Auditor: Oil Companies Pay Too Little For Oyster Damage

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Oil companies that damage the state's public oyster grounds — for example when they drill wells and lay pipelines — are not required to pay enough in compensation to the state, according to a state legislative auditor's report.

This was one of several findings in a Louisiana Legislative Auditor's report released Monday examining payments companies make for damage to public oyster grounds.
The report looked at 411 permits handed out between 2010 and 2014. It found the state charges less than it should for compensation and that compensation had not been paid for 92 percent of those permits as of last October.

The auditor suggested raising fees and getting companies to pay faster.
The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department said it was looking at charging companies more for compensation.

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