§ 30:216 — Exclusive geophysical permits

§216. Exclusive geophysical permits
A. An exclusive geophysical permit entitles the holder to the exclusive right to
conduct geophysical or geological surveys of any kind for the term and area specified in the
permit.
B.(1) After receiving an application to conduct exclusive geological or geophysical
survey, the office of mineral resources shall evaluate the prospective area of survey in order
to set the minimum terms which shall then be recommended and presented to the State
Mineral and Energy Board for approval or rejection.
(2) For applications that include 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, the office of mineral
resources shall evaluate the prospective area of survey in order to set the minimum terms
which shall then be recommended and presented to the secretary of the Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries for approval or rejection. If the recommended minimum terms are
rejected by the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the office of mineral
resources in cooperation and consultation with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall
immediately set minimum terms. If the office of mineral resources and the Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries are unable to set minimum terms, the recommendations from both
entities shall be presented for final determination to the State Mineral and Energy Board.
C.(1) Upon setting of the minimum terms, the board may offer by public bid a permit
to conduct geophysical and geological surveys on all or a portion of the lands described in
the application. The board shall publish in the official journal of the state, and in the official
journal of the parish where the lands are located, an advertisement which must appear in
these journals not more than sixty days and no less than thirty days prior to the date for the
opening of bids. The board may publish other such advertisements in its discretion. The
advertisement shall contain a description of the land proposed to be surveyed, the time and
place sealed bids shall be received and publicly opened, a statement that the bid may be for
the whole or any particularly described portion of the land advertised, and any other
information that the board may consider necessary. If the lands are situated in two or more
parishes, the advertisement shall appear in the official journals of all the parishes where the
lands may be partly located. The advertisement and any other published by the board shall
constitute judicial advertisement and legal notice within the provisions of Chapter 5 of Title
43 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
(2) The board may also cause notices to be sent to those whom the board determines
would be interested in submitting bids. Upon the request of the board, the office of mineral
resources shall prepare and mail the notice of publication. A reasonable fee adopted pursuant
to the Administrative Procedure Act to cover the cost of preparing the mailing of the notice
of publication may be charged by the office of mineral resources. On its own motion and
after complying with the policies adopted pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 36:354(A)(2),
or at the request of the secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy, the board
shall advertise for bids for a permit in the same manner as if an application had been made
therefor.
(3) At the time and place mentioned in the advertisement for the consideration of
bids, the bids shall be publicly opened. Bids received by the mineral board may be opened
at any state-owned buildings situated in the city in which the capitol is located. The mineral
board has authority to accept the bid most advantageous to the state and may grant a permit
upon whatever terms the board considers proper. The board may reject any and all bids or
may grant a permit of a lesser quantity of property than advertised and withdraw the
remainder of the property.
(4) If all written bids to survey 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, are rejected, the State Mineral
and Energy Board, with consultation and cooperation with the Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries, may immediately offer for competitive bidding a permit upon all or any designated
part of the land advertised, upon terms most advantageous to the state. On all other state-owned lands, including water bottoms, if all written bids are rejected, the board may
immediately offer for competitive bidding a permit upon all or any designated part of the
land advertised, upon terms appearing most advantageous to the state. These offerings shall
be subject to the board's right to reject any and all bids.

Legislative History

Acts 2000, 2d Ex. Sess., No. 8, §1; Acts 2009, No. 196, §2, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2023, No. 150, §5, eff. Jan. 10, 2024.