Peigneur bill signed by Gov. Jindal

Senate Bill 754, submitted by Sen. Troy Hebert passed the Senate, House and has been signed by the governor.

The bill that was directly related to ground water usage was presented in the most recent session as a measure to add regulation to water that was planned to be used by AGL Resources to create two new salt dome storage caverns for natural gas storage in Lake Peigneur.

The water was to come from the Chicot Aquifer.

According to the (United States Geological Survey) USGS the aquifer is the sole source of fresh water for southwestern Louisiana and has already shown signs of dropped levels, especially in the area north of Crowley.

A study conducted by the USGS and LSUAgCenter, correlated the data of well pumped at different times of the year for mostly farming purposes showed a range of different level drops, but level drops nonetheless.

According to AGL Resources they are going to continue to seek out a method to create the storage caverns. The creation of the salt dome caverns have to be done with a certain type of water, mostly free of salt to dissolve the salt within.

Spokesperson for Save Lake Peigneur, Inc. Nara Crowley stated her pleasure about the governor’s willingness to sign the bill so quickly.

“It is a very significant thing that he did.”

In addition, Crowley said that if they (AGL) continues to press the issue, “we are going to fight too.”