Founded in 1934 by Act 131 of the Louisiana legislature, the Louisiana Geological Survey is the premier geological research institution in the state of Louisiana. Always housed on the beautiful campus of Louisiana State University, the LGS was originally part of the Louisiana Department of Conservation, later was a division of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, and was transferred by the Louisiana legislature's HB 2353 to Louisiana State University, where it is today a component of the Office of Research and Economic Development. LSU's former Basin Research Institute is now the Basin Research Energy Section of the LGS.