§ 30:212 — Permits for surveys on public lands

§212. Permits for surveys on public lands
A. The State Mineral and Energy Board shall have exclusive authority to grant
exclusive and nonexclusive permits to conduct geophysical and geological surveys of any
kind on state-owned lands, including water bottoms. No person shall conduct a geophysical
or geological survey on state-owned lands, including water bottoms, without obtaining a
permit. These permits shall be granted pursuant to rules promulgated under the provisions
of the Administrative Procedure Act by the Department of Conservation and Energy. No
permit shall be granted covering lands over which the state has a mere servitude without
consent of the owner of the abutting property.
B. Any person desiring a permit to conduct geophysical and geological surveys of
any kind on state-owned lands, including water bottoms, shall submit an application in
writing to the office of mineral resources.
C. Any application that includes prospective areas on lands, including water bottoms,
under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, including wildlife
management areas, wildlife refuges, public shooting grounds, or outdoor recreation areas,
may be rejected by the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for ecological
reasons and the rights of lessors and donors.
D. After deposit to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund as required under the
provisions of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, the following
amounts shall be deposited as follows:
(1) An amount equal to the amount received from geophysical and geological survey
on lands, including water bottoms, under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife and Fisheries
Commission, including wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges, public shooting
grounds, or outdoor recreation areas, shall be immediately deposited into the Louisiana
Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund established by Article VII, Section 10-A of the
Constitution of Louisiana, or other funds as may be required by law, deed, or acts of
donation.
(2) Of the amount received from nonexclusive geophysical and geological surveys
conducted on all other state-owned lands and water bottoms, twenty percent shall be
deposited into the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund and the remainder
deposited into the Mineral and Energy Operation Fund created by R.S. 30:136.3.
(3) Of the amount received from exclusive geophysical and geological surveys
conducted on all other state-owned lands and water bottoms, five dollars per acre shall be
deposited into the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund and the remainder
deposited into the Mineral and Energy Operation Fund created by R.S. 30:136.3.

Legislative History

Amended by Acts 1954, No. 175, §1; Acts 2000, 2d Ex. Sess., No. 8, §1; Acts 2003, No. 993, §1, eff. July 2, 2003; Acts 2009, No. 196, §2, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2023, No. 150, §5, eff. Jan. 10, 2024.