§216. Exclusive geophysical permits

            A. An exclusive geophysical permit entitles the holder to the exclusive right to conduct geophysical or geological surveys of any kind for the term and area specified in the permit.

            B.(1) After receiving an application to conduct exclusive geological or geophysical survey, the office of mineral resources shall evaluate the prospective area of survey in order to set the minimum terms which shall then be recommended and presented to the State Mineral and Energy Board for approval or rejection.

            (2) For applications that include lands, including water bottoms, under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, including wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges, public shooting grounds, or outdoor recreation areas, the office of mineral resources shall evaluate the prospective area of survey in order to set the minimum terms which shall then be recommended and presented to the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for approval or rejection. If the recommended minimum terms are rejected by the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the office of mineral resources in cooperation and consultation with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries shall immediately set minimum terms. If the office of mineral resources and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are unable to set minimum terms, the recommendations from both entities shall be presented for final determination to the State Mineral and Energy Board.

            C.(1) Upon setting of the minimum terms, the board may offer by public bid a permit to conduct geophysical and geological surveys on all or a portion of the lands described in the application. The board shall publish in the official journal of the state, and in the official journal of the parish where the lands are located, an advertisement which must appear in these journals not more than sixty days and no less than thirty days prior to the date for the opening of bids. The board may publish other such advertisements in its discretion. The advertisement shall contain a description of the land proposed to be surveyed, the time and place sealed bids shall be received and publicly opened, a statement that the bid may be for the whole or any particularly described portion of the land advertised, and any other information that the board may consider necessary. If the lands are situated in two or more parishes, the advertisement shall appear in the official journals of all the parishes where the lands may be partly located. The advertisement and any other published by the board shall constitute judicial advertisement and legal notice within the provisions of Chapter 5 of Title 43 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

            (2) The board may also cause notices to be sent to those whom the board determines would be interested in submitting bids. Upon the request of the board, the office of mineral resources shall prepare and mail the notice of publication. A reasonable fee adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act to cover the cost of preparing the mailing of the notice of publication may be charged by the office of mineral resources. On its own motion and after complying with the policies adopted pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 36:354(A)(2), or at the request of the secretary of the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the board shall advertise for bids for a permit in the same manner as if an application had been made therefor.

            (3) At the time and place mentioned in the advertisement for the consideration of bids, the bids shall be publicly opened. Bids received by the mineral board may be opened at any state-owned buildings situated in the city in which the capitol is located. The mineral board has authority to accept the bid most advantageous to the state and may grant a permit upon whatever terms the board considers proper. The board may reject any and all bids or may grant a permit of a lesser quantity of property than advertised and withdraw the remainder of the property.

            (4) If all written bids to survey lands, including water bottoms, under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, including wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges, public shooting grounds, or outdoor recreation areas, are rejected, the State Mineral and Energy Board, with consultation and cooperation with the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, may immediately offer for competitive bidding a permit upon all or any designated part of the land advertised, upon terms most advantageous to the state. On all other state-owned lands, including water bottoms, if all written bids are rejected, the board may immediately offer for competitive bidding a permit upon all or any designated part of the land advertised, upon terms appearing most advantageous to the state. These offerings shall be subject to the board's right to reject any and all bids.

            Acts 2000, 2d Ex. Sess., No. 8, §1; Acts 2009, No. 196, §2, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2023, No. 150, §5, eff. Jan. 10, 2024.