Office of Mineral Resources

DNR to implement streamlining recommendations

Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Scott Angelle has announced that the department will be cutting more than $1.3 million in annual costs over the next two years to support the state government streamlining efforts.
 
“I appreciate the leadership of Governor Jindal in continuing to make more efficient government a top priority, and the work of the members the Louisiana Commission on Streamlining Government,” Angelle said.

DNR has outlined several major areas for making changes, with the savings in government spending in each area to be recurring after implementation, and has worked with the Commission on Streamlining Government in making preparations.

“My staff and I continuously seek new ways to serve the people of the state more efficiently and to make the best use of the funds we are entrusted with,” Angelle said. “New challenges bring new opportunities for us to find better ways to reduce costs while maintaining high levels of service.”

DNR streamlining recommendations approved by the Commission on Streamlining Government include:

• The Office of Conservation, within DNR, will accelerate its efforts to automate oil and gas production reports, allowing for the elimination of three positions within the Office. The savings realized, beginning in Fiscal Year 2011, will be $106,770 annually.
• The Office of Conservation, within DNR, will advance the process of combining increased inspection periods for oil and gas wells and a bi-annual self-inspection program for those wells. This would allow for the elimination of 10 positions, while increasing the frequency of reporting on the status of wells. The savings realized, beginning in FY 2011, would be about $500,000 annually.
• The Office of the Secretary has already moved to eliminate four positions – an economist with the Technology Assessment Division, an information technology position, an executive counsel position and an accountant – to support mid-year, across-the-board state budget cuts. The savings realized will be $377,923 annually, beginning this year.
• The Office of Mineral Resources, within DNR, will continue its plan to implement the outsourcing of document imaging, allowing for the elimination of two positions, and implement an online state royalty payment system, allowing for the elimination of two additional positions. The savings realized will reach $259,902 annually by FY 2011.
• The Office of Mineral Resources, within DNR, will move forward with plans to integrate some of its audit functions with the state Department of Revenue for audits on royalty payers. The integration will allow for elimination of two positions. The savings realized from FY 2011 on will be $90,000.