production as determined by the Department of Energy and 16 Natural Resources. 17 (iv) * * * 18 (aa) To qualify for inactive or orphan well status for purposes of the special 19 rate referenced in this Item, an application for inactive or orphan well certification 20 shall be made to the Department of Energy and Natural Resources during the period 21 beginning July 1, 2018, and ending June 30, 2023. Upon certification that a well is 22 inactive or orphan, production shall be subject to the special rate as provided in this 23 Item from the date production begins or ninety days from the date of the application, 24 whichever occurs first. If, in any one fiscal year, the secretary of the Department of 25 Revenue estimates that the severance tax paid under the provisions of this Item will 26 be in excess of fifteen million dollars, the secretary shall notify the commissioner of 27 conservation who shall not certify inactive or orphan well status for any other wells 28 for the remainder of that fiscal year. Such certifications may begin again after the 29 beginning of the next fiscal year. Page 80 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 (bb) If the severance tax is paid at the full rate provided by this Section 2 before the Department of Energy and Natural Resources approves an application for 3 inactive or orphan well status, the operator is entitled to a credit against taxes 4 imposed by this Section in an amount equal to the tax paid. To receive a credit, the 5 operator must apply to the secretary of the Department of Revenue for the credit not 6 later than the first anniversary after the date the Department of Energy and Natural 7 Resources certifies that the well is an inactive or orphan well. 8 (cc) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, oil production 9 from any orphan well as defined by R.S. 30:88.2(A) that is undergoing or has 10 undergone well enhancements that required a Department of Energy and Natural 11 Resources permit, including but not limited to re-entries, workovers, or plugbacks, 12 from which production commences on or after October 1, 2021, and before June 30, 13 2031, shall be exempt from the severance tax. To qualify for the exemption, an 14 application for certification shall be made to the Department of Energy and Natural 15 Resources. Upon certification that a well qualifies for the exemption, the operator 16 shall retain an amount equal to the severance tax otherwise due for the initial three 17 months of the exemption. Beginning in the fourth month following certification, the 18 operator shall report, on forms prescribed by the secretary, and remit to the 19 Department of Revenue an amount equal to the severance tax applicable to the well 20 pursuant to this Paragraph, which shall be credited to the associated site-specific trust 21 account provided for in R.S. 30:88.2 and shall be subject to all due date, interest, and 22 penalty provisions applicable to the oil severance tax. 23 (d) There shall be an exemption from severance tax as provided in this 24 Subparagraph for production from any horizontally drilled well, or, on any 25 horizontally drilled recompletion well, from which production occurs on or after July 26 1, 2015. The exemption shall last for a period of twenty-four months or until payout 27 of the well cost is achieved, whichever comes first. For the purposes of this Section 28 "horizontal drilling" shall mean high angle directional drilling of bore holes with 29 fifty to three thousand plus feet of lateral penetration through productive reservoirs Page 81 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 and "horizontal recompletion" shall mean horizontal drilling in an existing well bore. 2 Payout of well cost shall be the cost of completing the well to the commencement 3 of production as determined by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 4 * * * 5 (9)(a)(i) * * * 6 (d)(i) The gas tax rate provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall 7 be adjusted annually on July first for the ensuing twelve calendar months as 8 hereinafter set forth but shall never be less than seven cents per thousand cubic feet. 9 On or before April 30, 1991, and annually thereafter, the secretary shall determine, 10 using the "gas base rate adjustment" as hereinafter provided, the new gas tax rate for 11 the twelve calendar months beginning July 1, 1991, and respectively for each 12 twelve-month period beginning annually thereafter. The new gas tax rate shall be the 13 rate provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph multiplied by the gas base rate 14 adjustment. The "gas base rate adjustment" shall be determined by the secretary of 15 the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. The "gas base rate adjustment" 16 for the applicable twelve-month period is a fraction, the numerator of which shall be 17 the average of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) Henry Hub settled 18 price on the last trading day for the month, as reported in the Wall Street Journal for 19 the previous twelve-month period ending on March thirty-first, and the denominator 20 of which shall be the average of the monthly average spot market prices of gas fuels 21 delivered into the pipelines in Louisiana as reported by the Natural Gas Clearing 22 House for the twelve-month period ending March 31, 1990 (1.7446 $/MMBTU). For 23 the twelve-month period ending March 31, 2003, the monthly average gas prices 24 used in making the numerator of the "gas base rate adjustment", the average gas 25 prices for the months April, 2002 through September, 2002 shall be the monthly 26 average spot market price of gas fuels delivered into the pipelines into Louisiana as 27 reported in the Natural Gas Clearing House, and the average gas prices for the 28 months October, 2002 through March, 2003 shall be the New York Mercantile 29 Exchange (NYMEX) Henry Hub settled price on the last trading day for the month, Page 82 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 as reported in the Wall Street Journal. The secretary of the Department of Revenue 2 shall publish the "gas base rate adjustment" and the "gas tax rate", as determined 3 under this Subparagraph in the official journal of the state of Louisiana by May first 4 of each year and shall provide the "gas base rate adjustment" and the "gas tax rate" 5 to affected producers by written notice mailed sixty days prior to the effective date 6 thereof, but failure to make such publication or to give such notice shall not be a 7 condition for the new gas tax rate which shall nevertheless be effective. 8 * * * 9 (iii) If the base data of the NYMEX Henry Hub average monthly gas price 10 is substantially revised, the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural 11 Resources shall make appropriate adjustment to insure that the "gas base rate 12 adjustment" is reasonably consistent with the result which would have been attained 13 had such substantial revision not been made. If the secretary is unable to make 14 reasonable changes sufficient to insure a consistent result, the "gas tax rate" shall 15 remain that last established under this Subparagraph until a comparable method for 16 determining the "gas tax rate" is adopted by the legislature. 17 * * * 18 §633.4. Tertiary recovery incentive 19 * * * 20 B.(1) In order to accomplish the purposes set forth in Subsection A of this 21 Section, no severance tax shall be due in regard to production from a qualified 22 tertiary recovery project approved by the assistant secretary of the office of 23 conservation of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources until such project 24 has reached payout from total production of: 25 * * * 26 §633.5. Produced water injection incentive 27 A. The office of water resources of the Department of Environmental Quality 28 was directed by R.S. 30:2074(C) to act in conjunction with the Department of 29 Energy and Natural Resources to conduct a risk analysis of the discharge of Page 83 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 produced waters, excluding cavern leach waters, from oil and gas activities onto the 2 ground and into the surface waters in the coastal wetlands of the state, and to 3 examine the environmental risks and the economic impact on the oil and gas industry 4 if the discharge was to be prohibited. The risk analysis was not properly conducted 5 as directed, however, and the Department of Environmental Quality did in fact 6 prohibit the discharge of produced water into the surface waters of the state by rules 7 promulgated and which became effective on March 20, 1991. 8 * * * 9 §648.2. Definitions 10 Unless the context otherwise requires, the words defined in this Section have 11 the following meaning when found in this Part: 12 (1) A "certified new discovery oil and natural gas well" is one designated as 13 such by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources after determining that: 14 * * * 15 §648.3. Severance tax suspension on production from certified new discovery oil 16 and natural gas wells 17 All severance taxes on production from certified new discovery oil and 18 natural gas wells are hereby suspended from the date of completion for a period of 19 twenty-four months or until recovery of payout of the well cost, whichever comes 20 first. Payout of the well cost shall be determined by the Department of Energy and 21 Natural Resources. 22 * * * 23 §1508. Confidentiality of tax records 24 * * * 25 B. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent: 26 * * * 27 (9) The furnishing, in the discretion of the secretary, of severance tax 28 information to the Department of Energy and Natural Resources to be used solely 29 for the coordination and verification of revenue and production data relative to Page 84 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 mineral resources produced within the state. Any information so furnished shall be 2 considered and held confidential and privileged by the Department of Energy and 3 Natural Resources to the same extent as heretofore provided. 4 * * * 5 §1515.2. Authority to collect fees; office of conservation 6 A. The secretary of the Department of Revenue is hereby authorized to enter 7 into an agreement with the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, office of 8 conservation, at the request of the commissioner of conservation, to collect fees 9 assessed by the office of conservation. 10 B. The agreement between the Department of Revenue and the Department 11 of Energy and Natural Resources, office of conservation shall be executed by the 12 secretary of the Department of Revenue and the commissioner of conservation. The 13 agreement shall provide the manner of collection, the fees to be collected, and the 14 costs of collection, if any, to be paid by the office of conservation, and such other 15 terms and conditions necessary to effectuate the agreement. 16 * * * 17 §1989. Review of appeals by tax commission 18 * * * 19 C.(1) * * * 20 (2)(a)(i) * * * 21 (vi) Nothing in this Subparagraph shall be construed to limit any of the 22 following otherwise admissible data, guides, and resources that are publicly 23 accessible: 24 * * * 25 (cc) Public records of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources 26 including but not limited to data from the Strategic Online Natural Resource 27 Information System (SONRIS). 28 * * * 29 §6035. Tax credit for investments in qualified clean-burning motor vehicle fuel Page 85 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 property 2 * * * 3 D. The secretary of the Department of Revenue in consultation with the 4 secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall promulgate rules 5 and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act as are 6 necessary to implement the provisions of this Section. 7 * * * 8 Section 19. R.S. 48:224(C) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 9 §224. Abandonment of highway; sale by department; acquisition by governing 10 authority; ratification 11 * * * 12 C. If the governing authority or authorities are unwilling to accept and 13 maintain the highway or highway section to be abandoned, or in the event of the 14 abandonment of any property acquired and used for right-of-way purposes, the 15 realignment of which has been changed so as to make the right-of-way no longer 16 needed for the original purpose, the secretary may at his discretion dispose of the 17 property at either public or private sale. Private sale shall be limited to the original 18 vendor of the property or his successors in title. If the sale is to the original vendor 19 of the property, the consideration for the private sale shall be the original cost to the 20 department or its appraised market value, whichever is greater. If the sale is to the 21 successors in title to the original vendor, the consideration for the private sale shall 22 be the present appraised value. If sold, notice of abandonment of the roadway shall 23 be posted in accordance with Subsection E of this Section. If the property cannot be 24 sold at either public or private sale, then abandonment may be accomplished as 25 provided in Subsection E of this Section or transferred to the Department of Energy 26 and Natural Resources, state lands section. 27 * * * 28 Section 20. R.S. 49:74(A)(5)(b)(i)(aa)(VI), 191(12)(c), 214.5.1(B)(2), 214.6.2(C)(1) 29 and (D)(8), 214.8.6(B)(4), 214.23(12), 214.24(D), 214.25(C), 214.26(A)(1), 214.31(B), Page 86 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 214.33(B)(6), 214.36(J)(1)(a), 259(A) and (D), 330(A)(4), 966(B)(11), and 1053(C)(11) are 2 hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 3 §74. Registration of lobbyists with the ethics board; compilation of information 4 A. Each lobbyist shall register with the ethics board as soon as possible after 5 employment as a lobbyist or after the first action requiring his registration as a 6 lobbyist, whichever occurs first, and in any event not later than five days after 7 employment as a lobbyist or not later than five days after the first action requiring 8 his registration as a lobbyist, whichever occurs first. He shall electronically file with 9 the ethics board, using forms provided by it, the following information: 10 * * * 11 (5)(a) * * * 12 (b) For the purposes of this Paragraph, the following terms shall have the 13 following meanings: 14 (i) "Executive branch department head" means: 15 (aa) The secretary of each of the following departments of state government: 16 * * * 17 (VI) The Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 18 * * * 19 §191. Termination of legislative authority for existence of statutory entities; phase- 20 out period for statutory entities; table of dates 21 Notwithstanding any termination dates set by any previous Act of the 22 legislature, the statutory entities set forth in this Section shall begin to terminate their 23 operations on July first of each of the following years, and all legislative authority 24 for the existence of any statutory entity, as defined in R.S. 49:190, shall cease as of 25 July first of the following year, which shall be the termination date: 26 * * * 27 (12) July 1, 2024: 28 * * * 29 (c) The Department of Energy and Natural Resources and all statutory Page 87 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 entities made a part of the department by law. 2 * * * 3 §214.5.1. Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board 4 * * * 5 B. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board shall consist of 6 the following members: 7 * * * 8 (2) Secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or his 9 designee. 10 * * * 11 §214.6.2. Functions and responsibilities; coastal activities 12 * * * 13 C. The authority shall: 14 (1) Receive all monies appropriated from the Coastal Protection and 15 Restoration Fund to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority for 16 implementation of all programs and projects contained in an annual plan developed 17 by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board and approved by the 18 legislature, except that the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, office of 19 coastal management, shall receive any funds allocated in the annual plan for the 20 coastal zone management program. 21 * * * 22 D. The authority may: 23 * * * 24 (8) Utilize the services of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, 25 office of management and finance, for accounting and budgetary control, 26 procurement and contractual management, data processing, management and 27 program analysis, and personnel management and grants management, provided that 28 the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall exercise no 29 authority over the provision of these services. Page 88 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 * * * 2 §214.8.6. Annual basin plan 3 * * * 4 B. As a part of the procedures to be followed by the director in the 5 development of an annual basin plan, the chair of the board shall appoint a technical 6 advisory group to review, evaluate, and approve all water management and water 7 quality projects proposed for inclusion in an annual plan. The technical advisory 8 group shall consist of the following appointments: 9 * * * 10 (4) One member from the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 11 * * * 12 §214.23. Definitions 13 * * * 14 (12) "Secretary" shall mean the secretary of the Department of Energy and 15 Natural Resources or his designee. 16 * * * 17 §214.24. Coastal zone boundary 18 * * * 19 D. The secretary shall adopt a fully delineated inland boundary in accordance 20 with the provisions of Subsection C of this Section, which boundary shall not depart 21 appreciably from the boundary delineated therein. The secretary shall be authorized 22 to amend the boundary as may be appropriate to follow the corporate limits of any 23 municipality divided by the boundary. The boundary, as adopted, shall be clearly 24 marked on large scale maps or charts, official copies of which shall be available for 25 public inspection in the office of coastal management of the Department of Energy 26 and Natural Resources and each local government in the coastal zone. The boundary 27 shall also be available in an electronic format map available for viewing or download 28 from the office of coastal management website. 29 §214.25. Types of uses Page 89 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 * * * 2 C. The secretaries of the Departments of Energy and Natural Resources and 3 Wildlife and Fisheries are authorized to jointly develop for adoption by the secretary, 4 after notice and public hearing, rules for the further delineation of the types of uses 5 that have a direct and significant impact on coastal waters and that demonstrate a 6 need for coastal management, the classification of uses not listed herein, and for the 7 modification and change of the classifications of uses, provided that no changes shall 8 be made in the classifications of the uses listed in Subsection A. 9 * * * 10 §214.26. Coastal management program; administration 11 A.(1) A coastal management program is hereby established within the 12 Department of Energy and Natural Resources. The secretary or his designee shall 13 administer the coastal management program. 14 * * * 15 §214.31. Existing authority of certain state departments and local governments 16 retained 17 * * * 18 B. Permits issued pursuant to existing statutory authority of the office of 19 conservation in the Department of Energy and Natural Resources for the location, 20 drilling, exploration and production of oil, gas, sulphur or other minerals shall be 21 issued in lieu of coastal use permits, provided that the office of conservation shall 22 coordinate such permitting actions pursuant to R.S. 49:214.32(B) and (D) and shall 23 ensure that all activities so permitted are consistent with the guidelines, the state 24 program and any affected local program. 25 * * * 26 §214.33. Coordinated coastal permitting process 27 * * * 28 B. To implement this intent, within one year of the effective date of this 29 Subpart, the secretary, local governments, and all other relevant governmental bodies Page 90 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 having such other regulatory jurisdiction or authority over uses of the coastal zone 2 shall in cooperation with one another and under the direction of the governor 3 establish a coordinated coastal permitting process by means of binding interagency 4 agreements wherein: 5 * * * 6 (6) The coordinated coastal permitting process shall not affect the powers, 7 duties, or functions of any governmental body particularly the Department of 8 Wildlife and Fisheries and the Office of Conservation in the Department of Energy 9 and Natural Resources. 10 * * * 11 §214.36. Enforcement; injunction; penalties and fines 12 * * * 13 J. The monies collected by the state under the provisions of this Section shall 14 be deposited as follows: 15 (1) The monies collected by the secretary for violations relating to use of 16 state concern shall be used for the following purposes only in the proportions stated: 17 (a) After deducting the costs to reimburse the Department of Energy and 18 Natural Resources for the expenses incurred enforcing the provisions of this Subpart, 19 seventy-five percent of the monies collected shall be placed in the Coastal Protection 20 and Restoration Fund established in Article VII, Section 10.2 of the Constitution of 21 Louisiana and used for projects that are consistent with Paragraph (O)(2) of this 22 Section. 23 * * * 24 §259. Department of Justice Legal Support Fund 25 A. There is hereby established in the state treasury a special fund to be known 26 as the Department of Justice Legal Support Fund, hereinafter referred to as the 27 "fund". The fund shall be comprised of proceeds recovered by the attorney general 28 on behalf of the state from court judgments, settlements, fines, fees, forfeitures and 29 penalties, from the recovery or award of any attorney fees as provided in R.S. Page 91 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 42:262, or from proceeds recovered by the attorney general from any other source 2 which revenues are received by the attorney general for deposit into the fund, except 3 those judgments and recoveries made on or pertaining to any office of risk 4 management litigation, litigation involving the Department of Energy and Natural 5 Resources or the Department of Environmental Quality, or to the settlement funds, 6 judgments, or final disposition of the claims asserted in State of Louisiana v. BP 7 Exploration & Production, et al., consolidated with In Re: Oil Spill by the Oil Rig 8 "Deepwater Horizon" in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 20, 2010, MDL No. 2179 9 (E.D. La.) (hereinafter "DWH litigation"), as provided in Subsection D of this 10 Section. 11 * * * 12 D. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section, no 13 proceeds shall be deposited into the fund from court-awarded judgments and 14 settlements involving the Department of Energy and Natural Resources as specified 15 in R.S. 30:136.3(B)(1), nor any judgments, settlements, or recoveries which are 16 designated for credit to the Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Fund, the Environmental 17 Trust Dedicated Fund Account, or any other funds administered by the Department 18 of Environmental Quality under the Environmental Quality Act. Notwithstanding the 19 provisions of Subsection A of this Section, no proceeds shall be deposited into the 20 fund from court-awarded judgments and settlements involving the Department of 21 Transportation and Development. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A 22 of this Section, no proceeds shall be deposited into the fund from judgments, 23 settlements, or recoveries arising from the DWH litigation, including but not limited 24 to litigation expenses, assessment costs, court costs or attorney fees. 25 * * * 26 §330. Mineral Income Advisory Committee; mineral revenue contracts by state 27 treasurer 28 A.(1) The Mineral Income Advisory Committee is hereby created. The 29 committee shall be composed of the following members: Page 92 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 * * * 2 (4) The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the 3 secretary of the Department of Revenue, the commissioner of administration, and the 4 state treasurer shall be available to the committee for the research relative to mineral 5 revenue contracts as provided for in this Section. 6 * * * 7 §966. Review of agency rules; fees 8 * * * 9 B. * * * 10 (11) The Department of Energy and Natural Resources and all of the 11 agencies made a part of it shall submit the report to the House Committee on Natural 12 Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources. 13 However, for exercises of the commissioner of conservation's rulemaking authority 14 pursuant to Chapter 13-A-1 of Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, 15 the department shall submit the report to the House Committee on Natural Resources 16 and Environment and the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality. 17 * * * 18 §1053. Louisiana Geographic Information Systems Council; creation; membership; 19 quorum; domicile 20 * * * 21 C. The council shall be composed of the following members: 22 * * * 23 (11) A representative of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, 24 appointed by the secretary. 25 * * * 26 Section 21. R.S. 51:1601(H), 1602(3), (5), (8), (13), and (15), the introductory 27 paragraph of 1603, 1603(7)(c), and 1605(B)(12) through (15) are hereby amended and 28 reenacted to read as follows: 29 §1601. Findings, policy and procedure Page 93 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 The legislature finds and declares that: 2 * * * 3 H. The public interest of the state in avoiding or ameliorating the effects of 4 the conversion of the state's industrial and powerplant fuel requirements from natural 5 gas and petroleum to coal or other alternate fuels can best be served by granting to 6 the Department of Energy and Natural Resources primary state governmental 7 responsibility for intervening on behalf of the state with the United States 8 Department of Energy in the implementation and administration of the Powerplant 9 and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978, and authorizing the department to implement 10 such measures within the state as may postpone untimely implementation of federal 11 laws and regulations and further, where use of or conversion to coal or other 12 alternate fuel is mandated, to take such measures as may be required to insure that 13 mandated future use and conversion proceeds in an orderly fashion and with a 14 minimum of adverse economic effect upon the state and to the maximum extent 15 possible take measures to insure that natural gas affected by this conversion be 16 retained within the state of Louisiana. 17 §1602. Definitions 18 As used in this Act, the following words and phrases have the meaning 19 ascribed to them in this Section except where otherwise provided in this Act or 20 unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context: 21 * * * 22 (3) "Department of Energy and Natural Resources" or "Department" means 23 the Department of Energy and Natural Resources of the state of Louisiana. 24 * * * 25 (5) "Exemptions" as used in this Chapter shall mean those criteria established 26 through rules and regulations of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, 27 in accordance with federal law and in coordination with the rules of applicable 28 federal agencies to permit a powerplant or industry, when feasible or in the best 29 interest of the state, to postpone or avoid untimely use of coal or other alternate fuel Page 94 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 or conversion of its fuel base from natural gas or petroleum to coal or other alternate 2 fuel. 3 * * * 4 (8) "Revenues" include fees, proceeds, moneys, receipts, and income derived 5 for the account of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources in connection 6 with any revenue bond project or arising from such project. 7 * * * 8 (13) "Secretary of Natural Resources" or "Secretary" means the secretary of 9 the Department of Energy and Natural Resources of the state of Louisiana or such 10 persons as he may authorize to act for him as provided in R.S. 51:1603. 11 * * * 12 (15) "State Plan" means a program or plan of the state of Louisiana planned, 13 prepared, established, and administered by the Department of Energy and Natural 14 Resources to implement the intent and purposes of this Chapter. 15 * * * 16 §1603. Jurisdiction, powers, and responsibilities 17 The Department of Energy and Natural Resources, acting through the 18 secretary, shall administer this Chapter. The secretary may authorize officers or 19 employees of the department to administer the provisions of this Chapter, subject to 20 the overall direction and supervision of the secretary. The secretary shall have the 21 following duties and powers and is authorized, empowered, and, as applicable, 22 required to: 23 * * * 24 (7)(a) * * * 25 (c) In establishing and implementing such state plan, the secretary may make 26 rules and regulations; construct and operate support facilities, whether through the 27 department or by contract with licensees under this Chapter or other third parties; 28 issue licenses to persons to construct, operate, and own support facilities; coordinate 29 such state plan with the federal government and its jurisdictional agencies; grant Page 95 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 exemptions to conversion requirements under conditions stated in rules and 2 regulations promulgated by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources in 3 accordance with the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 and other 4 applicable federal law and regulation; issue bonds; and do such other things as are 5 necessary to establish the state plan within the intent and purposes of this Chapter. 6 * * * 7 §1605. Bonds; procedure for issuance 8 * * * 9 B. * * * 10 (12) Limited liability of the state. The revenue bonds shall be limited 11 obligations of the state. The principal of and interest on the revenue bonds shall not 12 be payable by the secretary personally or from funds of the Department of Energy 13 and Natural Resources nor shall they constitute a pledge, charge, lien, or 14 encumbrance upon any revenues except the revenues, agreements, and funds pledged 15 under the resolution or trust agreement authorizing such bonds. Neither the credit nor 16 the taxing power of the state shall be pledged for the payment of such principal or 17 interest, and no holder of revenue bonds shall have the right to compel the exercise 18 of the taxing power by the state or the forfeiture of its property in connection with 19 any default thereon. Every revenue bond shall recite in substance that the principal 20 of and interest on such bond is payable solely from the revenues pledged to its 21 payment and that the Department of Energy and Natural Resources is not obligated 22 to pay such principal or interest except from such revenues. The face of each interest 23 coupon shall bear a statement to the effect that such coupon is payable solely from 24 certain revenues as set forth in the bond to which such coupon pertains. The revenue 25 bonds issued under the provisions of this Section shall not constitute a debt of this 26 state or of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources and the state shall not 27 be liable thereon. 28 (13) Proceeds and revenues to be deposited in separate funds. Subject to 29 agreements with the holders of revenue bonds, all proceeds of revenue bonds and all Page 96 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 revenue pledged under a resolution or trust agreement authorizing or securing such 2 bonds shall be set aside as received and shall be deposited and held in trust by a 3 trustee appointed by the secretary of natural resources in a fund or funds separate and 4 apart from all other funds of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 5 Subject to the resolution or trust agreement, the trustee shall hold the same for the 6 benefit of the holders of the bonds for the application and disposition thereof solely 7 to the respective uses and purposes provided in such resolution or trust agreement. 8 (14) Agreement required prior to delivery of revenue bonds. Prior to the 9 delivery of revenue bonds under this Section the secretary of natural resources may 10 enter into an agreement or agreements with one or more licensees to lease, sublease, 11 operate, construct, or otherwise utilize the support facilities which constitute the 12 revenue project or enter into a loan or other financing agreement with one or more 13 licensees providing that the licensee will construct, operate, and maintain the revenue 14 bond project or projects. Any such agreement shall set forth the rights, duties, and 15 obligations of the parties thereto; provide for the completion of the revenue bond 16 project or projects from bond proceeds or other sources; provide that neither the state 17 nor the Department of Energy and Natural Resources shall have any liability or 18 responsibility whatsoever for any loss or damage arising out of the acquisition, 19 construction, operation, and maintenance of such project or projects, and also shall 20 provide for the payment to the Department of Energy and Natural Resources of such 21 rentals, installment payments, or other moneys as will be sufficient to pay the 22 principal of and interest on the revenue bonds issued to finance the revenue bond 23 project or projects and build up and maintain any reserves deemed advisable in 24 connection therewith. This agreement shall be made upon such other terms and 25 conditions and for such time as may be determined by the secretary of natural 26 resources and may contain provisions authorizing the sale, resale, lease, sublease, 27 operation, usage, or purchase of the entire revenue bond project, or any portion 28 thereof, for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as the secretary 29 of natural resources may determine. Page 97 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 (15) Construction of Section. The powers and rights conferred by this Section 2 shall be in addition and supplemental to the powers and rights conferred by any other 3 general or special law. This Section does and shall be construed to provide a 4 complete method for doing the things authorized thereby. Neither the making of 5 contracts nor the issuance of revenue bonds or refunding revenue bonds or other 6 obligations pursuant to the provisions of this Section need comply with the 7 requirements of any other state law applicable to the making of contracts and the 8 issuance of the revenue bonds or other obligations for the financing of any revenue 9 bond project or projects undertaken pursuant to this Section, except herein provided. 10 The secretary of natural resources acting through the State Bond Commission and 11 in accordance with R.S. 39:1403 is vested with and is hereby granted the right, 12 power, and authority to do, perform, and exercise for the behalf of the Department 13 of Energy and Natural Resources all acts and things required to be done and 14 performed in connection with the authorization and issuance of revenue bonds under 15 this Section. No proceedings, notice, or approval shall be required for the issuance 16 of any revenue bonds or any instrument as security therefor, except as provided in 17 this Section. The provisions of this Section shall be liberally construed for the 18 accomplishment of its purposes. 19 * * * 20 Section 22. R.S. 56:4, 301.10(E)(2) and (3), 421(B)(3) and (E)(4), 432.1(C)(2), 21 494(E)(2) and (3), 700.11(4) and (7), 700.13(A), 796(B)(1)(p), 1431(E), 1808(A), 22 1932(A)(6), 1933(A)(1)(g), and 2011(E) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as 23 follows: 24 §4. Authority of Department of Energy and Natural Resources over navigable water 25 bottoms 26 Nothing in this Title and particularly in Section 3 of this Part affects in any 27 way the authority of the Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources to 28 lease or otherwise administer the beds and bottoms of navigable rivers, streams, 29 bayous, lagoons, lakes, bays, sounds, and inlets bordering on or connecting with the Page 98 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 Gulf of Mexico within the territory or jurisdiction of the state, as established by law 2 and regulations promulgated thereunder. 3 * * * 4 §301.10. Louisiana Finfish Task Force 5 * * * 6 E. The task force is hereby charged with responsibility to do the following: 7 * * * 8 (2) Provide for the study of the decline in finfish marketability and market 9 price, provide for the study of the impacts of imported finfish on the domestic 10 market, assist in the development of a state finfish inspection program, assist in the 11 development of a Louisiana finfish certification and branding program, and make 12 recommendations to the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, the Department of 13 Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the 14 Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Louisiana Department of Health for 15 implementation of policies to help enhance the domestic finfish industry. 16 (3) Make recommendations with respect to issues pertaining to the finfish 17 industry and finfish production to the various state agencies charged with 18 responsibility for differing elements of the finfish industry in this state, including the 19 Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Energy and Natural 20 Resources, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Louisiana 21 Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the 22 legislature. 23 * * * 24 §421. Oyster Task Force 25 * * * 26 B. The task force shall be composed as follows: 27 * * * 28 (3) One member appointed by the secretary of the Department of Energy and 29 Natural Resources. Page 99 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 * * * 2 E. The task force is hereby charged with responsibility to do the following: 3 * * * 4 (4) Make recommendations with respect to issues pertaining to the oyster 5 industry and oyster production to the various state agencies charged with 6 responsibility for differing elements of the oyster industry in this state, including the 7 Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Energy and Natural 8 Resources, and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board, the Coastal 9 Protection and Restoration Authority, the Louisiana Department of Health, the 10 governor's executive assistant for coastal activities, and the legislature. 11 * * * 12 §432.1. Oyster Lease Acquisition and Compensation Program 13 * * * 14 C. A leaseholder whose lease is acquired in whole or in part may seek an 15 administrative hearing through the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority as 16 to whether the acquisition due to the impact of dredging, direct placement of dredged 17 or other materials, or other work or activities necessary for the construction or 18 maintenance of a project for integrated coastal protection is proper or whether the 19 compensation issued by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority satisfies 20 the rules or regulations of that department. A leaseholder whose lease is not acquired 21 but which was impacted by dredging, direct placement of dredged or other materials, 22 or other work or activities necessary for the construction or maintenance of a project 23 for integrated coastal protection has occurred, may also seek an administrative 24 hearing through the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to determine if 25 acquisition of such acreage would be proper. Adjudication under this Section shall 26 be conducted in accordance with the following: 27 * * * 28 (2) Adjudication under this Section shall be conducted in accordance with 29 Chapter 13-B of Title 49 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, and pursuant to Page 100 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 the rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Energy and Natural 2 Resources after consideration of recommendations by the Louisiana Oyster Task 3 Force. The administrative law judge shall consider any reasonably confirmable data 4 or information provided to that department by the leaseholder or any other person on 5 or before the date of the administrative review. 6 * * * 7 §494. Louisiana Shrimp Task Force 8 * * * 9 E. The task force is hereby charged with responsibility to do the following: 10 * * * 11 (2) Provide for the study of the decline in shrimp marketability and market 12 price, provide for the study of the impacts of imported shrimp on the domestic 13 market, assist in the development of a state shrimp inspection program, assist in the 14 development of a Louisiana shrimp certification and branding program, and make 15 recommendations to the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and the Department of 16 Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the 17 Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Louisiana Department of Health for 18 implementation of policies to help enhance the domestic shrimp industry. 19 (3) Make recommendations with respect to issues pertaining to the shrimp 20 industry and shrimp production to the various state agencies charged with 21 responsibility for differing elements of the shrimp industry in this state, including the 22 Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Energy and Natural 23 Resources, and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Louisiana 24 Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the 25 legislature. 26 * * * 27 §700.11. Definitions 28 As used in this Part, unless the context requires otherwise, the terms set forth 29 below shall have the following meanings: Page 101 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 * * * 2 (4) "Department" means the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 3 * * * 4 (7) "Secretary" means the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural 5 Resources, or his designee. 6 * * * 7 §700.13. Establishment of the board 8 A. There is hereby established within the office of the secretary of the 9 Department of Energy and Natural Resources the Oyster Lease Damage Evaluation 10 Board, hereinafter known as the board. 11 * * * 12 §796. Lake Fausse Point, Lake Dauterive, and Grand Avoille Cove Advisory Board 13 * * * 14 B.(1) The commission is comprised as follows: 15 * * * 16 (p) The lieutenant governor, the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and 17 Fisheries, and the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources 18 may each designate an individual to serve as a nonvoting member of the board. 19 * * * 20 §1431. Bayou Liberty; clearing; expropriation prohibited 21 * * * 22 E. Subject to conditions stated herein, the Department of Energy and Natural 23 Resources is hereby authorized to purchase property along that portion of Bayou 24 Liberty from its headwaters to U.S. Hwy. 190 to be used as conservation easements. 25 The purchase of property for conservation easements shall only be authorized if and 26 when funding for such purchase is appropriated for that purpose by the legislature. 27 * * * 28 §1808. Functions and duties of state agencies 29 A. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the office of tourism and Page 102 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 promotion, the Department of Transportation and Development, the Department of 2 Energy and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, the State Soil and 3 Water Conservation Commission, and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service 4 or their successor agencies shall furnish assistance to the state liaison officer for the 5 implementation of the Chapter in compliance with the provisions of R.S. 49:661 and 6 663. 7 * * * 8 §1932. Project selection board 9 A. The program shall be governed by a project selection board composed of 10 the following members: 11 * * * 12 (6) The secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources or his 13 designee. 14 * * * 15 §1933. Technical advisory board 16 A. The project selection board shall be advised by a technical advisory board 17 composed of the following members: 18 (1) Subject matter representatives from the following: 19 * * * 20 (g) The Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 21 * * * 22 §2011. License to dredge; royalties; exemptions 23 * * * 24 E. Any private landowner, state agency, political subdivision, or associated 25 consultant or contractor engaged in a coastal protection, conservation, or restoration 26 activity consistent with an annual plan or the comprehensive master plan established 27 pursuant to R.S. 49:214.5.3 or engaged in an activity to remove sediment buildup to 28 preserve or restore the natural habitat of a water body of the state or to enhance 29 navigation and recreation activities on a water body of the state shall be exempt from Page 103 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 payment of the royalties and bond requirements of this Section. However, any such 2 private landowner, state agency, political subdivision, or associated consultant or 3 contractor shall be required to apply for and receive the appropriate license required 4 by this Section. To be eligible for exemption from the royalty payment and bond 5 requirements of this Section, a private landowner shall obtain a letter of no-objection 6 from either the governing authority of the political subdivision within which the 7 activity will occur or the local coastal management program under which the activity 8 is authorized, and the approval, in writing, of the secretary of the Department of 9 Energy and Natural Resources, the secretary of the Department of Transportation 10 and Development, and the executive director of the Coastal Protection and 11 Restoration Authority. 12 * * * 13 Section 23. The introductory paragraph of Code of Civil Procedure Art. 1552 and 14 1563(A)(2) and (B) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 15 Art. 1552. Environmental management orders 16 Upon the request of any party in any civil action alleging environmental 17 damage pursuant to R.S. 30:29, or the Department of Energy and Natural 18 Resources, office of conservation, the court shall direct the attorneys for the parties 19 to appear before the court to develop an environmental management order. The 20 environmental management order shall authorize all parties to access the property 21 allegedly impacted to perform inspections and environmental testing. The order shall 22 require that all test results be submitted to all parties and the Department of Energy 23 and Natural Resources, office of conservation, within thirty days of receipt thereof. 24 Failure by a party to provide the results of testing to the other parties shall preclude 25 that party from admitting those results into evidence in the civil action. The 26 environmental management order shall include reasonable terms for all of the 27 following: 28 * * * 29 Art. 1563. Limited admission of liability in environmental damage lawsuits; effect Page 104 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED 1 A.(1) * * * 2 (2) Upon the expiration of the delay in which a party may file a limited 3 admission under Subparagraph (5) of this Paragraph, and if one or more of the 4 defendants have made a timely limited admission, the court shall refer the matter to 5 the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, office of conservation, hereinafter 6 referred to as the "department", to conduct a public hearing to approve or structure 7 a plan which the department determines to be the most feasible plan to evaluate or 8 remediate the environmental damage under the applicable regulatory standards 9 pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 30:29. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that 10 the plan approved or structured by the department, after consultation with the 11 Department of Environmental Quality as appropriate, shall be the most feasible plan 12 to evaluate or remediate the environmental damage under the applicable regulatory 13 standards pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 30:29. For cases tried by a jury, the court 14 shall instruct the jury regarding this presumption if requested by a party. 15 * * * 16 B. The provisions of this Article shall not establish primary jurisdiction with 17 the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. 18 Section 24. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby directed to change all 19 references to the "Department of Natural Resources" to the "Department of Energy and 20 Natural Resources" throughout the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 and the Code of Civil 21 Procedure. 22 Section 25. This Act shall become effective on January 10, 2024. The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jacob K. Wilson. DIGEST SB 103 Reengrossed 2023 Regular Session Lambert Present law establishes the Department of Natural Resources. Proposed law changes the name of the Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. Effective January 10, 2024. Page 105 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 103 SLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED (Amends R.S. 3:304(B), 1221(C), 3302(2), 3366(C), and 3712(E) and (H), R.S. 9:1152(B), and 2800.14, R.S. 13:5107(C), R.S. 17:202(A)(2) (intro para) and 218(2), R.S. 30:4(D)(1) (intro para), 4(D)(1)(d), (2), and (3)(a)(ii), (G), (M)(6)(b), (N)(1) and (5) and (N)(5), 4.1(B) (intro para), 21.2, 23(D)(1), 25(A)(2), (3), and (7), 26(A), 29(A), (B)(1), and (C)(3)(b)(i), 73(1), 81(B), 82(1), (4), and (13), 83(A), (B)(1), (F)(5), and (H), 86(E)(1) and (7), 89.1, 91(B)(2)(c), 95(D), 101.2(A), 101.3(2), (4), and (7), 101.4(A), 101.13(B)(3) and (C)(4), 121(A) and (C), 124(A), 126(B)(3), 132, 135, 136(A)(1)(a), 136.3(D), 142(E)(1)(a), 143(C), (D)(1), (2), (4), and (6), (E), and (F), 144(A) (intro para), 150(A), (B)(7), (D), (F)(2), and (H), 206, 209(4)(b), 212(A), 215(A), 216(C)(2), 401, 503(1), 546(A) (intro para), 702(1), 723(G), 731(1), 904(5) and (20), 905(A) and (B)(9), 905.1(A), 953(C), 962(2), 963(A), 1103(7), 1105(B), 1109(F), 1152(A) (intro para), 1154(A) (intro para), 1154(A)(9)(a) (intro para), 1202(8), 1354(6), 1401(B) and (C), 1402(B) and (D), 2004(12)(a), 2011(D)(20), 2015.1(L), 2035(B)(2), 2074(C) and (E), 2248(C)(1), 2397, 2458(A)(4), 2459(A) and (D), 2460(A)(14), 2469(E), 2495, and 2575(D), R.S. 31:149(A), R.S. 32:1511 and 1513.1(A), R.S. 33:1236(56), 1236.25(C), 1236.27, 1419.1(C), 1419.2(1) (intro para) and 1419.2(6), 1419.3, 1419.4(A) and (D)(1), 1419.5(1) and (4), 1419.6(A), (B), D, and (E), 4064.4(E) and (J), 4065.3(E) and (I), 4522, 4523, 4524, 4526, and 4546.21(B), R.S. 34:3116(B) and 3304(B), R.S. 36:4(A)(7), 8.1(C)(11), 351(A), (B), and (C)(1), 353, 354(A)(13), (B)(1)(b), (4), (6), and (8), 356(A) and (B), 357(A), 358(A), 359(A) (intro para), B(intro para), (B)(1) and (2), and (C), 629(J)(2)-(8), and 957(A), R.S. 37:711.4(E), 1377(K)(1), and 3151(1), R.S. 38:25(A), 327(F), 3087.134(E)(5), 3092(7), 3097.3(B), 3098.2 (heading), 3098.6(A) (intro para), and 3098.6(A)(2), R.S. 39:99.29(A), 253(A)(2), 2007(D)(1), and 2177(D), R.S. 40:1730.22(F), 1730.28.4(B)(1), 1892, 1893, and 1894, R.S. 41:642(A)(2)(b) and (B), 1602(B)(1), 1701.1(C) and (D), 1702(D)(1) and (2)(a)(i), (ii) (intro para), (H) and (I), 1703(B), 1712(D), 1731, 1732(A), 1733(B) and (C), 1734(A) (intro para), R.S. 42:1113(D)(1)(a)(ii)(hh) and (6)(f), 1124(A)(2)(f), and 1266(C)(1)(f), R.S. 44:4(10), R.S. 47:301(10)(gg) and (18)(p), 633(7)(c)(iii)(bb), (iv)(aa), (bb), and (cc), and (d), (9)(d)(i) and (iii), 633.4(B) (intro para), (B)(1), 633.5(A), 648.2(1) (intro para), 648.3, 1508(B)(9), 1515.2, 1989(C)(2)(a)(vi)(cc), and 6035(D), R.S. 48:224(C), R.S. 49:74(A)(5)(b)(i)(aa)(VI), 191(12)(c), 214.5.1(B)(2), 214.6.2(C)(1) and (D)(8), 214.8.6(B)(4), 214.23(12), 214.24(D), 214.25(C), 214.26(A)(1), 214.31(B), 214.33(B)(6), 214.36(J)(1)(a), 259(A) and (D), 330(A)(4), 966(B)(11), and 1053(C)(11), R.S. 51:1601(H), 1602(3), (5), (8), (13), and (15), 1603 (intro para), 1603(7)(c), and 1605(B)(12)-(15), R.S. 56:4, 301.10(E)(2) and (3), 421(B)(3) and (E)(4), 432.1(C)(2), 494(E)(2) and (3), 700.11(4) and (7), 700.13(A), 796(B)(1)(p), 1431(E), 1808(A), 1932(A)(6), 1933(A)(1)(g), and 2011(E), and C.C.P. Art. 1552 (intro para) and 1563(A)(2) and (B)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill 1. Makes technical corrections. Page 106 of 106 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions.