La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § VII-307

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section VII-307 - Notification to Leaseholder of an Oyster Resource Survey; Procedures and Protocols for an Oyster Resource Survey (Formerly LAC 43:I.857)

A. When appropriate, the secretary shall determine and delineate the potential impact area of a project and in making such decision may consult with the government agency or any public or private entity responsible for the project.

B. When the secretary determines that an existing oyster lease identified in records provided and maintained by DWF may, in whole or in part, be located within the direct impact area of a project, the secretary may conduct an oyster resource survey.

C. The secretary shall notify the leaseholder in writing at least 15 days prior to the oyster resource survey of the potentially affected acreage or potentially affected lease. The notification shall, at a minimum, include the following:

1. a brief description of the coastal protection, conservation, or restoration project, and a plat or map depicting the project and potentially affected lease or potentially affected acreage;

2. a copy of these regulations, R.S. 56:424, and R.S. 56:432.1;

3. the date and time of the oyster resource survey;

4. the name of and contact information for the person conducting the oyster resource survey;

5. a statement that the leaseholder or his designee may accompany the person conducting the oyster resource survey;

6. a statement that the state may acquire the potentially affected lease or potentially affected acreage to be surveyed or sampled, and if so, that the leaseholder will be compensated for any acquired lease or portion thereof in accordance with R.S. 56:432.1 and this Subchapter;

7. the name of and contact information for a person at the department to direct all inquiries regarding the project and the potentially affected lease or potentially affected acreage;

8. a statement that the leaseholder may provide to the department, through the contact person listed in the notice, any reasonably confirmable data or other information relevant to a determination of the compensation for any potentially affected lease or potentially affected acreage, within 60 days after the actual date of the oyster resource survey conducted pursuant to this Subchapter. Failure to provide such data or information within the specified time period may preclude consideration of such data by the secretary, the department, the person conducting the oyster resource survey, or the appraiser appointed thereby;

9. a statement that if the person conducting the oyster resource survey is unable to conduct the survey on the date provided in the notice, that such person will provide notice to the leaseholder of the new survey date and time by appropriate and reasonable means;

10. a statement that the oyster resource survey is to be conducted in the manner set forth under §307. E of this Subchapter; and

11. a statement that the department, the state of Louisiana, political subdivisions of the state, the United States, or any agency, agent, contractor, or employee of any of these entities is not subject to any obligation, responsibility, or liability in relation to or resulting from any surveying or sampling of any oyster lease, information provided to any leaseholder in relation to any surveying or sampling of any oyster lease, the timing of any acquisition of any part of any lease by the state pursuant to R.S. 56:432.1, the lack of acquisition of any part of any lease except as provided by R.S. 56:432.1, or any report pursuant to R.S. 56:432.2 or otherwise.

D. Any written notification from the secretary or the department to the leaseholder of a potentially affected lease or potentially affected acreage in accordance with this section shall be deemed legally sufficient if sent by certified United States mail, postage pre-paid, return receipt requested, or hand delivered, to the last address furnished to DWF by the leaseholder on the date of issuance of notice.

E. Oyster Resource Survey Procedures and Protocol

1. The intent of the oyster resource survey is to obtain information that may include but is not limited to oyster density (via square meter samples), oyster condition, bottom condition, bottom type, oyster standing crop, oyster physiology, oyster mortality, water depth, water temperature, water salinity, and assessment of oyster reef community organisms.

2. Assessment Procedure

a. Should the secretary elect to obtain an oyster resource survey of a potentially affected lease or potentially affected acreage, he may select the person(s) to conduct the oyster resource survey considering all relevant criteria, including but not limited to prior experience, prior performance, demonstrated expert knowledge in the field of oyster biology, and the ability to perform concurrent task orders while maintaining high quality work. The person(s) so selected shall be contracted with by the department pursuant to R.S. 39:1481, et seq., or other applicable public contract law, and shall have the following minimum qualifications:

i. a college degree in biological science, or prior acceptance by a Louisiana federal or state court as an expert witness in the field of oyster biology or oyster ecology; and

ii. five years of professional experience conducting oyster lease surveys and standing oyster crop analyses.

b. Samples should be taken at a minimum within the area of a potentially affected lease delineated by the secretary as the potential impact area of the project for which the oyster resource survey is being conducted.

c. A written assessment of the results of the oyster resource survey shall be prepared.

d. Oyster resource survey methods and procedures used should be stated and identified in the written assessment.

e. Information and data from the oyster resource survey should be compiled, analyzed, and presented in tables, charts, and in a written format along with scale maps indicating the location of the oyster leases in relation to the proposed project, location of sample sites, number and size of both live and dead oysters, oyster size frequency distribution, mortality rates per group, and photographs of oyster samples.

f. An original copy of the written assessment shall be provided to and retained by the department, which may use it in accordance with the appraisal and valuation procedures set forth in these regulations. A copy will be provided to the leaseholder upon written request by the leaseholder to the department.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § VII-307

Repromulgated by the Office of the Governor, Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority LR 412611 (12/1/2015).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 49:213.1, et seq., R.S. 56:424, and R.S. 56:432.1.