LEGIS POWERS/FUNCTIONS: Requests the Department of Conservation and Energy in consultation with the U.S. Geological Survey to create the Earthquake Task Force to study seismic activity in certain parishes and to develop a seismic monitoring strategy for Louisiana.

SLS 26RS-795 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 84
BY SENATOR SEABAUGH AND REPRESENTATIVE BAMBURG
LEGIS POWERS/FUNCTIONS. Requests the Department of Conservation and Energy in
consultation with the U.S. Geological Survey to create the Earthquake Task Force to study
seismic activity in certain parishes and to develop a seismic monitoring strategy for
Louisiana.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 To urge and request the Department of Conservation and Energy, in consultation with the
3 United States Geological Survey, to create the Earthquake Task Force to study
4 seismic activity in Red River, Bienville, Caddo, DeSoto, and Natchitoches parishes
5 and to develop a multipurpose plan for monitoring seismicity in Louisiana.
6 WHEREAS, seismic activity has been reported in and around Red River, Bienville,
7 Caddo, DeSoto, and Natchitoches parishes in recent months, including earthquakes of
8 sufficient magnitude to be felt by residents, damage property, and be detected by regional
9 and national seismic monitoring networks; and
10 WHEREAS, the Department of Conservation and Energy has cooperated with the
11 Red River Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and other
12 entities to monitor the situation and coordinate an appropriate response; and
13 WHEREAS, earthquakes arise from a variety of natural processes, including
14 movement along subsurface faults, regional geologic stresses, and other naturally occurring
15 structural processes; and
16 WHEREAS, seismic events may originate at varying depths and at a distance from
17 potential contributing factors; and
18 WHEREAS, the scientific literature recognizes that certain human activities may in
Page 1 of 5
SCR NO. 84
SLS 26RS-795 ORIGINAL
1 some circumstances contribute to or trigger seismic activity; and
2 WHEREAS, earthquakes of only moderate magnitude have the potential to threaten
3 the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Louisiana and may result in damage to
4 homes, infrastructure, public facilities, pipelines, transportation systems, and other property;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, understanding the geologic structures, fault systems, subsurface
7 conditions, and potential human influences associated with seismic activity is essential to
8 assessing risks and protecting public safety; and
9 WHEREAS, the precise causes, frequency, distribution, and magnitude of seismic
10 events in Red River Parish and surrounding regions have not been fully studied or
11 documented through a comprehensive scientific investigation; and
12 WHEREAS, the Department of Conservation and Energy has begun coordinating
13 with the United States Geological Survey and universities throughout the state to gather
14 scientific data and determine the location, orientation, depth, and extent of active faults,
15 improve ground shaking models, and consider possible causes of the recent seismic activity;
16 and
17 WHEREAS, with the participation of local legislators and landowners in the region,
18 the United States Geological Survey has installed initial seismic monitoring equipment in
19 the Red River Parish region and may deploy additional instruments to improve the ability
20 to detect, locate, and analyze seismic activity; and
21 WHEREAS, the Department of Conservation and Energy, the United States
22 Geological Survey, and Tulane University have conducted investigations and site visits to
23 collect and analyze data related to potential contributing factors to recent earthquakes,
24 including subsurface geologic conditions, nearby faults, and injection volumes associated
25 with regulated activities; and
26 WHEREAS, Louisiana presently lacks a seismic monitoring network to provide
27 location data in near real time, and has no mechanism to facilitate expert assessment of
28 earthquake activity and causal factors in the state; and
29 WHEREAS, enhanced seismic monitoring and scientific analysis are essential in
30 determining the source and characteristics of earthquake activity in the region and in
Page 2 of 5
SCR NO. 84
SLS 26RS-795 ORIGINAL
1 developing recommendations to improve prediction, preparedness, and mitigation of
2 potential seismic hazards; and
3 WHEREAS, cooperation between state and federal scientific agencies would
4 expedite a determination of causes and characteristics and aid in developing
5 recommendations for moving forward.
6 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
7 urge and request the Department of Conservation and Energy, in consultation with Tulane
8 University and the United States Geological Survey, to gather all available data and study
9 the causes and characteristics of seismic activity in the Red River Parish region, and to
10 propose recommendations by written report to the legislature and to the David R. Poynter
11 Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:771 and 772, no later than February 1,
12 2027.
13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge
14 and request the secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy to create the
15 Earthquake Task Force to evaluate the requirements and make recommendations for a
16 multipurpose state-wide seismic monitoring network, to consist of the following members:
17 (1) The secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy, or his designee.
18 (2) The associate director of the United States Geological Survey, Natural Hazards
19 Mission Area, or his designee.
20 (3) The dean of the Tulane University School of Science and Engineering, or his
21 designee.
22 (4) The director of the Red River Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
23 Preparedness, or his designee.
24 (5) The secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, or her designee.
25 (6)The executive director of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, or her designee.
26 (7) The director of the Louisiana Geological Survey, Louisiana State University, or
27 her designee.
28 (8) The president of the Louisiana Landowners Association, or his designee.
29 (9) One member appointed by the governor to represent the oil and gas industry.
30 (10) One member appointed by the governor to represent industrial waste injection
Page 3 of 5
SCR NO. 84
SLS 26RS-795 ORIGINAL
1 facilities.
2 (11) One member appointed by the governor to represent carbon capture and
3 underground storage facilities.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the names of appointees and designees shall be
5 submitted to the secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy no later than
6 August 15, 2026.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the task force shall convene for its first meeting no
8 later than September 15, 2026, at the call of the secretary of the Department of Conservation
9 and Energy, and at the first meeting, the members shall elect a chairman and other officers
10 as the task force may deem appropriate.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the task force shall constitute a
12 quorum for the transaction of business. All official actions of the task force shall require the
13 affirmative vote of a majority of the members present.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
15 without compensation, except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be
16 individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report of the Earthquake Task Force shall
18 be presented at a duly noticed public meeting, which shall be held in Red River Parish no
19 later than March 1, 2027.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall terminate on the date of the
21 presentation of its report or March 1, 2027, whichever occurs first.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
23 secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy, the secretary of the Department
24 of Environmental Quality, and the director and the associate director for Natural Hazards of
25 the United States Geological Survey.
Page 4 of 5
SCR NO. 84
SLS 26RS-795 ORIGINAL
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.
The keyword, summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof
or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
DIGEST
SCR 84 Original 2026 Regular Session Seabaugh
Requests Conservation and Energy, in consultation with USGS, to create the Earthquake
Task Force to study earthquake activity in Red River Parish and surrounding regions and to
design a multipurpose seismic monitoring network for Louisiana.
Page 5 of 5