LAC 43:I.3909. Hearings and Determination of Actual Damage

A. Upon filing of the final biological survey together with a request for arbitration, the board shall call for a hearing to determine the actual damage sustained by the leasehold as a result of the oil and gas activity. The amount of actual damage determined by the board after hearing and review by the secretary shall be due by the owner to the board for the benefit of the leaseholder. If the damage award does not exceed the amount of the deposit made by the owner in accordance with §3907.B and D hereof, the board shall pay the amount of the award out of the deposit, together with interest earned thereon, to the leaseholder, and the balance, if any, shall be paid to the owner, together with interest earned on such balance. If the award exceeds the amount of the deposit the board shall pay the entire amount of the deposit, together with the interest earned thereon, to the leaseholder and shall order the owner to pay the leaseholder the amount of the difference between the award and the deposit together with legal interest thereon from the date of the initial deposit. B. The determination of damage by the board and review by the secretary shall be based on the values shown in the biological surveys and shall reflect true and actual damage.