Local Law Blogs

Local Governments Working on Comprehensive Ordinances for Haynesville Shale

by Gordon D. Polozola

“Shreveport and Bossier City and Caddo and Bossier parishes have been working on a comprehensive set of ordinances to give local governments leverage in controlling drilling in the Haynesville Shale natural gas field,” reports the Shreveport Times. According to the report, “the ordinances are aimed at protecting water, limiting road damage, and controlling noise, lighting and hours of operation at drilling sites. The Shreveport area has taken queues [sic] from Fort Worth, Texas, where the local government drew up similar laws for Barnett Shale production.”

The ordinances are being crafted with input from the various stakeholders in the area, although no draft ordinances have been shared with the public so far. With the reduced price of natural gas, industry participants are being more cautious in their approach to the Haynesville Shale. Will the local governments’ ordinances act to further inhibit Haynesville Shale production? Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association, is encouraging balance in any new ordinances adopted. “I think it’s going to be a balanced, good thing for the communities and for the industry,” said Briggs.

Read the Shreveport Times article here.

For further information go to the Haynesville Shale blog here, hosted by the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association.

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association also has a Haynesville Shale Education Center and is hosting the first ever Haynesville Shale Golf Classic on April 13, 2009, to bring together companies and individuals involved in the Haynesville Shale.

Full post as published by Louisiana Law Blog on February 17, 2009 (boomark / email).