OFFICE OF MINERAL RESOURCES (OMR)
SPECIAL NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Virtual Public Hearing Notice
Thursday, November 12, 2020 via Zoom at 2:00 p.m.
Please be advised that because it is prudent and necessary in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the extreme risk of person-to-person transmission and allow for public participation, all in accordance with Governor John Bel Edwards’ Proclamations during this pandemic, the Office of Mineral Resources (OMR) will hold a Public Hearing on November 12, 2020 virtually regarding an Operating Agreement.
The Public Hearing notice can be accessed here. OMR will utilize the online platform Zoom for staff and public participation and to live-stream the hearing publicly.
At such hearing, public comments will be heard relative to the entry of an Operating Agreement for storage of hydrocarbons beneath State property in the Lake Bistineau Field Gas Storage Unit, including portions of Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 21 and 22, Township 16 North, Range 10 West, Bossier and Bienville Parishes, Louisiana. Any person having an interest in the subject matter of the hearing shall be entitled to be heard.
The live-stream information for this meeting will be available here beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2020.
To view the certification to hold a video conference meeting, click here. For questions regarding the virtual Public Hearing, please e-mail Byron Miller at Byron.Miller@la.gov.
Note: The operating agreement, certification and the on-line location for the streaming video of this meeting will be added to this notice once finalized.
Virtual State Mineral and Energy Board Meeting
Wednesday, October 14, 2020 via Zoom at 9:15 am
Please be advised that because it is prudent and necessary in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the extreme risk of person-to-person transmission and in order to establish a quorum and allow for public participation, all in accordance with Governor John Bel Edwards’ Proclamations during this pandemic, the State Mineral and Energy Board (Board) will hold its October 14, 2020 Board Meeting virtually.
The meeting’s agenda can be accessed here. The Board will utilize the online platform Zoom for Board Member and public participation and to live-stream the Board Meeting publicly. Public comments will be accepted during the live-stream of this meeting.
To submit a comment, please use the chat feature at the bottom of the web page or when the Chairman of the Board requests public comments, please verbally request to speak, state your name, and wait to be recognized by the Chairman. Written comments will be read aloud during the comment period for the applicable agenda item.
The live-stream information for this meeting will be available here beginning at 9:00 am on Wednesday, October 14, 2020.
To view the State Mineral and Energy Board’s certification to hold a video conference meeting, click here. For questions regarding the virtual Board Meeting, please e-mail Byron Miller at Byron.Miller@la.gov.
Note: The meeting’s agenda, certification and the on-line location for the streaming video of this meeting will be added to this notice once finalized.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zoom App Participation Instructions
- To comment or present to the Board during open session, please use the app’s feature to raise your hand. Your request will be acknowledged and the Chairman will be alerted.
- All microphones must remain muted during the meeting unless acknowledged by the Chairman to make comments in accordance with the request procedure above.
- A private message may be transmitted to the host through the app’s chat link; however, please limit these messages to urgent messages only.
- Please remember to be considerate of all attendees and members of the Board during this meeting or action will be taken to end participation of those not adhering to this practice.
OMR ANNOUNCES ACREAGE RETURNED TO COMMERCE
October 19, 2020
The Office of Mineral Resources announced 672.707 acres have been released and returned back to commerce. This acreage is located in Avoyelles, Bienville, Iberia, Natchitoches, Plaquemines, Red River, St. Landry, Vermilion and Winn Parishes, and is now available for leasing by the public.
Please use the following link for more information:
LATEST RELEASE LIST
SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS REGARDING COVID-19
April 29, 2020
At the Special State Mineral and Energy Board Meeting held on April 29, 2020, the Board granted the following resolutions regarding COVID19 relief to Lessees:
Moratorium on Enforcement (20-04-001)
Covid19 Penalty Waiver (20-04-002)
The Office of Mineral Resources is pleased to announce that the State Mineral and Energy Board approved a new State Lease Form at the October 9, 2019 Board Meeting. The new Lease Form will apply to all leases awarded beginning with the December 2019 Lease Sale. Additionally, the Royalty Reduction Program that was adopted by the Board at its July 10, 2019 meeting, will be effective beginning with the leases granted at the December 2019 Lease Sale.
History of the State Mineral Lease Form and a Discussion of the Proposed New Draft by Jamie S. Manuel
Presented at the 66th Mineral Law Institute Conference held on March 15, 2019
FORCE MAJEURE - May 1, 2020
Download: Force Majeure Memorandum - May 1, 2020
How to Report Force Majeure Online
LEASING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE IN LOUISIANA
September 7, 2018
The Office of Mineral Resources encourages prospective oil and gas companies and industry to review the information provided below regarding leasing opportunities available in Louisiana:
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY
March 19, 2018
The Austin Chalk play in Louisiana has experienced a resurgence in drilling activity. The Office of Mineral Resources encourages prospective oil and gas companies and industry to review the information provided below:
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY MAIN PAGE
RESURGENCE IN AUSTIN CHALK PLAY REPORT
PROSPECTIVE LEASEHOLDER REGISTRATION REMINDER
The Office of Mineral Resources would like to remind all applicants for prospective and current leaseholders of a State Mineral Lease to renew their registration ANNUALLY during the month of November.
Please use the following link for more information:
NOTICE TO ROYALTY PAYORS
Resolution #15-08-012 was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its August 12, 2015 meeting. This Resolution affirms that upon satisfaction of all requirements under the Administrative Procedure Act, OMR Staff is directed to commence assessing to Payors a fee of Sixty-Five Dollars ($65.00) per hour to recoup the costs incurred by OMR for processing requests for reimbursement of overpayments of royalties. This Resolution is effective on all requests for a recoupment received after October 1, 2015.
Resolution #15-08-013 was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its August 12, 2015 meeting. This Resolution affirms that the OMR Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary be and are hereby authorized to evaluate and process penalty waiver requests for penalties assessed pursuant to La. R.S 30:136.B(2) and La. R.S 30:136.B(3) in amounts up to Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00). This Resolution is effective as of October 1, 2015.
Resolution #15-08-014 was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its August 12, 2015 meeting. This Resolution affirms that the OMR Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary process penalty waiver requests for penalties assessed pursuant to La. R.S 30:136.B(2) in accordance with the set protocol. This resolution is effective as of October 1, 2015.
NOTICES REGARDING ASSIGNMENTS
Proposed new Form A, entitled "Acknowledgment and Estoppel Certification", recently noticed for public comment, is currently under revision and will be posted later for further comment.
Similarly, Form D, entitled "Designation of Joint Account Lessee", implemented by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its meeting on September 9, 2015, is under revision based upon concerns raised by industry representatives. For this reason, this form need not currently be included in any request for approval of an assignment or other transfer of interest in a State Lease.
Form B (Statement of Conveyance) and Form C (Certification of Bankruptcy Status) must still be submitted for consideration by the State Mineral and Energy Board with all requests for approval of an assignment or other transfer.
Resolution #15-07-052 was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board at its July 8, 2015 meeting. This Resolution applies to the fee authorized by La. R.S. 30:128 in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for reviewing, researching, and processing requested transfers and assignments of Leases of minerals or mineral rights owned by the State. This fee will be applied to each Lease for which an interest is requested to be transferred or assigned. This Resolution is effective as of July 8, 2015.
This is a change from the fee assessment of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each individual document of conveyance, regardless of the number of Leases to which the document may apply, to a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each Lease within an individual document of conveyance for which a transfer or assignment is requested.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Effective August 1, 2015, Act 362 of the 2015 Regular Legislative Session changed the oil and gas regulatory fund fee from $5.00 to $15.00. The $15 fee for the Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund remains unchanged. Therefore, the $20 per acre fee will now be $30 per acre. A separate check in this amount made payable to the "Office of Mineral Resources" shall accompany the original bid (inside the sealed bid envelope).
LIGNITE LEASE FORM
The new Lignite or Coal Mining Lease Form was adopted by the State Mineral and Energy Board on September 9, 2015.
The State Mineral and Energy Board is considering a proposed new Mineral Lease Form for lignite. A draft of the full text of the proposed lease form may be accessed by clicking here.
Important Information for Bidders
Criteria for Waiver of Liquidated Damages for the Late Release of a State Mineral Lease
Royalty Adjustments Resolution effective 7/14/2010