Bills aimed at preventing sinkholes pass out of committee

Source: Assumption Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - Nearly nine months after a massive sinkhole was discovered in southeast Louisiana, lawmakers are taking steps to make sure a similar scenario doesn't happen again.

Two bills introduced by state Rep. Karen St. Germain, D-Plaquemine, would address the operation of mines and caverns within a salt dome. One would require companies to update information, like the location of caverns within the salt dome, while the other would regulate the mines and wells in caverns in the salt dome.

St. Germain said those two measures need to be in place to prevent another Bayou Corne-type incident from happening.

"We're definitely behind the eight ball, but we're definitely going to get that eight ball in the hole," she said. "It needs to be done now and for the future of Louisiana. All the bills that we're doing are a direct effect from this sinkhole."

The bills passed through the House committee on natural resources without opposition and were introduced to the House floor Thursday.

Debate is expected next week.