Office of Conservation

Welsh Becomes State Commissioner of Conservation

BATON ROUGE—James H. Welsh has been named the new Commissioner of Conservation at the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) starting July 1st. Welsh, who retired from state service with 36 years in the Office of Conservation, was selected by Governor Mike Foster to assume the top job.

Welsh's career history started in 1965, when he was hired as a geologist with the Louisiana Geological Survey. He has expertise in economic geology, subsurface geology, oil and gas unitization, and salt water disposal. In 1983, he directed the newly formed Injection and Mining Division, overseeing the office's environmental programs that included salt water disposal wells, hazardous waste injection wells, E&P waste disposal, salt dome cavern storage, and the surface mining of lignite. In 1996, Welsh became the chief administrative assistant to the Commissioner of Conservation with responsibility for budget, legislative, and personnel matters, as well as for the coordination of technical and policy matters within that office.

Welsh has served as the governor's representative on the Interstate Mining Compact Commission and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. He is accredited with being a chief developer of many environmental portions of Louisiana's Statewide Order No. 29-B. Prior to retiring with state government civil service, Welsh helped with Gov. Foster's establishment of the groundwater management plan and commission.

DNR Secretary Jack Caldwell said he is pleased to see Welsh return as Commissioner. Welsh will oversee a staff of nearly 200 and deal with oil and gas, energy, and environmental issues in the state.

Editors: For more information, contact DNR Public Information Office at 225-342-8955.