Clean Up The Land

  There has been much confusion and misrepresentation of the facts concerning legislation to clean up environmental damage caused by oil and gas exploration and production activities in our state. The state Senate recently debated the issue an entire afternoon and passed one of the most significant reforms affecting oilfield cleanup in Louisiana’s history.
  Senate Bill 655 by Senator Robert Adley and Representative William Daniel are part of Governor Blanco’s legislative package. These are tough, environmental cleanup bills that mandate the oil companies pay to repair the damage done on private property. The current system is inefficient in that it allows a landowner to keep monies derived from a settlement or judgment of the courts and not apply any of those funds toward cleaning the property. These bills will correct the current system and mandate that the money be used to clean the property.
  Despite rhetoric to the contrary, landowners’ rights to have their property cleaned up are explicitly preserved. Their rights to access the courts are explicitly preserved. The oil companies in no way receive amnesty or a reduction in their liability and the very same standards of cleanup used today are mandated in the legislation.
  In addition, no additional governmental bureaucracies will be created because the Department of Natural Resources already is responsible for regulating contamination at oilfield sites. This department currently has a staff of highly qualified geologists, engineers, hydrologists and other professionals with the technical expertise and experience needed to make sure these high standards are met. As an added bonus, there will be no additional costs for taxpayers because the legislation mandates the offending party pay ALL costs, including those incurred by the Department of Natural Resources.
  The issue of cleaning up environmentally damaged sites has been thoroughly studied for the past three years by legal experts, businesses, landowners, attorneys and government officials. This legislation is the culmination of the good faith efforts of all parties to compromise where needed, yet hold steadfast to one critical element—the land must be cleaned up. SB 655 will do that.

Crowley Post Signal • 602 North Parkerson Avenue • Crowley, LA
Ph: 337-783-3450 • Fax: 337-788-0949