Latest news with #DougHebertIII
American Press
08-07-2025
- Business
- American Press
UPDATE: Allen Police Jury introduces resolution to suspend CO2 permits
ExxonMobil filed a 22-page lawsuit on July 1 in the U.S. District Court Western District in Lake Charles against the Allen Parish Police Jury and Sheriff Doug Hebert III. (Associated Press Archives) The Allen Parish Police Jury has introduced a resolution to suspend the enforcement of a recently adopted ordinance imposing local permitting requirements for carbon capture projects. The decision, made by a 7-to-1 vote with Police Juror Joe Perkins of Reeves casting the lone dissenting vote, comes in the midst of a federal lawsuit that poses a significant financial risk to the parish. ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions Onshore Storage filed the lawsuit against the police jury and Sheriff Doug Hebert III, challenging the ordinance, which ExxonMobil claims is inconsistent with state law and causes delays to state-permitted activities. During a meeting on Monday, police jurors voted to suspend the ordinance and called for a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Aug. 4 to discuss the potential removal of the law and to hear directly from the public. Police Jury President Tony Hebert said the police jury had previously requested an Attorney General's opinion on whether the ordinance would be preempted by state law. However, they have not received an opinion and may never receive one now that it is the subject of a lawsuit, he said. '……This ordinance was passed with the will of the people and meant to protect our land, water, and personal property rights by regulating injection wells,' Hebert said in a released statement. 'But now, the police jury is facing a tough decision, and I want to be transparent with you (the public) about why I think we should pull back on this ordinance.' ExxonMobil claims the ordinance conflicts with state and federal laws. Hebert said after consulting with legal experts and staff, it became clear the parish faces a strong legal challenge that could be costly. 'The truth is, this isn't a fight that can't be won at the parish level,' he said. 'The state of Louisiana and the federal government have already set up regulations for these projects, and our state Constitution says we don't have the authority to go beyond what they've set up.' Hebert noted that while the police jury and residents advocated for stronger state-level laws during the recent legislative session, those bills did not pass. He said the fight remains at the state level. 'I know a lot of you are angry and have legitimate concerns,' he said acknowledging public sentiment. 'ExxonMobil could have and should have worked with us to address our local concerns, but instead, they chose to sue us. They knew that fighting this lawsuit would cost Allen Parish a fortune in legal fees, damages and penalties. And that's money we don't have and money that is legally dedicated to going to things like fixing roads, repairing bridges, and keeping public buildings open and maintained.' He clarified the police jury's intent by stating, '…The police jury passed Ordinance No. 6656 because we care about the health and safety of our people. But now, we're stuck between a rock and a hard place. If we keep fighting, we risk bankrupting the parish and losing the ability to provide essential services. That's not a risk I'm willing to take or a risk I would ask the rest of the jury to take.' While the outcome may not be what many desired, Hebert assured residents that the police jury is committed to protecting its communities. He requested the public's understanding as the parish navigates the challenging situation. 'We're all in this together, and we plan to keep fighting for what's best for Allen Parish,' he concluded.
American Press
07-07-2025
- Business
- American Press
UPDATE: ExxonMobil says Allen Parish's new permit ordinance inconsistent with state law
ExxonMobil filed a 22-page lawsuit on July 1 in the U.S. District Court Western District in Lake Charles against the Allen Parish Police Jury and Sheriff Doug Hebert III. (Associated Press Archives) ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions Onshore Storage is suing Allen Parish officials over local efforts to require a parish permit for all carbon capture sequestration and injection wells. ExxonMobil filed a 22-page lawsuit on July 1 in the U.S. District Court Western District in Lake Charles against the Allen Parish Police Jury and Sheriff Doug Hebert III. The lawsuit challenges the legality and enforceability of a local ordinance requiring a parish permit for carbon capture sequestration and injection well projects, arguing it is inconsistent with state law and delays state-permitted activities. 'Allen Parish's new ordinance requiring a permit for all injection wells is inconsistent with Louisiana law and delays activities permitted by state regulators,' Exxon said in a statement. 'We will continue to engage with Allen Parish, and we look forward to advancing projects that drive community growth and development.' ExxonMobil currently has state approval for two Class V stratigraphic test wells in the parish. If the test wells are successful, the company plans to capture industrial CO2, transport it via pipeline, and store it underground. However, police jurors and local residents are concerned these projects threaten the Chicot Aquifer, a vital drinking water source. The police jury adopted the injection well ordinance (Ordinance No. 6656) in May, aiming to establish local oversight for carbon capture sequestration and injection wells, a matter typically under state jurisdiction. ExxonMobil claims it repeatedly requested but never received a final version of the ordinance from the police jury. Roland Hollins, a member of the Allen Parish Police Jury and chairman of the Louisiana CO2 Alliance, told the American Press on Monday that the police jury requested an expedited Attorney General opinion on its authority to regulate the wells but has not yet received a response. Police jurors are expected to call for a public hearing next month to rescind the ordinance. The lawsuit seeks to declare the ordinance invalid and unenforceable, asserting that it exceeds state laws that the company has already met or will meet. It also requests declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent the enforcement of what it deems an unlawful ordinance. ExxonMobil argues the additional parish permit is both burdensome and redundant, as the state-issued Louisiana Department of Environmental and Natural Resources permit fulfills all necessary requirements. Furthermore, the lawsuit contends that the ordinance jeopardizes current and future carbon capture projects by granting the parish 'complete discretion over whether a permit ever issues and is under no timeline to do so.' According to the lawsuit, state regulators have already approved the construction of the first exploratory Class V test wells at both the Mockingbird and Hummingbird sites. These sites are located east of Oberlin and extend to the Reeves and Elton area. Regulators found that ExxonMobil 'met the interim requirements for permitting,' allowing drilling under strict environmental safeguards. The construction permits require competition by June 23, 2026, a deadline ExxonMobil states it risks missing. ExxonMobil reports having already spent over $75,000 on route surveys, engineering work, and procurement for its pipeline project in Allen Parish. The company indicates it cannot recoup these costs unless the ordinance is nullified and stands to forfeit an additional $75,000 if the project cannot proceed. If the test wells are successful, the company intends to seek a Class VI permit from the state for deep underground carbon dioxide injection, a prospect that continues to be a point of contention for police jurors and residents concerned about the Chicot Aquifer. Hollins, who has been a vocal opponent of these projects, could not comment on the ongoing litigation but affirmed that local residents will continue to oppose carbon capture projects, despite recent legislation that facilitates these projects in Louisiana without local consent.
American Press
07-07-2025
- Business
- American Press
ExxonMobil sues Allen Police Jury over C02 permit ordinance
ExxonMobil filed a 22-page lawsuit on July 1 in the U.S. District Court Western District in Lake Charles against the Allen Parish Police Jury and Sheriff Doug Hebert III. (Associated Press Archives) ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions Onshore Storage is suing Allen Parish officials over local efforts to require a parish permit for carbon capture sequestration and injection wells. ExxonMobil filed a 22-page lawsuit on July 1 in the U.S. District Court Western District in Lake Charles against the Allen Parish Police Jury and Sheriff Doug Hebert III. The lawsuit challenges the legality and enforceability of a local ordinance requiring a parish permit for carbon capture sequestration and injection well projects, arguing it is inconsistent with state law and delays state-permitted activities. ExxonMobil currently has state approval for two Class V stratigraphic test wells in the parish. If the test wells are successful, the company plans to capture industrial CO2, transport it via pipeline, and store it underground. However, police jurors and local residents are concerned these projects threaten the Chicot Aquifer, a vital drinking water source. The police jury adopted the injection well ordinance (Ordinance No. 6656) in May, aiming to establish local oversight for carbon capture sequestration and injection wells, a matter typically under state jurisdiction. ExxonMobil claims it repeatedly requested but never received a final version of the ordinance from the police jury. Roland Hollins, a member of the Allen Parish Police Jury and chairman of the Louisiana CO2 Alliance, told the American Press on Monday that the police jury requested an expedited Attorney General opinion on its authority to regulate the wells but has not yet received a response. Police jurors are expected to call for a public hearing next month to rescind the ordinance. The lawsuit seeks to declare the ordinance invalid and unenforceable, asserting that it exceeds state laws that the company has already met or will meet. It also requests declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent the enforcement of what it deems an unlawful ordinance. ExxonMobil argues the additional parish permit is both burdensome and redundant, as the state-issued Louisiana Department of Environmental and Natural Resources permit fulfills all necessary requirements. Furthermore, the lawsuit contends that the ordinance jeopardizes current and future carbon capture projects by granting the parish 'complete discretion over whether a permit ever issues and is under no timeline to do so.' According to the lawsuit, state regulators have already approved the construction of the first exploratory Class V test wells at both the Mockingbird and Hummingbird sites. These sites are located east of Oberlin and extend to the Reeves and Elton area. Regulators found that ExxonMobil 'met the interim requirements for permitting,' allowing drilling under strict environmental safeguards. The construction permits require competition by June 23, 2026, a deadline ExxonMobil states it risks missing. ExxonMobil reports having already spent over $75,000 on route surveys, engineering work, and procurement for its pipeline project in Allen Parish. The company indicates it cannot recoup these costs unless the ordinance is nullified and stands to forfeit an additional $75,000 if the project cannot proceed. If the test wells are successful, the company intends to seek a Class VI permit from the state for deep underground carbon dioxide injection, a prospect that continues to be a point of contention for police jurors and residents concerned about the Chicot Aquifer. Hollins, who has been a vocal opponent of these projects, could not comment on the ongoing litigation but affirmed that local residents will continue to oppose carbon capture projects, despite recent legislation that facilitates these projects in Louisiana without local consent.
