§546. General powers to control natural resources and energy

A. The assistant secretary of the office of conservation of the Department of Natural Resources shall have the powers and duties of:

(1) Developing a program for the equitable distribution of energy supplies in Louisiana.

(2) Preparing and implementing plans and procedures to carry out the policies and programs of all federal and state laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the mandatory and voluntary conservation, allocation, rationing, and distribution of energy resources and supplies.

(3) Promulgating regulations for the mandatory allocation of the use and end-use of intrastate natural gas, and of such fossil fuels and other fuels as the state may be directed or requested by the federal government to allocate, ration, conserve, or otherwise control.

(4) Investigating and monitoring the users or end users of hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon products and the commodities produced, processed, or manufactured from hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon products produced or delivered in this state.

(5) Adopting and promulgating rules and regulations requiring the users or end users of hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon products to register with the assistant secretary and report on the use or end use of hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon products in the processing, production, or manufacture of commodities, goods, or services.

(6) Preparing and implementing a natural gas storage plan by which surplus intrastate natural gas and state royalty gas received under validly existing mineral leases granted by the state, is placed in storage, whether above or below the surface of the earth, to be used during periods of shortages or emergencies.

B. The commissioner shall have and exercise all necessary power and authority to supervise, govern, regulate and control the production, transportation, distribution, storage, sale, use and end-use of intrastate natural gas, including the power and authority to supervise, govern, regulate and control intrastate natural gas transporters and all aspects of sales of intrastate natural gas including direct sales to industrial users for fuel or for other uses; provided, however, the commissioner shall have no authority to regulate the sale prices of intrastate natural gas except as authorized by the provisions of this Chapter with respect to prices on reallocated gas and prices under contracts executed after the effective date of this Chapter.

C. The commissioner is empowered to take such actions, and promulgate such rules, regulations, and orders, as necessary to provide for the enforcement of the laws of the United States and regulations of appropriate federal agencies to the extent such enforcement, power, authority and responsibility is delegated to the state, for the mandatory allocation or rationing of natural gas, crude oil, residual fuel oil, refined petroleum products and other fuels.

Added by Acts 1973, Ex.Sess., No. 16, §1, emerg. eff. Dec. 8, 1973, at 9:55 A.M. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 482, §1, eff. July 13, 1977; Acts 1979, No. 617, §1.