§217. Unauthorized geological surveying on lands of another; registration requirements; penalties

A.(1) No person shall conduct geological surveys for oil, gas, or other minerals by means of a torsion balance, seismograph explosions, mechanical device, or any other method whatsoever, on any land, unless he has obtained the consent of either the owner or the party or parties authorized to execute geological surveys, leases, or permits as provided in the Louisiana Mineral Code.

(2) "Owner" as used herein shall not include a person or legal entity with only a surface or subsurface leasehold interest in the property.

(3) Whoever violates this Subsection shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more than six months, or both.

B.(1) Prior to entering onto any property, the person wishing to conduct geological surveys for oil, gas, or other minerals, by means of a torsion balance, seismograph explosions, mechanical device, or any other method whatsoever, shall file with the office of the clerk of court of either parish where such geological surveying is to be conducted, along with the necessary filing fees, written notification of his intention to conduct such exploration operations, which shall include the surveyor's name and address, the parish, and a map clearly designating the area to be surveyed and the identity of the assessed landowner of such property and the person or entity granting the permit to survey such property as well as the estimated time period of such operation.

(2) Upon receipt of such notification of intention, the clerk of court in each parish shall maintain copies of same in the regular oil and gas record books. If no oil and gas records are kept, such intentions shall be filed in the mortgage record books.

(3) A copy of this information, along with a certified copy of the filing, shall be transmitted by certified mail or hand delivered, by the person wishing to prospect for oil, gas, or other minerals, to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and to the assessed landowner.

(4) If the geological surveyor is a corporation, partnership or other form of legal entity, filing shall be in the name of the legal entity, and the names and addresses of the employees shall not be required.

(5) Whoever violates the filing requirements of this Subsection shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars.

Amended by Acts 1977, No. 639, §2; Acts 1980, No. 435, §1; Acts 1983, No. 662, §1; Acts 1995, No. 296, §1.