The Office of Conservation of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources promulgated rule changes regarding regulation of commercial exploration and production (E&P) waste treatment and disposal facilities in Louisiana.

The basis for the regulatory changes began with implementation of a comprehensive E&P waste sampling and analytical testing program implemented statewide as a result of concerns voiced by residents living near a commercial E&P waste treatment and disposal facility in Grand Bois, Louisiana. Upon completion of the statewide testing program, sample results were then validated and statistically analyzed by Louisiana State University to characterize E&P waste received by Louisiana commercial facilities. Following the conclusion of E&P waste characterization, a comprehensive health risk analysis of existing commercial facility operations in Louisiana was finalized by a contract toxicologist and submitted to Conservation with health protective recommendations, thus establishing the impetus for promulgating the regulatory changes.