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As of Oct. 1, 2025, the Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) has become the Department of Conservation and Energy (C&E). We appreciate your patience as we transition over the coming months. If you cannot find the information needed on this website, please visit our DENR Archive Website or contact us at info@la.gov.
State Mineral and Energy Board Authority
C&E Monthly Newsletter – September 2026
The primary role of Louisiana’s State Mineral and Energy Board is to act as the decision-maker in the leasing of mineral rights for land and water bottoms owned by the state. The Board’s role is not regulatory, and it has no authority over permitting or enforcement of rules related to oil and gas exploration and production or coastal activities. The Board’s authority is financial and administrative, carrying the state’s authority to lease state lands and water bottoms for development and production of minerals such as oil and gas.
State-owned lands include road beds, water bottoms, vacant state lands and land adjudicated to the state at tax sales. The Board can also serve as the mineral leasing body for other state agencies and for smaller state political subdivisions such as parish governments or school boards.
In addition to standard leasing of minerals to well drillers/operators in return for a set percentage of the funding received for the sale of those minerals, the Board can also set up operating agreements that involve payment for use of state lands and water bottoms for things such as carbon sequestration or wind farms.
Board Governance and Duties
C&E’s Office of State Resources (OSTR) provides the staff, under the OSTR Executive Director, to advise the board, negotiate on behalf of the state and carry out day-to-day duties. Each Governor may appoint Board members from industry and related business activity to serve a term concurrent with that of the Governor making the appointment.
The Board has the responsibility of administering all existing mineral leases on state lands to ensure maximum development and production and to ensure full compliance with the terms and conditions of the respective leases.
The Board may:
- Act to recover nonproducing leased acreage
- Annul or amend leases
- Join in pooling and unitization agreements
- Elect to receive in lieu unit production or proceeds or in-kind royalty
- Enter into agreements to recover from royalty underpayment
The Board holds its meetings and state lease sales on the second Wednesday of each month in the LaBelle Room, located on the 1st Floor of the LaSalle Building at 617 North 3rd Street in Baton Rouge.
Check out the recently updated SMEB page on C&E's website for more information.