One of the more influential oil and gas lobbies in Louisiana is putting its forces behind legislation that would change the way the state addresses contaminated and polluted drilling sites. Legacy oilfield sites have been dragged through the courts and Legislature over the past decade, rarely resulting in a resolution that’s amenable to oilmen, environmentalists, landowners and trial lawyers. The House Natural Resources Committee appears to be the starting point for the next round of debate, over House Bill 563 by Rep. Page Cortez, a Lafayette Republican. The legislation was expected to receive it’s first hearing today.
The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association supports the proposal, which it says would “ensure that expert evaluation and remediation of legacy oilfield site claims take place promptly and that funds said to be needed for remediation are used for that purpose.” In other words, the legislation addresses two sticking points for the energy industry: that money paid out to landowners to address contaminations left behind by drilling operations can be used for a variety of purposes, and the processes used for determining awards. To read the full story, click here. For the rest of 10/12 Corridor Weekly, click here.—Jeremy Alford
