Office of Mineral Resources

Leasing Manual

How to Acquire a Mineral Lease on State and State Agency Lands and Water Bottoms in the State of Louisiana

 

Introduction
   
C. Administration of the State Mineral Leasing Process
   
1. State Mineral & Energy Board, Department of Energy and Natural Resources

The State Mineral & Energy Board was created in 1936 to administer the state of Louisiana’s proprietary interest in minerals. It is a body corporate, domiciled in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with the power to sue and be sued and is composed of the governor and the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, ex officio, and nine members appointed by the governor. LSA-R.S. 30:121.

The State Mineral & Energy Board has authority to lease for the development and production of minerals, oil, and gas any lands belonging to the state, or the title to which is in the public, including road beds, water bottoms, vacant state lands, and lands adjudicated to the state at tax sale. LSA-R.S. 30:124. Additionally, the Board shares the authority for mineral leasing state agency lands with the respective state agencies. LSA-R.S. 30:152, 153. However, only the Board has authority to mineral lease school indemnity lands. LSA-R.S. 30:154(C).

The State Mineral & Energy Board’s office is located in the LaSalle Building at 617 North Third Street, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70802, and its phone number is (225) 342-4615. The Board’s web address is www.dnr.louisiana.gov/mineralboard and its e-mail address is omr@la.gov.

2.

Office of Mineral Resources, Department of Energy and Natural Resources

The Office of Mineral Resources was created for the purpose of performing the functions of the state relating to the lease of lands and water bottoms of the state for the development and production of minerals, oil, and gas, and supervision of such mineral leases. LSA-R.S. 36:358(D)(1). The Office provides the necessary staff functions to assist the State Mineral & Energy Board in its leasing, supervisory, and other activities, and the Office’s assistant secretary serves as secretary to the Board. LSA-R.S. 30:135.

The Office of Mineral Resources is located in the LaSalle Building at 617 North Third Street, 8th Floor, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70802, and its phone number is (225) 342-4615. The Office of Mineral Resources’s web address is www.dnr.louisiana.gov/min and its email address is omr@la.gov.