A. The State Mineral and Energy Board shall have exclusive authority to grant exclusive and nonexclusive permits to conduct geophysical and geological surveys of any kind on state-owned lands, including water bottoms. No person shall conduct a geophysical or geological survey on state-owned lands, including water bottoms, without obtaining a permit. These permits shall be granted pursuant to rules promulgated under the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. No permit shall be granted covering lands over which the state has a mere servitude without consent of the owner of the abutting property.

            B. Any person desiring a permit to conduct geophysical and geological surveys of any kind on state-owned lands, including water bottoms, shall submit an application in writing to the office of mineral resources.

            C. Any application that includes prospective areas on lands, including water bottoms, under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, including wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges, public shooting grounds, or outdoor recreation areas, may be rejected by the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for ecological reasons and the rights of lessors and donors.

            D. After deposit to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund as required under the provisions of La. Const. Art. VII, § 9(B) , the following amounts shall be deposited as follows:

            (1) An amount equal to the amount received from geophysical and geological survey on lands, including water bottoms, under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, including wildlife management areas, wildlife refuges, public shooting grounds, or outdoor recreation areas, shall be immediately deposited into the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund established by Article VII, Section 10-A of the Constitution of Louisiana, or other funds as may be required by law, deed, or acts of donation.

            (2) Of the amount received from nonexclusive geophysical and geological surveys conducted on all other state-owned lands and water bottoms, twenty percent shall be deposited into the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund and the remainder deposited into the Mineral and Energy Operation Fund created by La. Rev. Stat. 30:136.3.

            (3) Of the amount received from exclusive geophysical and geological surveys conducted on all other state-owned lands and water bottoms, five dollars per acre shall be deposited into the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund and the remainder deposited into the Mineral and Energy Operation Fund created by La. Rev. Stat. 30:136.3.

            Amended by Acts 1954, No. 175, §1; Acts 2000, 2d Ex. Sess., No. 8, §1; Acts 2003, No. 993, §1, eff. July 2, 2003; Acts 2009, No. 196, §2, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2023, No. 150, §5, eff. Jan. 10, 2024.