The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold four public meetings in March to hear ideas on hurricane work across Louisiana.

BATON ROUGE – Officials at the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced a series of public meetings in four coastal regions to be held to finalize a draft of Coast 2050, a strategic plan for sustaining coastal resources with a vision of Louisiana's coast in the year 2050.

The State Mineral Board conducted a Lease Sale June 9, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. in the Mineral Board Hearing Room located in the State Land and Natural Resources Building in Baton Rouge. Below are the preliminary results of the Lease Sale and 1998-99 Fiscal Year totals.

The Commissioner of Conservation issued a draft order today declaring portions of the Sparta Aquifer in north Louisiana to be critical ground water areas. The issuance of the draft order (CGWA-1-04) is the result of an application made by the Sparta Ground Water Conservation District in 2002.

The State Mineral Board conducted a Lease Sale February 12, 2003, at 10 a.m. in the Conservation & Mineral Resources Hearing Room located in the LaSalle Office Building in Baton Rouge. Below are the preliminary results of the Lease Sale and 2002-2003 Fiscal Year totals.

As directed by Governor M.J. "Mike" Foster, the Office of Conservation of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has finalized emergency regulations that call for comprehensive and systematic testing of oilfield waste disposed of in commercial facilities throughout the state. After a recent public hearing and comment period, meetings between intergovernmental state agencies, and participation by a special interest committee, and expert advisors from LSU and elsewhere, DNR Secretary Jack Caldwell said the emergency rule will be promulgated today. Additionally, he said the permanent rules should be promulgated by this summer.

BATON ROUGE—Louisiana Commissioner of Conservation Philip Asprodites today issued a fourth Emergency Rule under Statewide Order No. 29-B to continue validating and analyzing oilfield waste samples for up to 120 days, but imposing tighter restrictions that require produced saltwater and pipeline test water to be stored in closed containers and to be injected in Class II wells. According to Commissioner Asprodites and officials at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), validation and analysis of the waste samples from the state’s commercial disposal facilities are nearly complete and a permanent rule is not far behind. DNR Secretary Jack Caldwell said, “Technical consultants should be forthcoming with the requested health risk analysis. Shortly after we receive that study, Commissioner Asprodites will issue the permanent rule that will determine acceptable storage, treatment and disposal methods of oil and gas exploration and production waste.” Commissioner Asprodites said, “Best management practices based on established E&P waste profiles, specific storage, treatment and disposal practices will lead to the draft of the permanent rule. We’ll then present the new rule in public hearings. We anticipate having a draft plan by spring of this year.” DNR officials issued the first Emergency Rule in May 1998 to gather technical data that would show the chemical and physical makeup of E&P waste disposed at permitted commercial waste disposal facilities across the state. The amended rule can be found on the Internet within the DNR homepage at http://www.dnr.state.la.us/sec/execdiv/pubinfo/newsr/finaler6.pdf Editors: For more information, please contact the Office of Conservation at 225-342-5500 or DNR Public Information at 225-342-4844.

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle visited a pair of Lafayette middle schools this week to teach lessons on DNR’s role in the environment to 8th grade science classes.

The State Mineral Board conducted a Lease Sale August 11, 1999 at 10:00 a.m. in the Mineral Board Hearing Room located in the State Land and Natural Resources Building in Baton Rouge. Below are the preliminary results of the Lease Sale and 1999-2000 Fiscal Year totals. CLASSIFICATION NOMINATED TRACTS NOMINATED ACREAGE LEASES AWARDED NO. OF ACRES AMOUNT OF CASH PAYMENTS Lease Sale August 11, 1999 State Offshore Leases 14 17,580.620 9 2,989.510 $1,235,201.97 State Onshore Leases 25 17,260.490 10 1,418.010 324,256.09 State Dedicated Leases 1 433.330 0 0.000 0.00 State Agency Leases 8 3,142.376 5 1,850.456 74,463.62 TOTAL SALE 48 38,416.816 24 6,257.976 $1,633,921.68 1999-00 Fiscal Year State Offshore Leases 28 39,491.170 15 5,920.500 $1,729,210.29 State Onshore Leases 54 43,343.040 22 3,714.570 753,465.20 State Dedicated Leases 4 5,106.510 2 328.660 183,634.36 State Agency Leases 10 3,800.645 5 1,850.456 74,463.62 TOTAL YEAR TO DATE 96 91,741,365 44 11,814.186 $2,740,773.47 Editors: For more information, please contact the DNR Office of Mineral Resources Gus Rodemacher at 225-342-4607 or Betty Landry at 225-342-4964.

BATON ROUGE -- Gov. M.J. "Mike" Foster Jr. announced today that new Department of Natural Resources' oilfield waste testing rules are ready for public review and input. The new rules require the testing of exploration and production (E&P) waste prior to shipment and further analysis and verification testing upon arrival at the commercial facility.

Gov. M.J. "Mike" Foster Jr. announced today that new Department of Natural Resources' oilfield waste testing rules are ready for public review and input. The new rules require the testing of exploration and production (E&P) waste prior to shipment and further analysis and verification testing upon arrival at the commercial facility.