§358. Offices; purposes and functions

A. The purposes for which the offices of the Department of Natural Resources are created shall be as set forth in this Section.

B. The office of coastal management shall perform the functions of the state relative to the coastal zone management program.

C. The office of conservation, in accordance with law, shall exercise the functions of the state with respect to the regulation, conservation, and use of the natural resources of the state which are not specifically within the jurisdiction of other state departments or agencies. Its functions shall include but not be limited to the conservation of the oil and gas resources of the state and matters pertaining thereto; the promotion and encouragement of exploration, production, and refining efforts for oil, intrastate gas, and other hydrocarbons; the control and allocation of energy supplies and distribution; the lease or construction and operation of intrastate pipeline systems; the implementation and enforcement of any emergency gas shortage allocation plan and the setting of priorities; regulation of the minimum sale price of intrastate natural gas, and management of ground water resources all in accordance with applicable laws.

D.(1) The office of mineral resources shall perform the functions of the state relating to the lease of lands and water bottoms of the state for the development and production of minerals, oil, and gas, and supervision of such mineral leases, in accordance with the law, including but not restricted to the exercise of the option of the state to receive in kind the portion due to the state as royalty of any minerals produced and severed from leased premises, and shall receive, administer, and control royalties due in kind to the state in accordance with state law.

(2) Work in cooperation with Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College to maintain current surface and subsurface geological surveys of the state, or otherwise at the discretion of the assistant secretary of the office of mineral resources or his designee; conduct geological mapping; prepare geological hazards assessments and resource inventories; and conduct process investigations and related studies.

E. Repealed by Acts 1983, No. 97, §7, eff. Feb. 1, 1984.

Acts 1976, No. 513, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 83, §1, eff. June 22, 1977; Acts 1979, No. 449, §3, eff. Jan. 1, 1980; Acts 1982, No. 698, §1; Acts 1983, No. 97, §7, eff. Feb. 1, 1984; Acts 1986, No. 581, §3, eff. July 2, 1986; Acts 1989, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 6, §1, eff. July 14, 1989; Acts 1995, No. 95, §1, eff. June 12, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 239, §2; Acts 2003, No. 49, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2009, No. 523, §1, eff. July 10, 2009.

NOTE: See Acts 2009, No. 523, §§9 and 10, relative to transfer of duties and responsibilities to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority and the transfer of business, employees, programs, etc. of the authority and the Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration in the office of the governor.