Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires companies to give public notice of proposed hydraulic fracturing.

Highlights:

• Requires operations involving hydraulic fracture stimulation in a parish in which such stimulation has not occurred to give public notice of intentions to seek a permit from the Office of Conservation of the Department of Natural Resources (Sec. 1).

• Requires the operation to issue the following notices (Sec. 1):
• A total of 2 published notices on separate days in the official journal of the parish where the operation is proposed;
• A total of 2 published notices on separate days in another newspaper with a larger circulation than the official journal; and
• A total of 1 press release for all newspapers with “substantial distribution” and area broadcast media. 

• Requires that the published notices meet the following criteria (Sec. 1):
• They are placed in a section of a newspaper other than the classifieds or public notice section; 
• They are formatted in a box with a bold outline; 
• They are printed in bold face type; and
• They are in a box of at least 2 inches by 4.

• Requires the operation to provide notice to the following individuals at least 30 days prior to applying for the permit (Sec. 1): 
• The governing authority of the parish where the proposed operation would be located; 
• The governing authority of each municipality within a thirty mile radius of the proposed operation;
• The members of the legislature who represents in whole or in part the parish where the proposed operation would be located; and
• The appropriate oversight committees.

• Requires the operation to conduct a comprehensive study of the benefits and burdens of the proposed operation on the economy and development of the area and compile a report of the findings (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the operation to provide proof of compliance with the public notice provisions to the Office of Conservation of the Department of Natural Resources (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the Office of Conservation of the Department of Natural Resources to do the following after receiving an operation’s application for a permit (Sec. 1): 
• To conduct a public hearing on the application in a centrally located, easily accessible location;
• To issue a notice of press release regarding the public hearing to newspapers and broadcast media;
• To provide for a comment period of at least 30 days following notice and before the public hearing; and
• To summarize all public comment in a report submitted to the legislature.

Full Bill Text