2018 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 38 - Public Contracts, Works and Improvements
RS 38:216 - Drainage of oil, salt water, etc. into natural drain prohibited; penalties

§216. Drainage of oil, salt water, etc. into natural drain prohibited; penalties

A. Except as hereinafter specifically provided or as authorized by Stream Control Commission permit, no person shall knowingly and willfully empty or drain into or permit to be drained from any pumps, reservoir, wells or oil fields into any natural stream or drain from which water is taken for irrigation purposes any oil, salt water or other noxious or poisonous substances or gases which would render the water unfit for irrigation purposes or would destroy the fish therein.

B. The prohibitions of this Chapter, however, shall not prevent:

(1) The discharge or drainage of salt water, brine and chemical salts from industrial, oil or mining operations into those portions of natural streams and drains having water which has a normal salt content of more than 110 grains per gallon, to be determined by the daily average for the preceding ten years, measured at any depth not to exceed 12-1/2 feet or into tributaries of such streams which empty into the portions thereof which are excluded from the effect hereof; such water being hereby recognized as unfit for irrigation.

C. Whoever violates this Section shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars or be imprisoned for not less than thirty days nor more than three months. Each and every day that oil, salt water or other such substances are permitted to flow into such natural streams or drains in violation of the provisions of this Section shall constitute a separate offense.

Amended by Acts 1952, No. 203, §1; Acts 1966, No. 497, §1.