[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6242563,"mediaKeyId","3247669-0c137bc6b86be2b742884f1e50778c23","parentId",3247669,"title","Committee advances substitute for SB193 to reorganize Natural Resources and tighten oversight of oil‑site funds","audioSeconds",1622,"startMs",492000,"endMs",2114000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3247669-0c137bc6b86be2b742884f1e50778c23&start=492&end=2114","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3247669-0c137bc6b86be2b742884f1e50778c23/thumbnail_492000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6242563/Louisiana/Committee-advances-substitute-for-SB193-to-reorganize-Natural-Resources-and-tighten-oversight-of-oilsite-funds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6242563-5e2e219ef5ff75c6cd79a0eccf3f4430/orig.mp4?Expires=1772878242&Signature=fMsdqKX9LaFj9naAo9Tjjclo5JtqabzxouUbrzZASoDxxk2iBMFao~EG7-gmq9G29dQuhukOOHe8cGIYPMY70mz7mdA-983PZyQq0gizB~of56Q4bIAPmCJDqDQnCD8RLBf0uKXYTcW6qB7TWWOaolhPmMw8G9XPinjafasiOWlE7IQC-zvEs3BTa-TixqpjgOL9fSVgX-M8PcxGLzDGSl5wdka6xg1~DLxZu1Y72hT87proj1ySajwTGTlFl1jiJdIs9SRIOwv21QYiTUdU5yLJfUq~n0sv7~UrgqTmZ3bAkSzxy8N6Yf01ZkLHuLVLTIG2~OQAz4c5p2e9yjgm1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-05-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Committee on Natural Resources voted to adopt technical and substantive amendments and to report Senate Bill 193 by Chairman Henskins as substituted. Secretary Tyler Gray of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources told the committee the draft is \"the culmination of the past 18 months of work\" and said it aims to modernize agency structure, increase transparency and make the agency \"solutions oriented.\"

Secretary Gray and department counsel outlined three core aims of the substitute: (1) update organizational names and titles across statute (changing some assistant secretaries and undersecretaries to director roles), (2) streamline and reduce the number of appointees (from nine to three in some offices), and (3) strengthen internal financial controls and oversight for funds tied to oil‑field site restoration and other mineral‑energy activities. Blake Canfield, the department's executive counsel, described technical drafting fixes and said some changes responded to requests from the Division of Administration (DOA).

Committee clerk Mr. Wilson read a set of technical amendments (No. 1434) that the committee adopted without objection; the committee also adopted substantive Amendment No. 1244 after departmental staff described its changes. That substantive amendment revised definitions (including \"expedited permit processing\" and \"employee\"), repealed a now‑sunsetted Cross‑Unit Lateral Well Study Commission, and added provisions requiring that monies in the Natural Resources Financial Security Fund be invested in the same manner as the general fund as provided in statute 33.2955. The amendment also directs, with Mineral and Energy Board approval, that monies may be transferred between the Natural Resources Financial Security Fund and the Mineral and Energy Operations Fund under the oil‑site restoration law, and it changed a prior $950,000 expenditure cap to the department's federally approved indirect cost rate or, if none exists, to 15% of direct costs.

The department said the Natural Resources Trust Authority will manage a newly described financial‑security component intended to help the state address orphaned wells and other legacy liabilities. Secretary Gray explained the goal is to \"move up\" state involvement so the liability of plugging abandoned wells does not fall entirely on the state at the end of a well's life cycle. Deputy Secretary Dustin Davidson said the bill also establishes a Natural Resources Commission to meet quarterly so agencies can coordinate on resource quality and quantity and on federal rulemaking.

Public testimony was mixed on parts of the substitute: several supporters — including representatives from TSC Energy and Enbridge, and encouragement from the Lieutenant Governor's office — filed cards in support or for information. Kathy Waskin of the Louisiana Environmental Action Network testified in opposition to aspects of the substitute that would move the Capital Area Groundwater Commission and SPARTA under the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR), saying the commission has built a role since 2011 in monitoring the Southern Hills aquifer and that the legislative auditor had previously recommended stronger verification of pumping beyond self‑reporting. Waskin asked that stakeholders from the Capital Area Groundwater Commission remain actively engaged in drafting implementation details.

After discussion and staff responses, the committee adopted the amendments and reported SB193 by substitute with no recorded objection; the measure will advance to the Senate for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Natural Resources May 08, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Committee on Natural Resources adopted technical and substantive amendments and reported Senate Bill 193 as substituted, a broad reorganization and modernization of the state natural‑resources agency that changes job titles, consolidates oversight of oil‑site restoration funds and adds new financial‑security provisions for orphan wells.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature LA, Louisiana","taxId",78558,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6242566,"Senate committee reports SB36, a carbon sequestration bill, out with amendment",35,101000,136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3247669-0c137bc6b86be2b742884f1e50778c23&start=101&end=136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3247669-0c137bc6b86be2b742884f1e50778c23/thumbnail_101000.jpg","/articles/6242566/Louisiana/Senate-committee-reports-SB36-a-carbon-sequestration-bill-out-with-amendment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6242566-9d0b820c5281069da26688aebcb20277/orig.mp4?Expires=1772878242&Signature=kQDBcqO~kaWrzMfLdukRPU2CLt-pLlNZ-msT~Qq20LsirA9OLjeqe7aNE5qS8J3RVEddmf5aRQAvkXCRpnpw8LwBIfipIEgq2jFg-fvzS10gguYiRHMTDD5p5TV2c1vPVWn2sq74eoh1Z3HOUb~Jk5HtcH8DBLFUWpqMuhcs~oGk53keulUw1tCi-XrnLznQeZFK9eswxYs2NoQOJGKM9syGVAy24cQeFdN9VCBo-~lKKceqYC533iv0SxDY4un~iJ9exKPrsnzSWnmZ66diavgx7ybFnuucZDICyt~~dGIrZTsX~Z6ih0CAIjZptPcSmOtgjCTt8LOO~9f~VAIMag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Henskins said the committee would take up Senate Bill 36 first and asked to keep the measure \"close at hand\" by reporting it \"as amended.\" With no objections from committee members, the motion to report SB36 as amended carried and the committee clerk recorded supporting cards in the hearing record.

The bill was described by the clerk as providing \"for carbon sequestration.\" Chairman Henskins told the committee the measure was a \"carbon copy\" of a bill earlier passed from the same committee during the first week of the session and that he wanted it on \"subject to call\" in case the Senate needed it later. No testimony or debate on substantive differences was recorded in the hearing.

Because the committee voted to report the bill as amended without objection, SB36 will move forward in the legislative process for further consideration by the full Senate.","The Senate Committee on Natural Resources voted without objection to report Senate Bill 36 as amended; the measure, described as mirroring earlier legislation by Senator Reese, addresses carbon sequestration.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6242560,"Senate committee hears broad opposition to SB124 Scenic Rivers changes; bill deferred for further work",3207,2247000,5454000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3247669-0c137bc6b86be2b742884f1e50778c23&start=2247&end=5454","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3247669-0c137bc6b86be2b742884f1e50778c23/thumbnail_2247000.jpg","/articles/6242560/Louisiana/Senate-committee-hears-broad-opposition-to-SB124-Scenic-Rivers-changes-bill-deferred-for-further-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6242560-ffea785a77710383d117ad1df73594fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1772878242&Signature=BjsI7E9Upd-S92tsnjDAvVCnTQvPyjwuGpvcGJd-ebj8G7U4zdyJTmSeqYFfMScQG90-GUlY6JMnvwHAsJbymG7zSXdgiiHA3qiwESfl0dsdjXF~QZBxb6zwQptW3fT8GoBwJRmbkLMmfxx6qetWVhTM15xodTXx4u2KCOqW4VUwgblITqGLMqfMv-8S4drnG0vqaTsaj7wGi3tleA06ViTDY7xSq0~9b3ZyFqPM-U81aYGYa0joQwx~UHRCJIs2W2IvKgMEzl9ANbYcRhk72t7-1GKCNlFULVk52mYMUixe3uEMOf-LhZYh3LpWB5Ifle87bUb7cD8dqS6115hOdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 124 by Senator Owens, which would modify the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act and remove or exempt certain waterways from protections to allow dredging, rechannelization and cleanup in the West Pearl River basin, drew extensive public testimony on both sides before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources agreed to defer the bill for further work.

Senator Owens said his intent was to clear log jams, remove debris and address severe silting that he and parish officials said has increased in recent years, and described a proposal that — as amended during the hearing — focuses primarily on the West Pearl River and would allow a temporary removal of scenic‑river restrictions for an eight‑year period to permit larger restoration projects. Committee staff read Amendment No. 1380, which removed several water bodies from the proposed declassification list and added seven water bodies to the Scenic Rivers Act; the committee adopted that amendment without objection.

Testimony opposing the removal of scenic protections was led by Emily Buxton, director of external affairs for The Nature Conservancy, who noted the Louisiana Scenic Rivers program was created in 1970 and now includes roughly 3,000 miles of designated waterways. Buxton warned that \"rivers are connected systems\" and said removing sections risks \"increased flooding in nearby communities, bank erosion, loss of ecological diversity, and habitat loss,\" and urged the committee to \"vote no for this bill.\" Additional opponents — including homeowners, local environmental groups and representatives of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and North Shore River Watch — described concerns that the change was being advanced without the studies the Scenic Rivers Act typically requires and that an eight‑year blanket exemption is too long and could allow unintended harmful actions.

Supporters included the Lieutenant Governor's office and St. Tammany Parish officials; Vicky Milius said the lieutenant governor \"believes this bill represents a meaningful step toward reducing the risk of future flooding in Saint Tammany.\" Parish officials and the bill author said the Scenic Rivers permitting process can slow needed cleanup projects, limit dredging to partial actions in practice and impede work such as getting equipment to bridges that require repair. Committee counsel and LDWF general counsel Cole Garrett described administrative nomination and declassification processes and the normal permitting path through LDWF and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, noting there are administrative pathways for temporary exceptions and that other rivers have received limited time‑bound exceptions in the past.

Senators on the committee suggested additional study and stakeholder coordination would be appropriate. After additional public comment and a floor scheduling warning, Senator Jenkins moved to defer SB124; the motion passed with no objection and the bill was deferred for further work.

Committee members asked the author and stakeholders to return with more specific engineering plans, Corps coordination, and a clearer delineation of the precise work that proponents seek to do under any exception or authorization,\" rather than a broad, long‑duration declassification, before the bill is scheduled again.","Senate Bill 124, which would remove certain waterways from the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act (including a focused proposal affecting the West Pearl River) and allow an eight‑year exemption for specified cleanup and rechannelization work, drew substantial public testimony opposing declassification and was deferred to allow more stakeholder work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances substitute for SB193 to reorganize Natural Resources and tighten oversight of oil‑site funds

Senate committee reports SB36, a carbon sequestration bill, out with amendment

Senate committee hears broad opposition to SB124 Scenic Rivers changes; bill deferred for further work