Louisiana Commissioner of Conservation James H. Welsh has issued effective June 29, 2008, two Emergency Rules regarding drilling safety requirements for oil and gas wells located within the state. The temporary moratorium prohibiting drilling within a quarter of a mile of all Louisiana’s interstate highways is now lifted, he said, and the two emergency rules will be in effect for 120 days.

The Ground Water Resources Program of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Conservation is alerting state agriculture interests to potential options as summer heat builds and near-drought conditions are being reported in the state.

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Conservation will host a presentation for a small group of engineers and oil regulators of the Nigerian Department of Petroleum Resources.

Louisiana Commissioner of Conservation James H. Welsh has issued two new permanent rules and a new policy which combine to give Louisiana some of the most stringent oil and gas drilling safety rules in the country.

Ulf Larres never appeared to be out of place as he reported to work each day for three months at the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources' building. From November 1st to January 31st, he happily showed up at 8 am to begin his work as an inspector with the Injection and Mining division of the Office of Conservation. With a master's degree in mining engineering from the Technical University of Aachen in Germany in addition to his special training from his own workplace –Oberbergamt Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Larres worked quite comfortably with co-workers in charge of approving permits, inspecting oil and gas facilities and other related environmental programs of the agency.