§ 170-410. Oil, gas and other mineral activities.

(a)

Guideline 10.1. Geophysical surveying shall utilize the best practical techniques to minimize disturbance or damage to wetlands, fish and wildlife and other coastal resources.

(b)

Guideline 10.2. To the maximum extent practicable, the number of mineral exploration and production sites in wetland areas requiring flotation access shall be held to the minimum number, consistent with good recovery and conservation practices and the need for energy development, by directional drilling, multiple use of existing access canals and other practical techniques.

(c)

Guideline 10.3. Exploration, production and refining activities shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be located away from critical wildlife areas and vegetation areas. Mineral operations in wildlife preserves and management areas shall be conducted, in strict accordance with the requirements of the wildlife management body.

(d)

Guideline 10.4. Mineral exploration and production facilities shall be to the maximum extent practicable designed, constructed and maintained in such a manner to maintain natural water flow regimes, avoid blocking surface drainage, and avoid erosion.

(e)

Guideline 10.5. Access routes to mineral exploration, production and refining sites shall be designed and aligned so as to avoid adverse impacts on critical wildlife and vegetation areas to the maximum extent practicable. Once access routes are no longer needed, the site, to the extent possible, will be restored to its original condition.

(f)

Guideline 10.6. Drilling and production sites shall be prepared, constructed, and operated using the best practical techniques to prevent the release of pollutants or toxic substances into the environment.

(g)

Guideline 10.7. All drilling activities, supplies, and equipment shall be kept on barges, on drilling rigs, within ring levees, or on the well site.

(h)

Guideline 10.8. Drilling ring levees shall to the maximum extent practicable be replaced with smaller production levees or removed entirely.

(i)

Guideline 10.9. All drilling and production equipment, structures, and storage facilities shall be designed and constructed utilizing best practical techniques to withstand all expectable adverse conditions without releasing pollutants.

(j)

Guideline 10.10. Mineral exploration, production and refining facilities shall be designed and constructed using best practical techniques to minimize adverse environmental impacts.

(k)

Guideline 10.11. Effective environmental protection and emergency or contingency plans shall be developed and complied with for all mineral operations.

(l)

Guideline 10.12. The use of dispersants, emulsifiers and other similar chemical agents on oil spills is prohibited without the prior approval of the Coast Guard or Environmental Protection Agency On-Scene Coordinator, in accordance with the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan.

(m)

Guideline 10.13. Mineral exploration and production sites shall be cleared, revegetated, detoxified and otherwise restored as near as practicable to their original condition upon termination of operations to the maximum extent practicable.

(n)

Guideline 10.14. The creation of underwater obstructions which adversely affect fishing or navigation shall be avoided to the maximum extent practicable.

(Code 1956, § 15A-28(j))

State law reference

Enforcement, R.S. 49:214.36(B), (C).