Ground Water

State Ground Water Commission meets in Minden

The Louisiana Ground Water Commission met at a special north Louisiana venue Thursday to hear and discuss reports provided by staff on ground water protection efforts focused in that part of the state.

Specifically, Ground Water Resources staffers with the state Office of Conservation reported on the use the state has been making of new enforcement powers provided by the state Legislature in 2008.

Act 581 of the 2008 regular legislative session provided the office of the Commissioner of Conservation with the authority to give compliance orders and assess civil penalties in cases of violations of state regulations on ground water management.

Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle, chairman of the Ground Water Commission, said Thursday that Ground Water Resources staffers have begun the first round of compliance audits, focused on north Louisiana water wells.

“This new tool provided by state lawmakers has given us a means to take stronger action than ever before in monitoring and protecting one of our most vital natural resources – our ground water,” Angelle said.

In two areas of particular recent interest – northwest Louisiana where exploration companies are drilling natural gas wells in the Haynesville Shale formation and in the area of the Sparta aquifer, which is designated as an area of ground water concern – the Office of Conservation has issued 157 compliance orders and 36 notices of violation to various well owners for failure to comply with state regulations or orders of the Commissioner of Conservation.