Governor Bobby Jindal announced Feb. 17 the appointment of Harold “Hal” Leggett to the Ground Water Resources Commission.

The Ground Water Resources Commission serves to review and approve or reject any orders of the commissioner of conservation placing restrictions on wells upon petition by the owner of the affected well. Additionally, the commission is charged with developing a statewide ground water resource management program and reviewing the contingency plan developed by the commissioner of conservation to respond to a ground water emergency.

According to the statute, the commission is comprised of nineteen members, including the governor, the commissioner of conservation, the commissioner of agriculture and forestry, the secretary of the Department of Economic Development, the secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, the secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, the director of the Governor’s Office of Coastal activities or their designees. The remaining ten commissioners are the following gubernatorial appointments:

• One geologist or engineer with expertise in ground water resource management;

• One member selected from nominations submitted jointly by the Louisiana Chemical Association, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, and the Louisiana Pulp & Paper Association;

• One member selected from nominations by the Louisiana Farm Bureau;

• One member selected from nominations submitted by the Police Jury Association of Louisiana;

• One member selected from nominations submitted by the Louisiana Municipal Association;

• One member selected from nominations submitted by the Sparta Groundwater Conservation District Board of Commissioners;

• One member selected from nominations submitted by the board of commissioners of the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation District;

• One member who resides or works in the region of the state underlain by the Chicot aquifer;

• One member selected from nominations submitted by the Louisiana Landowners Association; and

• One member selected from nominations submitted by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, and the League of Women Voters.

Harold “Hal” Leggett, of Zachary, is a Senior Manager at HLC, LLC and is the former Secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality. Leggett will be appointed to serve as a member nominated jointly by the Louisiana Chemical Association, the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, and the Louisiana Pulp & Paper Association, as required by statute.