LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY | Secretary Aurelia S. Giacometto
A DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
The Louisiana State Soil and Water Conservation Commission (SWCC) was created by the State Legislature in 1938 under Act 370 to develop the LA conservation district program and to establish operational policy, and provide general regulatory oversight of the conservation district program. Although the legislature made significant changes to the make-up of the State Commission in 1956 and in 1985, its functions and relationship with the conservation districts has remained the same since the enactment of Act No. 370 of 1938. The State Commission consists of eight members. The Chancellor of the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry and the President of the Louisiana Association of Conservation Districts are members of the commission by virtue of their offices. The other five members are SWCD supervisors elected by fellow supervisors, one from each of the five State Commission Areas established by the legislature. The make up of the five State Commission Areas is listed in the Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 3, Section 1204.
Reduction of nutrient impairments to our nation’s waters is a top priority for states and interstates. As discussed in detail in the Executive Summary & Overview below, ACWA has a long history of working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) on strategies to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loadings to waterbodies. EPA has continued to emphasize the importance of state adoption of numeric nutrient criteria (“NNC”) as the most effective mechanism for ensuring accountable and verifiable reductions. However, states have long advanced that reductions also are being achieved via a rich mosaic of approaches that vary by state, pollutant of concern, sources, and collaborators. This report provides a high level summary of each state’s current approach to nutrient reduction. This report’s methodology, which was conducted in phases of survey, narrative drafting, and state review, is described below. We are pleased that this report consists of responses from every state and the District of Columbia [hereinafter “state(s)”].
The initial concept for a joint State-EPA review of both existing and innovative approaches to nutrient management was introduced at the 2008 annual summer meeting of the ASIWPCA. Further discussions occurred in October 2008 at EPA's Water Division Directors meeting which included EPA regional and headquarters water managers as well as senior program managers representing ASIWPCA and the ASDWA. At the October meeting, State and EPA surface water and drinking water program managers agreed to form an ad hoc Nutrient Innovations Task Group to identify and frame key nutrient issues, questions, and options on how to improve and accelerate nutrient pollution prevention and reduction at the state and national level. In the report, the Task Group presents a summary of scientific evidence and analysis that characterizes the scope and major sources of nutrient impacts nationally. The report also considers the tools currently used under existing federal authority and presents options for new, innovative tools to improve control of nutrient pollution sources. Finally the Task Group presents findings and suggests next steps needed to better address nutrient pollution.
The National STORET Data Warehouse is a repository for water quality monitoring data collected by federal agencies, states and territories, tribes, volunteer monitoring organizations, and universities. It contains over 70 million records of water quality data from across jurisdictional boundaries.
Permits are required for industrial facilities, construction projects, and MS4 facilities as defined in LAC 33:IX.2511. Construction and Industrial stormwater permits require the development of a stormwater pollution prevention plan as defined by the permits (LAR100000 and LAR050000). The Multi-Sector General Permit for Industrial facilities (LAR05000) assigned benchmark limitations for nutrient parameters in sector C. MS4 permits require the development of a stormwater management plan which requires the MS4 to implement controls to reduce pollutants in discharges.
A compliance program activity, managed and supervised by LDEQ's Enforcement Division. Environmental improvement programs are planned funded, executed and completed by regulated facilities. Programs include conservation and environmental enhancement projects and technical/scientific studies to restore or maintain healthy environmental conditions. Focus is on ecological improvements. List of ongoing project are identified at the website.
Established in LAC 33:IX. Subpart 1. Chapter 11. Establishes surface water quality standards which will: 1. provide for the protection and preservation of the abundant natural resources of Louisiana's many and varied aquatic ecosystems; 2. protect the public health and welfare that might otherwise be threatened by degradation of water quality; 3. protect or enhance the quality of public waters for designated uses; and 4. serve the objectives of the Louisiana Water Control Law and the Clean Water Act. In particular for nutrients, LAC 33:IX.1109 and 1119 (Antidegradation Policy/Implementation, including reference to NPS BMPs) and LAC 33:IX.1113(B)(8) (narrative nutrient criteria).