RS 1107 - Certificates of public convenience and necessity; certificate of completion of injection operations
A. The commissioner shall issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity or a certificate of completion of injection operations to each person applying therefor if, after a public hearing pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 30.6, held in the parish where the storage facility is to be located, he determines that it is required by the present or future public convenience and necessity, and such decision is based upon the following criteria; (1) the proposed storage facility meets the requirements of R.S. 30:1104(C) and (2) the proposed storage facility meets the requirements of any rules adopted under this Chapter. However, if any person has previously been issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity or a certificate of completion of injection operations by the commissioner, that certificate continues to remain valid and in force.
B. The commissioner shall issue a certificate of completion of injection operations to the operator applying therefor, if after a public hearing pursuant to R.S. 30:6, it is determined that such operator has met all of the conditions required for such certificate, including the requirements of R.S. 30:1109.
C. Anything in this Chapter, or in any rule, regulation, or order issued by the commissioner under this Chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, accepting or acting pursuant to a certificate of public convenience and necessity or a certificate of completion of injection operations issued under this Chapter, compliance with the provisions of this Chapter, or with rules, regulations, or orders issued by the commissioner under this Chapter, or voluntarily performing any act or acts which could be required by the commissioner pursuant to this Chapter, or rules, regulations, or orders issued by the commissioner under this Chapter, shall not have the following consequences:
(1) Cause any storage operator or carbon dioxide transporter of carbon dioxide for storage to become, or be classified as, a common carrier or a public utility for any purpose whatsoever.
(2) Subject such storage operator or such carbon dioxide to storage transporter to any duties, obligations, or liabilities as a common carrier or public utility, under the constitution and laws of this state.
(3) Increase the liability of any storage operator or carbon dioxide for storage transporter for any taxes otherwise due to the state of Louisiana in the absence of any additions or amendments to any tax laws of this state.
Acts 2009, No. 517, §2.