LEGISLATIVE NEWS
2011 Regular Session . May 18, 2011
Victory for Louisiana landowners -- state, business and private
HB 563, oilfield contamination cleanup 'legacy lawsuits' bill deferred in committee by 10-7 vote
Opponents' testimony was led by attorney Jimmy Faircloth who represented RoyOMartin timber and forestry, which he identified as the largest landowner in Louisiana. Faircloth reminded lawmakers that the two main points about this bill are that it erodes the rights of landowners and that oil and gas operators do not accept the responsibility they already have to clean up any contamination they create. He cautioned legislators about possible "ugly misuse" of this bill in that it would allow oilfield operators to first remediate a contaminated site before any legal claims could be pursued and before discovery would be allowed.
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Legislative information
View live and archived broadcasts of some legislative committee hearings. Go to Legislature's Web portal to view schedules and instructions on how to tune in. Use this same link to contact your legislators, access information about bills, check committee schedules and more.
The session must adjourn on or before 6 p.m. Thursday, June 23, 2011.
2011 Regular Session . May 18, 2011
Victory for Louisiana landowners -- state, business and private
HB 563, oilfield contamination cleanup 'legacy lawsuits' bill deferred in committee by 10-7 vote
After a lengthy hearing that spanned nearly four hours, HB 563 by Rep. Page Cortez was involuntarily deferred by a vote of 10-7 in House Natural Resources Committee. The defeat of this bill is a major victory for landowners in Louisiana.
The target of the bill was to remove judicial oversight from plans for oilfield cleanup sites. That would have given the state Department of Natural Resources authority to prepare a site cleanup plan before any determination of liability and prior to any discovery in court to determine the full extent of contamination. That provision alone would have changed the entire scope of the oilfield contamination cleanup process, changing its judicial oversight to a state regulatory process.
The bill was brought by the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association, LABI and affiliates as their remedy to the so-called "legacy lawsuits." Proponents said the bill was "all about cleaning up the environment" and would address what they perceived as problems with Act 312.
Opponents' testimony was led by attorney Jimmy Faircloth who represented RoyOMartin timber and forestry, which he identified as the largest landowner in Louisiana. Faircloth reminded lawmakers that the two main points about this bill are that it erodes the rights of landowners and that oil and gas operators do not accept the responsibility they already have to clean up any contamination they create. He cautioned legislators about possible "ugly misuse" of this bill in that it would allow oilfield operators to first remediate a contaminated site before any legal claims could be pursued and before discovery would be allowed.
Quick contacts
Senators Representatives
Legislative information
View live and archived broadcasts of some legislative committee hearings. Go to Legislature's Web portal to view schedules and instructions on how to tune in. Use this same link to contact your legislators, access information about bills, check committee schedules and more.
The session must adjourn on or before 6 p.m. Thursday, June 23, 2011.