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SCR 84

LEGIS POWERS/FUNCTIONS: Requests the Department of Conservation and Energy in consultation with the U.S. Geological Survey to create the Earthquake Task Force to study seismic activity in certain parishes and to develop a seismic monitoring strategy for Louisiana.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dennis Bamburg and 1 co-sponsor

A Louisiana Earthquake Task Force would study seismic activity in Red River Parish and nearby areas to develop a multipurpose statewide seismic monitoring network and report findin

Read by title, amended, concurred in by vote of 82 yeas, 2 nays.
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Bill Summary · SCR 84

Summary of SCR 84 ( Louisiana, 2026)

Main purpose

  • Urge and request the Department of Conservation and Energy (C&E), in consultation with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), to create an Earthquake Task Force.
  • The Task Force would study seismic activity in Red River Parish and surrounding regions and develop a multipurpose statewide seismic monitoring network for Louisiana.
  • The measure also directs the Task Force to deliver a written report with recommendations by February 1, 2027, and to hold a public meeting in Red River Parish no later than March 1, 2027. The Task Force would terminate on the date of the report or March 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

Key provisions and changes

  • Scope of study area: Red River Parish and surrounding parishes (including Bienville, Caddo, DeSoto, and Natchitoches).
  • Partnership and expert involvement:
    • Department of Conservation and Energy (DCE) to lead, in consultation with USGS and Tulane University.
    • Inclusion of several stakeholders on the Earthquake Task Force (details below).
  • Earthquake Task Force composition (10 members, plus designees):
    1. Secretary of the DCE (or designee)
    2. Associate Director of USGS, Natural Hazards Mission Area (or designee)
    3. Dean of Tulane University School of Science and Engineering (or designee)
    4. Director of the Red River Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (or designee)
    5. Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality (or designee)
    6. Executive Director of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation (or designee)
    7. Director of the Louisiana Geological Survey, LSU (or designee)
    8. President of the Louisiana Landowners Association (or designee)
    9. One governor-appointed member representing the oil and gas industry
    10. One governor-appointed member representing industrial waste injection facilities
    11. One governor-appointed member representing carbon capture and underground storage facilities
  • Appointee timelines: Names/designees must be submitted to the DCE secretary by August 15, 2026.
  • Meetings and governance:
    • First meeting no later than September 15, 2026, at the secretary’s call.
    • Task Force to elect a chair and other officers at its first meeting.
    • Quorum requires a majority; official actions require a majority vote of those present.
    • Members serve without compensation, except for per diem or expense reimbursements allowed by their organizations.
  • Output and reporting:
    • The Task Force must present its report at a publicly noticed meeting in Red River Parish no later than March 1, 2027.
    • The report should include findings and recommendations on seismic activity causes, characteristics, and a plan for a multipurpose monitoring network.
  • Timing and statutory notes:
    • The bill requires the Task Force to operate within a defined timeline and to terminate upon presentation of the report or by March 1, 2027.
    • The resolution directs coordination with Tulane University and USGS and references data gathering, site visits, and consideration of potential contributing factors (e.g., subsurface conditions, nearby faults, injection volumes).

Who is affected

  • State agencies: Department of Conservation and Energy, Department of Environmental Quality.
  • Federal partner: United States Geological Survey.
  • Academic and research institutions: Tulane University (and LSU Louisiana Geological Survey) involved in data collection and analysis.
  • Local stakeholders: Red River Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness; Louisiana Wildlife Federation; Louisiana Landowners Association; oil and gas industry representatives; industrial waste injection facilities; carbon capture and underground storage entities.
  • Louisiana residents: Indirectly affected through potential improvements in seismic monitoring, risk assessment, preparedness, and mitigation strategies.

Procedural and timeline highlights

  • August 15, 2026: Appointee/Designee names due to DCE.
  • September 15, 2026: First Task Force meeting scheduled.
  • March 1, 2027: Public presentation of the Task Force report (in Red River Parish).
  • February 1, 2027: Written report to the Legislature and the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library (as required by the resolution).
  • Task Force terminates upon report presentation or March 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

Note

  • This is a concurrent resolution urging administrative action and does not itself create new laws or appropriations. It sets up a formal advisory body and a reporting timeline to inform legislative decision-making.

If you’d like, I can provide a one-page briefing with a concise bullet-point synopsis for policymakers or a lay-friendly version for public outreach.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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