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STATE OF LOUISIANA <br /> �F LOp DEPARTMENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE <br /> �w o�,. ,,�,T�sr <br /> �e�� �, �� �q,� LOUISIANA BOARD OF ETHICS <br /> �; „ P.O. BOX 4368 <br /> * * BATON ROUGE, LA 70821 <br /> �ONei�FNc�` (225)219-5600 <br /> •-»o«-� FAX: (225)381-7271 <br /> 1-800-842-6630 <br /> www.ethics.la.gov <br /> March 9, 2026 � <br /> Stephen T 1. Lce <br /> 114 Antley Road <br /> Natchitoch�s, Lot�isiana 71457 <br /> Re: Docket No. 202.5-780 <br /> � Advisory Opinion <br /> Dear Mr. Lee: <br /> Th� Louisiana F3oard of Ethics ("I3oard"), at its meeting on March 6, 2026, considered your <br /> advisoiy opinion request as to tl�e applicability o�f the post-employment restrictions ��nder the <br /> L,ouisiana Code of Goverllmental Etivcs ("Code") in relation to your former employment with tllc <br /> l�.,ouisiarll Depa�rtment of Ener�y and Natural Resources and its new reorganizatioi� as the <br /> I_,ouisiana I)epartment of Conservation and I;nergy. <br /> Fnc'r�s 1'Rov��>r,u <br /> In J�.ine 2013,you became ernployed by the Louisiana Departn�ent of Natura( Resources("LDNI2"') <br /> in tl�e Oftice of C<mservation as tlle Director of the Injection and Mining Division. The Ii�_jection <br /> ancl Mining Division adininistered three progi-ams: the IJnderground Inject�ion Control Program, <br /> the Suri��ce Minirig I'rogram, and the Abandoned Mine I.,ands Progr�m. During your service as the <br /> Injecti�n and Minin�? Division Director, ihe LDNR was renamed the Louisiana Departmcnt of� <br /> I;��er�;y and Natural Resources ("DENR") eftective January 10, 2024. The llE;NR consisted of�six <br /> �>ifices, inclllding the Office of Conservation, and the Of�ice of Conservation consisted of seven <br /> divisions, includin� the 1�njection and Mining Division. You served as the Injection and Mining <br /> Division Director until your retirement on .Ianua.ry 1 l, 2025. <br /> nfter your retirement, the DENR was reorganized anc� renained as the Louisiana Department of <br /> C'�onservation and I;nergy ("LI:)CE") efl�ective October 1, 2025. The LDCE now consists of Che <br /> I�ollowing six ol�fices: 1) Off�ice of l:he Secretary, 2) Oftice of Administratic�n, 3) Ofiice of I:nergy, <br /> 4) Oftice oi' Enforcemel7t, 5) OFfice of Permitting and Compliance, and 6) Oi�tice of State <br /> Rc;sources. As a result o{�the reorganization, LDCE n� longer has the Office o�f Conservation or <br /> the Injection and Mining Division. 7'l�e former dlities, responsibilities, and prograrns aclministered <br /> by t�he now-defunct Injection and Mini�ig Divisioi� were divided and reallocated among the Oftice <br /> of 1=?z�iforcement, the Officc of Permitting and Coi�pliance, and the O�ttice of State Resources, but� <br /> these newly created otfices also administer pr��gralns a.nd oversee responsibilities that were not <br /> prcviously administered by thc f�ormer Injection and Mining Division. <br /> Yage 1 ot 4 (I3D 2025-780) <br /> AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER <br />