[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6057674,"mediaKeyId","3300627-94f33e84fcfb13a77bd53dc263883628","parentId",3300627,"title","Committee adopts amendment and reports bill restricting weather‑modification activities upward to state enforcement","audioSeconds",3972,"startMs",10405000,"endMs",14377000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3300627-94f33e84fcfb13a77bd53dc263883628&start=10405&end=14377","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3300627-94f33e84fcfb13a77bd53dc263883628/thumbnail_10405000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6057674/Louisiana/Committee-adopts-amendment-and-reports-bill-restricting-weathermodification-activities-upward-to-state-enforcement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057674-706836415ce714aa7fd42fa0d1ad890e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770644535&Signature=QCdf~a38lfW3~AYX-yhSsJYi61O~2nz5KzH2klnHkg8ISP-zMX~ikOLjAkqMUv8vvw2BTK-K5Jds7zfR30lt9-nvJepEEfSXID97phk-k3Q-CBoxFbdAi9oxICaMyv11e4rZ9zAQ1B3ur4u74vEMJMKyj~V7tdqFp2ObSHIPnoI3dMqQgN~dZpB7~3ahvGyLn8vCEHKZELJZZIguhH01j-pfBojZRNiFOHUIXaPUpkir9wBaQYKNR5sijiElo7iU6iTe~JP73x1Hx-UIJfT1br3HAvENYhtmQnf0PcX3yOhTD56sPjUEgDRSMApLhBxiskF~93sOw1fwEz7nzkQBfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-05-14T00:00:00Z","article","The House Natural Resources Committee on May 14 adopted an amendment and reported House Bill 608 favorable. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Tanner Coats, said the measure is designed to clarify and limit weather‑modification activities — including cloud seeding and experimental solar‑radiation work — over Louisiana.

Under the amendment the committee adopted, criminal penalties were removed and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry was named to administer civil enforcement; the committee also eliminated language placing enforcement with the State Police. The changed language makes violations subject to civil fines and administrative enforcement rather than criminal prosecution.

Rep. Coats said she introduced the bill after constituent concern about “research” and modifications performed overhead and noted federal research and patents on geoengineering and stratospheric aerosol injection. The sponsor cited a 2005 Office of Science and Technology Policy directive and a 2021 National Academies report as evidence that federal agencies have discussed solar‑radiation modification research and governance.

Several members of the public testified in favor of a statewide prohibition or moratorium. Rafael O’Neil and other members of civic groups urged legislators to bar atmospheric experiments without public consent; they described perceived risks ranging from changes in precipitation patterns to long‑term environmental and health effects. Evangelical and civic group witnesses said federal guidance on research governance does not substitute for state limits and called for clear notice and consent rules.

Opposition testimony included representatives of several industry and business groups that filed cards but did not speak on the record. Representatives of the Nature Conservancy and Louisiana Wildlife Federation had been present at earlier river‑related hearings and were not primary participants in this item. Committee members noted this is a complex area that touches federal research programs, international law and local environmental statutes.

Why it matters: Weather‑modification work — and the more speculative concept of solar‑radiation interventions — are increasingly discussed in federal and academic circles as possible climate‑mitigation tools. Louisiana’s coastline and agricultural production make it sensitive to precipitation and coastal changes, and some citizens told the committee they want explicit state safeguards.

What’s next: The committee adopted the civil‑enforcement amendment and reported the bill favorable. Sponsors said they will work with Agriculture and with technical experts on drafting refinements before floor action and on whether additional cross‑references to DEQ or NOAA authorization are needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Natural Resources May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Natural Resources Committee on May 14 adopted a civil‑enforcement amendment and reported House Bill 608 — a measure restricting certain weather‑modification activities — favorable to the House floor.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature LA, Louisiana","taxId",78558,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6057685,"House committee backs bill to clarify mineral‑owner rights in carbon sequestration units amid contentious debate",3496,2240000,5736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3300627-94f33e84fcfb13a77bd53dc263883628&start=2240&end=5736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3300627-94f33e84fcfb13a77bd53dc263883628/thumbnail_2240000.jpg","/articles/6057685/Louisiana/House-committee-backs-bill-to-clarify-mineralowner-rights-in-carbon-sequestration-units-amid-contentious-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057685-391230fc83ec1227775f3951c5dddbea/orig.mp4?Expires=1770644535&Signature=XoBQVfH64i4ppKy1DtND45ylF2MwJC51ySzPJsk7pMrD9y0Q~vybCqoAooCsLl84JPj8dEiPNMaIhuZQLFiO8ei04O-qkBlkiaFgQM0f3fe5NTC-ysB7p0lScJ4mqybqrDH92i373saYjT38sSotw3CGNasFoYOhzfhSTYVzgFzVV4471Pm9oosvGKcwCLk6Yv~xw-sLgjgGf7QB7YSG9w76qgDzYDfkS4x3J~E6~FI~s8ZRMyt-h9xrX8PrFVXhQImh~FNeIxhi0qpmMClRm0InADkqr5uG61Cs111a2Orc-IwOimBNAwNq7~YNEX4Tb9bZPaeQjc6oDy3egYTHow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Natural Resources Committee on May 14 reported House Bill 632 favorable after adopting amendments that carve out a Caldwell Parish project and change the compensation standard for mineral servitude owners.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Frank Reiser, responds to disputes over who controls subsurface rights when carbon dioxide (CO2) is injected for long‑term sequestration. Supporters said the bill recognizes mineral owners as stakeholders in unitization, sets a path for compensating owners forced into a sequestration unit and reduces the threat of state‑wide litigation. Opponents argued the proposal would make storage projects more costly, broaden mineral servitude definitions and invite protracted court fights.

Danny Ford, who testified for a group of mineral servitude owners, summarized the bill’s aim bluntly: “This bill does 3 things,” he told the committee, laying out that the measure (1) distinguishes sequestration from enhanced oil recovery, (2) makes mineral servitude owners parties of interest in unitization, and (3) creates a mechanism to compensate mineral owners forced into a unit. Ford and other landowner witnesses said the proposed changes are intended to preserve the value of mineral estates and avoid what they described as “effective condemnation” when injection plumes make future drilling uneconomic.

Department of Energy and Natural Resources officials told the committee the bill is meant to clarify roles, not to stop sequestration projects. Tyler Gray, Secretary of DENR, and Blake Canfield, the department’s executive counsel, testified that the measure is intended to preserve permitting standards while ensuring impacted owners are identified early and compensated where appropriate.

Several oil‑industry and business witnesses opposed key parts of the draft, saying they would push costs up and could deter development. Bob Baumann of Hood & Baumann warned the language’s breadth could allow a single mineral holder to “blackball” a project and that some data the industry regards as proprietary would be exposed under proposed notice and reporting provisions. Other industry representatives said many details — such as how to measure “fair market value” for mineral interests and how to compensate dispersed royalty owners — remain unresolved.

Committee amendments adopted during the hearing created a statutory carve‑out for a specific Caldwell Parish project governed under an earlier, project‑specific statute; changed a compensation reference to “fair market value”; and removed a provision that would have interrupted prescription for non‑use. After debate and public testimony the committee voted to report the bill favorable.

Why it matters: Louisiana is being targeted for CO2 sequestration projects as federal incentives and private investment grow. The bill attempts to balance two policy goals — enabling carbon storage development and protecting existing property and mineral interests — and reflects wider questions about who has decision‑making power under Louisiana property law.

What’s next: With the committee vote the bill moves to the full House. Sponsors and opponents said they will continue negotiations on defining compensation formulas, the scope of owners entitled to notice and whether additional protections should apply to smaller mineral owners who lack legal resources. The committee adopted changes on the record and requested follow‑up work to refine valuation and notice mechanics.

","The House Natural Resources Committee on May 14 reported House Bill 632 favorable after adopting amendments that narrow and clarify mineral‑owner protections in proposed CO2 sequestration units.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6057670,"Committee extends temporary exemption for Bayou Manchac and the Comite River while drawing conservation concerns",2578,6306000,8884000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3300627-94f33e84fcfb13a77bd53dc263883628&start=6306&end=8884","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3300627-94f33e84fcfb13a77bd53dc263883628/thumbnail_6306000.jpg","/articles/6057670/Louisiana/Committee-extends-temporary-exemption-for-Bayou-Manchac-and-the-Comite-River-while-drawing-conservation-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057670-c742196245c54f550a896b28dcdbfc63/orig.mp4?Expires=1770644535&Signature=cLZDrUA~w5RGjeEZ4wfwyjz5-eA9MN2FePL39BI3QsrNgi0JemN-4JadPw4PEgvPWaTqr9LnLhdwMNyF-akDeuaCOopnguQARqa30TKhSNX~p9FZKfMUcJGlCS2DUf6WB7vs-qU85CivdL0LwCwng6B2MFimlnkLMpVIwRAUTwLjMswL4zQbk~BqYYC-bz~--mZQEUnRcXjY9Uc50zJXLqQVj8pvRp4~TNgrmD1YvWFsQjFw836qwO9w57-hmx9pcIJ0oQv5SIGTkMQhjjnbBn-6JXn4MrL3KEfMT9i2Ffe-~-cAtY9QHMUf9phb51oE0UAI4xBnzwb9T9odJK49uA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Natural Resources Committee voted to extend a temporary exemption from portions of the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act that had been applied to Bayou Manchac and the Comite River. The measure, carried by Rep. Mandie Edmonson, removes a near‑term statutory deadline and preserves the status quo while the Amite River Basin Commission and local governments pursue flood mitigation work.

Paul Sawyer, executive director of the Amite River Basin Commission (ARBC), told the committee the commission supports the Scenic Rivers Act but needs more time to access and deploy funding to address chronic flooding. Sawyer said the commission has completed annual and master plans and needs additional time and resources to complete required rulemaking: “We want to do the rulemaking,” he told the committee, “we just need more time.”

East Baton Rouge Metro Councilman Aaron Moak and local officials spoke in favor, saying surgical clearing and snagging on Bayou Manchac has materially reduced flooding in parts of Central and East Baton Rouge Parish. Moak said local pilot removal of woody debris and targeted clearing improved drainage and reduced the recurrence of flood conditions in areas affected by the 2016 event.

Conservation groups — including The Nature Conservancy and the Louisiana Wildlife Federation — opposed a broader, indefinite exemption. Emily Vuxton of The Nature Conservancy said the Scenic Rivers permitting regime already allows certain flood management activities by permit and cautioned that removing statutory protections could lead to bank erosion, habitat loss and unintended downstream impacts. Rebecca Trish of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation told the committee that clearing and bank work, if done without careful permitting and plans, can accelerate erosion and increase sediment deposition.

Committee members repeatedly asked staff and LDWF representatives how the exemption interacts with federal permits and other projects. LDWF legal staff confirmed some federally permitted projects are already exempted (for example the Comite River Diversion Project) and said permitting for clearing and snagging remains possible under the Scenic Rivers program, albeit with a review process designed to protect scenic and habitat values.

Why it matters: The Amite basin has experienced repeated catastrophic flooding, including a 2016 event that killed residents and produced widespread property damage. Local governments say maintaining the ability to clear woody debris and perform surgical dredging is an urgent mitigation tool; conservation advocates say the state must preserve the long‑term ecological functions of scenic rivers by insisting on oversight and permitting.

What’s next: The committee extended the statutory suspension to align with ARBC funding timelines. Sponsors pledged to coordinate with LDWF and local governments to ensure permit reviews and management plans are in place when exemptions expire.","The House Natural Resources Committee extended a temporary exemption allowing certain flood‑mitigation activities on Bayou Manchac (and the statute’s paired reference to the Comite River), saying local authorities need more time to finish planning and to deploy funds.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6057680,"Committee advances bill aimed at speeding remediation of legacy oilfield sites; opponents warn of reduced remedies",2949,10735000,13684000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3300627-94f33e84fcfb13a77bd53dc263883628&start=10735&end=13684","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3300627-94f33e84fcfb13a77bd53dc263883628/thumbnail_10735000.jpg","/articles/6057680/Louisiana/Committee-advances-bill-aimed-at-speeding-remediation-of-legacy-oilfield-sites-opponents-warn-of-reduced-remedies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6057680-988333de20b6237ea4ac3e74201c4a89/orig.mp4?Expires=1770644535&Signature=AFOqqeJ-~bVknHyHch-Q82CyCJ4b4UBXk4ruRCPJnnj5nvlSl1WcCCAc0zKP3300A9RlimM0dIQ26mBRI537tVgpstkwiv4RM4RD2qRvQf36-ulrdtTCTJmCskVD90jeuGwA5AWOTep34ntqiM7bPwhv6ivHe1Pdq3z9uGrRfudyQAK8GMvM3P4A4l1Id4aTR8lV26-nwic9JZUy7GRMw9Wlf9gi-3Cx7w1KX-rLVMIz2WnctV6QqjHzbejMX0xb-45pp5IjM~e4kVkE-aBuPgBkBchmGpl3f6II3c4hF6bWDxAdMaCJA75VmzRRTkysHLb1Uz3qc4bONeaLP94LOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Natural Resources Committee on May 14 reported House Bill 602 favorable after substitute language that emphasizes Department of Energy and Natural Resources review and the use of the most feasible remediation plan.

Sponsor Rep. Jacob Landry told the committee the bill is designed to speed cleanup of legacy exploration and production properties so sites can be returned to productive use. Supporters — including the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association and several landowner groups — said protracted litigation and uncertainty have discouraged investment and delayed remediation efforts.

William Kaufman, an attorney who says he represents small operators and some landowners, told the committee the measure will not “relinquish oil and gas operators from cleaning up any environmental damages.” Logan representatives and energy‑sector witnesses said the bill will give the Department of Energy and Natural Resources clearer authority to approve remediation plans and will preserve the ability of owners to seek contract‑based remedies.

Still, landowners and community witnesses pressed for stronger safeguards. Melinda Brown, counsel for Delacroix Corporation and government affairs chair of the Louisiana Landowners Association, said several features need tightening before landowners can support the measure, including: (1) whether remediation standards should be those in LDEQ’s Recap/29B or another standard; (2) the evidentiary standard for economic damages (the substitute uses a clear‑and‑convincing standard for some non‑remediation damages, which landowners oppose); and (3) how market valuation will be set when leases are old or production has long ceased.

At the hearing, Don Caffrey of the Natural Resources Management Association said the legislation, as revised, would better align incentives and “signal to industry that we are open for business,” while retaining that remediation must take place. Several witnesses urged that anti‑indemnity language be included so legacy liabilities do not get passed to modern, responsible operators.

Why it matters: Louisiana has an inventory of legacy sites that contain old pits, orphaned infrastructure and other potential contamination. How the state balances faster cleanup with full restoration and fair compensation will affect future investment, tax revenue and property values.

What’s next: Sponsors said they will continue stakeholder negotiations on standards and evidence levels before floor consideration. Committee members urged the sponsor to work with landowners, industry and DENR staff to clarify valuation and damage mechanics.","House Bill 602 would streamline cleanup by emphasizing a regulator‑approved remediation plan and clarify damages. Backers say the change reduces litigation and makes sites shovel‑ready for new activity; landowners caution it may cap certain non‑remediation damages and leave owners undercompensated.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee adopts amendment and reports bill restricting weather‑modification activities upward to state enforcement

House committee backs bill to clarify mineral‑owner rights in carbon sequestration units amid contentious debate

Committee extends temporary exemption for Bayou Manchac and the Comite River while drawing conservation concerns

Committee advances bill aimed at speeding remediation of legacy oilfield sites; opponents warn of reduced remedies