Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Agency name	Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Formed	1979
Jurisdiction	Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Headquarters	Baton Rouge
Chief1 name	Secretary of the Environment
Chief1 position	Secretary

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is a state-level administrative agency responsible for environmental protection functions in Louisiana. The agency administers air quality, water quality, waste management, and permitting programs affecting Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, and other communities across Louisiana. It operates within frameworks established by federal statutes such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act while coordinating with agencies like the United States Environmental Protection Agency and state entities in Louisiana State Legislature.

Overview

The agency's remit covers regulatory activities for industrial operations in regions including the Mississippi River Chemical Corridor, Calcasieu Parish, St. James Parish, and Iberia Parish. It issues permits under frameworks like the National Ambient Air Quality Standards and collaborates with entities such as the Louisiana Department of Health, Louisiana Economic Development, Department of Transportation and Development (Louisiana), and regional planning commissions including the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority. It engages stakeholders including corporations such as Entergy, Dow Chemical Company, Shell Oil Company, and community groups proximate to sites like Lake Pontchartrain, Avon Lake, and the Bonnet Carré Spillway.

History

Origins trace to state environmental reform movements influenced by national events including the Cuyahoga River fire and actions by figures such as Richard Nixon leading to creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency; the agency evolved alongside legislation like the Superfund program and state statutes passed by the Louisiana State Legislature. Key historical interactions involved industrial incidents near Port Fourchon, litigation referencing doctrines from the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, and regional responses to disasters including Hurricane Katrina and Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Administrative changes occurred under governors including Edwin Edwards, Buddy Roemer, Kathleen Blanco, Bobby Jindal, and John Bel Edwards, shaping policy toward wetlands conservation referenced in contexts such as the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act.

Organization and Leadership

Leadership has included appointed secretaries reporting to governors of Louisiana and coordinating with the Louisiana State Civil Service system. Organizational divisions mirror federal counterparts: Air Quality Division, Water Permits Division, Waste Permits Division, and Enforcement Division, interacting with offices like the Attorney General of Louisiana and boards such as the Louisiana Environmental Education Commission. The agency liaises with municipal entities including the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, regional bodies like the Lower Mississippi River Conservancy District, and academic partners at institutions such as Louisiana State University, Tulane University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Southern University.

Functions and Responsibilities

It issues permits for stationary sources under programs tied to New Source Review and Title V of the Clean Air Act, manages wastewater discharge permits under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, oversees hazardous waste manifests under RCRA Subtitle C, and administers corrective action processes akin to Superfund site remediation. The agency conducts ambient monitoring at sites along the Mississippi River, coordinates spill responses with the United States Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and contributes to coastal resilience projects influenced by the Coastal Zone Management Act. It supports planning initiatives under the Gulf of Mexico Alliance and intergovernmental arrangements with Federal Emergency Management Agency in disaster recovery.

Programs and Initiatives

Major programs include air emission reduction initiatives in industrial corridors like Norco, Louisiana and Convent, Louisiana, water quality improvement projects in watersheds such as the Atchafalaya Basin and Tangipahoa River, and brownfield redevelopment programs referencing Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Community right-to-know publishing aligns with Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act requirements and interacts with nonprofit partners such as the Louisiana Environmental Action Network and Sierra Club chapters. Collaborative research programs link to federal efforts like the National Institutes of Health environmental health studies and university centers including the LSU Coastal Ecology Institute.

Enforcement and Compliance

Enforcement tools range from administrative orders and civil penalties to negotiated settlements and litigation handled with the Office of the Attorney General of Louisiana. High-profile compliance actions have involved facilities operated by corporations like Phillips 66, Valero Energy Corporation, and ExxonMobil in parishes such as Jefferson Parish and Plaquemines Parish. The agency uses inspection protocols compatible with Occupational Safety and Health Administration expectations and consults with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding endangered species impacts. Compliance assistance includes training with trade groups like the Louisiana Chemical Industry Association and grants under programs similar to federal Section 319 nonpoint source pollution control.

Budget and Funding

Funding streams include state appropriations authorized by the Louisiana Legislature, permit fee revenue, and federal grants from agencies like the United States Environmental Protection Agency and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Budget cycles reflect fiscal policies overseen by the Division of Administration (Louisiana) and are affected by economic sectors represented by the Petroleum Institute and Port of New Orleans activity. Supplemental disaster funding has been provided after events such as Hurricane Isaac and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and capital projects often coordinate with programs like the State Revolving Fund for water infrastructure improvements.

Category:State environmental agencies of the United States Category:Environment of Louisiana