Emergency Preparedness

DNR joins Haynesville Emergency Preparedness Exercise

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) co-hosted a meeting Thursday with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the Caddo Bossier Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (CBOHSEP) to discuss concerns and issues involved in the ongoing exploration of the Haynesville Shale.

The workshop was held at the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office in Bossier City, and covered a wide range of topics, including existing and potential concerns about well site security, traffic issues, planning for potential mass emergencies and public education.

Attending the meeting were staffers from DNR, GOHSEP, State Police, the state Department of Health and Hospitals, sheriff’s offices, local police, fire departments and districts, and parish and local governments.

Several major natural gas exploration companies working in the Haynesville were also participated in the meeting. Approximately 120 people attended the workshop Thursday.

The meeting included a presentation by Encana on the process of bringing a well from initial acquisition of mineral rights to production, including all likely construction and security concerns that companies and the public might have.

“A meeting such as this is critical to establishing communications not only to prepare for potential emergencies but to help state and local government and industry find solutions for other public concerns as the Haynesville Shale is developed,” said DNR Secretary Scott Angelle. “I am pleased to see such strong turnout from the public and private sector and expect the level of communication and teamwork to continue to be strong.”

CBOHSEP Director Sandy Davis said the workshop was an open forum for concerns and both existing and potential solutions.

“It was just a good open discussion,” he said. “This is the first in what I believe will be a series of meetings and training opportunities between the companies and the government agencies.”

Mike Strong, director of Operational Services for the City of Shreveport, said that the meeting was an excellent start to fostering further communications.

“I think we were able to find out some things on both sides. We learned some things about the industry and they learned some things about governmental agencies,” he said.