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A.  Any owner of a well that is significantly and adversely affected as a result of the movement of a saltwater front, water level decline, or subsidence in or from the aquifer drawn on by such well shall have the right to file an application to request the commissioner to declare that an area underlain by such aquifer is an area of  groundwater concern.  Such application shall contain a statement of facts, and supporting evidence substantiating the area may be an area of groundwater concern as defined in La. Rev. Stat. 38:3097.2.  On the basis of the application, good management practices, and sound science, the commissioner shall either deny the request, in writing, or issue a draft order which describes the proposed boundaries of the area of groundwater concern.  If the commissioner issues a draft order describing the proposed boundaries of the area, the commissioner shall hold at least one public hearing in the locality of the proposed boundaries.  At least thirty days prior to holding the public hearing, the commissioner shall provide copies of the draft order to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.

B.  After holding hearings, the commissioner shall issue a written decision based on good management practices and scientifically sound data gathered from the application, the participants in the public hearing, and any other relevant information.  If the commissioner has determined that an area of ground water concern exists, his decision shall be in the form of an order that shall describe the boundaries of the area which is determined to be an area of ground water concern.  The order shall also contain a plan to preserve and manage the ground water resources in that area which may include but is not limited to the following:

(1)  Educational and conservation programs.

(2)  Incentives to reduce ground water use.

(3)  If the commissioner designates an area a critical area of ground water concern, the order may restrict the amount of withdrawals by any or all users in the area.  In determining restrictions on withdrawals, the commissioner shall consider the following:

(a)  Ground water needed for human consumption and public health and safety shall have the highest priority.

(b)  Uses other than human consumption and public health and safety shall have equal priority.

(c)  Historical use.

(d)  Ability, including economic ability, of a particular user to relocate to an alternative source of water.

(e)  User’s conservation efforts and actual reductions in water usage, taking into account historic ground water production.

Acts 2003, No. 49, §2, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2005, No. 225, §1, eff. June 29, 2005; Acts 2008, No. 580, §4.

NOTE:  See Acts 2005, No. 225, §2, relative to pending and previous declarations.