Meet LDEQ’s Brownfield Team!

Mar 04, 2020

 

Some of you remember Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s (LDEQ’s) dynamic Brownfield duo of “RogerandDuane” who were instrumental in establishing and growing LDEQ’s Brownfield Program including securing funding to address environmental issues at Brownfield sites and supporting local Brownfield Programs throughout Louisiana. After 27 years at LDEQ including managing the Brownfield Program for 12 years, Roger Gingles tried out retirement without much success. In 2017, Gingles returned to LDEQ where he now serves as the Assistant Secretary of the Office of Environmental Assessment. After 30 years with the Department, Duane Wilson transitioned last year into semi-retirement, now serving as the Brownfields and Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) Advisor to the new Brownfields/ VRP Team: Rebecca Otte and Jennifer Schatzle. 

Rebecca is passionate about restoring vacant, abandoned properties and revitalizing communities. After completing her degree in Civil Engineering at Valparaiso University and spending two years as Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, West Africa, she returned to California to start her career in Environmental Engineering at Miller Brooks Environmental in Huntington Beach, CA, conducting environmental assessments and cleanups at a variety of sites including commercial properties, gas stations, and school sites. In 2003, Rebecca moved to New Orleans to pursue her passion for historic preservation and urban planning at the University of New Orleans. While at UNO, Rebecca served as a graduate assistant at the Regional Planning Commission for southeast Louisiana, coming on fulltime in 2005 and eventually moving her way up to Environmental Programs Director. Rebecca took on the RPC’s fledgling Brownfield Program and over the next 15 years grew it into a dynamic resource for the New Orleans metropolitan area. In December 2018, Rebecca joined LDEQ to oversee the statewide Brownfield and VRP Program, assisting local Brownfield coordinators facilitate their programs, administering the state’s Targeted Brownfield Assessment Program, and organizing workshops and events to promote the use of Brownfield resources throughout the State.  

Joining LDEQ in 2018 as an Environmental Scientist Supervisor, Jennifer brought a wealth of knowledge and experience working on both Brownfield and VRP sites throughout Louisiana. After graduating with a degree in Toxicology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Jennifer worked as an environmental consultant for over 15 years, conducting and overseeing a variety of Brownfield and VRP projects including the Lincoln Theater in Baton Rouge, Westwego City Hall, and Wallace Community Center in Raceland.  In 2019, Jennifer transitioned into the role as LDEQ Brownfields and VRP Technical Liaison, providing technical assistance and oversight to State and local Brownfield Projects and assisting sites through the Voluntary Remediation Program process. Her background in navigating EPA funding requirements, including developing All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) compliant Phase I environmental site assessments (ESAs), Quality Assurance Project Plans, and Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives, as well as her extensive knowledge of LDEQ’s Risk Evaluation/ Corrective Action Program and VRP makes her a critical resource for addressing environmental issues at vacant and abandoned properties to facilitate their reuse.

The Brownfield Team is available to assist with your Brownfields and Voluntary Remediation Program projects and outreach. You can reach the Brownfield Team via the email address: brownfields@la.gov. We look forward to working with you to revitalize vacant and abandoned properties in your communities!