LA HB696

Requires CO2 storage facilities and transmission pipelines to have emergency response plans in place before operations begin, with copies provided to parish governing authorities for distribution to homeland security and emergency preparedness agencies

Mandates pre-injection training exercises (tabletop or field) coordinated with emergency responders, plus annual training thereafter, and requires at least one fire department per affected parish to have necessary emergency equipment before injection operations can commence

Replaces semiannual groundwater testing reports with quarterly monitoring of underground drinking water sources, and requires storage operators to have remediation plans for contamination and provide third-party testing of public water systems upon request

Requires storage operators to provide alternative potable water within 24 hours and water safe for other uses within 30 days if contamination renders drinking water unsafe, continuing until independent testing confirms safety

Mandates storage facility operators obtain financial security or insurance payable to each public water system within the area of review, covering remediation costs, equipment damages, and system expenses related to contamination