The state mineral leasing process utilizes the Louisiana Coordinate System of 1927, the system of plane coordinates established for defining and stating the geographic positions or locations of points on the surface of the earth within the state of Louisiana. LSA-R.S. 50:1. The nominating party shall use bearing, distance and X-Y coordinates based on the Louisiana Coordinate System of 1927, North or South Zone (as applicable), to accurately and clearly describe the nominated acreage.

i. Determine Whether the Acreage to be Nominated Falls into the North Zone or the South Zone of the Louisiana Coordinate System of 1927

The nominating party shall determine whether the acreage to be nominated falls in the North Zone or the South Zone of the Louisiana Coordinate System of 1927. A single nomination may contain acreage that falls partially in the North Zone and partially in the South Zone. However, the nominating party shall allocate the nominated acreage to the zone wherein the majority of the acreage falls and use that zone’s coordinates.

Parishes constituting the North Zone:  Avoyelles, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, DeSoto, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll, and Winn. LSA-R.S. 50:1(C).

Parishes constituting the South Zone:  Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemine, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana. LSA-R.S. 50:1(D).

ii. Allocate a Group of Contiguous Nominations to the Same Zone

In the event that a nominating party wants to submit a group of contiguous nominations (for the purpose of these guidelines, “contiguous nominations” are defined as nominations that touch boundaries or touch corners) with some falling in the North Zone and some falling in the South Zone, he shall allocate all of the nominations to the zone wherein the majority of nominations fall and use that zone’s coordinates throughout the group.

iii. Exception to Use of the Louisiana Coordinate System of 1927

A nominating party is excepted from using the Louisiana Coordinate System of 1927 only if the acreage to be nominated is not susceptible of or has another type legal description not translatable into a description using bearing, distance and X-Y coordinates based on the Louisiana Coordinate System of 1927. Examples of such acreage may include some School Indemnity Lands, Tax Adjudicated Lands, Vacant State Lands, Section 16 School Lands, and State Agency Lands, which are often legally described by Section/Township/Range or by lot or parcel.

If the acreage to be nominated falls under this exception, the nominating party is allowed to provide the legal description of the property as provided in the title deed wherein the state or state agency acquired its ownership interest in the property.

A party interested in nominating state or state agency lands or water bottoms for mineral lease shall nominate acreage from only one (1) lands and water bottoms category in a single nomination. For example:

• A single nomination shall not contain both acreage that falls under the state lands and water bottoms category Offshore and acreage that falls under the state lands and water bottoms category Inland, thereby crossing over the Louisiana coastline as decreed by the United States Supreme Court in that litigation styled United States v. State of Louisiana et al.
• A single nomination shall not contain both acreage falling within a Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Area and acreage falling outside of it.
• A single nomination shall not include both acreage identifiable by X-Y coordinates (e.g. Inland category) and acreage identifiable only by Section/Township/Range or lot or parcel (e.g. some School Indemnity Lands, Tax Adjudicated Lands, Vacant State Lands, Section 16 School Lands, and State Agency Lands).

i. When There Are Multiple Tracts under One (1) Lands and Water Bottoms Category

Should a party want to nominate multiple tracts that fall under one (1) lands and water bottoms category, he may nominate each group of contiguous tracts (for the purpose of these guidelines, “contiguous tracts” are defined as tracts that touch boundaries or touch corners) in a single nomination. Any non-contiguous groups or a single non-contiguous tract shall be nominated separately.

1) Exception

Should a party want to nominate state acreage that falls within the Pass-A-Loutre Wildlife Management Area where state owned acreage is mixed with privately owned acreage, he may nominate the state acreage, whether contiguous or not, in a single nomination.

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