La. Admin. Code tit. 76 § III-316

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section III-316 - St. Tammany Wildlife Refuge Mineral Lease

A. Whereas, the State Mineral Board has received an application for a mineral lease on the 1,300-acre St. Tammany Wildlife Refuge which is owned and operated by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission; and

B. whereas, the Mineral Board has requested that the commission provide appropriate rules and regulations for inclusion in the advertisement for bids and also in any mineral lease that may be issued on this property; and

C. whereas, this refuge occupies a long narrow strip of marshland bordering the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain; and

D. whereas, a study of the area has revealed that mineral operations under appropriate regulations could be conducted without damage to the surface of the refuge; now

E. therefore be it resolved that the following rules and regulations are hereby adopted by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to be used for the purpose of controlling any mineral operations that may take place on, under, or adjacent to the refuge boundaries.

1. No drilling and production operation or canals shall be permitted on the surface area.

2. All drilling shall be by directional means from Lake Pontchartrain or from adjacent land or waters along the boundary of the refuge.

3. Drilling and production activities in Lake Pontchartrain shall be restricted for a distance of 500 feet along the entire refuge boundary. Access to directional drilling locations in Lake Pontchartrain shall be by most direct route from deep water to prevent excessive damage to aquatic vegetation and erosion to shoal area and shoreline.

4. Lessee shall comply with all rules and regulations of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the State Mineral Board for the protection of game and wildlife, and particularly no hunting, fishing, or any other activity harmful to wildlife shall be permitted on any part of the leased land or any other part of the refuge.

5. All development not otherwise specified above shall be subject to approval of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the State Mineral Board.

6. All of the state and federal pollution control regulations shall be adhered to.

7. The willful or continued violation of any of the aforesaid regulations shall constitute cause for revocation of the lease.

La. Admin. Code tit. 76, § III-316

Promulgated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, LR 3:212 (April 1977).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 56.