§209.1. Acquisition of information and data

            A. The right of the State Mineral and Energy Board under R.S. 30:209 shall include the right to acquire and receive, either as owner in its own right or licensee, information and data acquired or processed from geological and geophysical surveys or other operations conducted on any lands, whether public or private, for evaluation, administration, and development of the mineral resources of state-owned properties.

            B.(1) Information and data acquired as authorized by Subsection A of this Section shall be confidential for all purposes consistent with the terms of acquisition and shall be made available only to the State Mineral and Energy Board, and the secretary at the sole discretion of the board, who shall keep such information and data confidential and may use such information and data only in the lawful, official administration and development of publicly owned lands. Whoever knowingly and willfully violates the provisions of this Subsection shall be punished by the penalties provided by R.S. 30:213(B).

            (2) Notwithstanding Paragraph (1), the owner of the information and data with the right to license may give permission, under any restrictions and limitations which the owner may deem necessary, to release such information and data for specific purposes proposed by the state. Any release pursuant to this Paragraph and in compliance with the restrictions and limitations set forth by the owner shall not be a violation of this Subsection.

            Added by Acts 1975, No. 288, §1; Acts 1997, No. 531, §1; Acts 2006, No. 520, §1; Acts 2009, No. 196, §2, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2025, No. 458, §1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.