To: hughesj@legis.la.gov <hughesj@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Eddie Lambert <lamberte@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Jeremy Stine <sen27@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Patrick Connick <connickp@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Bob Hensgens <sen26@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Robert Owen <sen01@legis.la.gov>; Hon. Thomas Pressly <sen38@legis.la.gov>; sen33@legis.la.gov <sen33@legis.la.gov>; senvq@legis.la.gov <senvq@legis.la.gov>

Sent: Monday, April 15, 2024 at 03:21:25 PM CDT

Subject: OPPOSE SB432

 

Dear Honorable Senators of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee:

Thank you for your work.

I am writing to express my opposition to SB432.

 

Senate Bill 432 aims to undo years of progress to protect our drinking water.

SB 432 removes the authority of the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission to meter wells.
Just recently, the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission (CAGCC) began to meter all the wells pumping water from our aquifer in an effort to better manage our threatened drinking water source. The Baton Rouge Water Company sued to stop this metering.

SB 432 would make it the law that the CAGCC could no longer meter wells that self report, such as the Baton Rouge Water Company. As a reminder, the Baton Rouge Water Company has already acquired river front property to supply drinking water from the Mississippi River when our aquifer is ruined. 

SB 432 gives industrial users more seats on the Commission, increasing their control.
Approximately half of the water being pumped from the aquifer is currently used by a small number of industrial users. SB 432 would give a seat on the commission to:  the Greater Baton Rouge Industrial Alliance, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the Louisiana Chemical Association, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association, and the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association as well as the Louisiana State University Center for Energy Studies.

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT MANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS SUCH AS YOURS AND GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF BUYING VOTES FOR CORPORATE PROFIT.

SB 432 clearly aims to remove protections over our drinking water aquifer and prioritizes industrial interests over the management of our drinking water aquifer.

 

 

 

Thank you for your consideration,