Louisiana Environmental Ambassadors Program (LEAP)

In 2024, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) launched the Louisiana Environmental Ambassadors Program (LEAP). Now more than ever, Louisiana needs dedicated environmental professionals. As an intern in LEAP, interns will gain knowledge beyond the classroom, skill development, the opportunity to explore career paths, and the chance to contribute to a sustainable future. Students will experience real-world opportunities in environmental management, accounting, communications, environmental law and more. This program provides exposure to encourage students to pursue environmental and related careers.

LEAP engages students at graduate and undergraduate levels in fields of study and provides students with challenging work experience and exposure to the environmental regulatory processes and the business operations of a governmental entity.

Programs within LEAP include Environmental Sciences and Engineering including Permitting; Surveillance, Enforcement and Emergency Response; Accounting and Finance; Support Services; and Audit Services.

LEAP Press Releases

LDEQ welcomes 12 students through its inaugural LEAP 

LDEQ and LWC Join Forces in an LDEQ Internship Program

2024 LEAP Interns

 

LDEQ welcomed its first LEAP cohort on June 3, 2024. This group of 12 bright students represents seven universities from undergraduate and graduate studies across Louisiana. 

This year's participants are:

Alana Aidoo
School: Louisiana State University
Major: Environmental Management Systems
Office and Division: Office of Environmental Compliance CRO (Capital Regional Office)
Project Lead: April Wallace

Brilanne Bays
School: Louisiana Tech University
Major: Computer Science
Office and Division: Office of Environmental Compliance – Enforcement Division
Project Lead: Angela Marse

Alexis Bertrand
School: McNeese State University
Major: Biology
Office and Division: Office of Environmental Compliance ARO (Acadiana Regional Office)
Project Lead: Carl “Corey” Schwartzenberg

Mackenzie Berzas
School: Tulane University 
Major: Public Health
Office and Division: Office of Environmental Compliance ARO (Acadiana Regional Office)
Project Lead: Carrick Boffy

Jonathan Campbell
School: University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Major: Biology
Office and Division: Office of Environmental Compliance  – Emergency and Radiological Services
Project Lead: Kevin Borne

Noah Coughran
School: Louisiana State University
Major: Master – Business Administration
Office and Division: Office of the Secretary – Audit Services
Project Lead: Cy Morin

Recheal Naa Dedei Armah
School: Southern University & A&M College
Major: Ph.D. – Urban Forestry, Environment & Natural Resources
Office and Division: Office of Management and Finance –
Support Services
Project Lead: Jason Smith

LeJaune George, Jr.
School: Xavier University 
Major: Accounting
Office and Division: Office of Management and Finance – Financial Services
Project Lead: Anne Fulton

Nathan Mahoney
School: Louisiana State University
Major: Civil Engineering
Office and Division: Office of Environmental Services – Waste Permits
Project Lead: Martin Perilloux

Yesenia Travis
School: Louisiana State University
Major: Coastal Environmental Science
Office and Division: Office of Environmental Services – Permit Support Services
Project Lead: Tonya Landry

Duy Trinh
School: Louisiana State University
Major: Chemical Engineering
Office and Division: Office of Environmental Services – Air Permits
Project Lead: Bryan Johnston

Ian Washington
School: Southern University & A&M College
Major: Agribusiness
Office and Division: Office of Management and Finance – Financial Services
Project Lead: Theresa Delafosse

Internship Highlights  

• Real-world work experience in environmental management: learn how to write a permit, how to perform a facility inspection, and how to deal with environmental emergencies
• Gain marketable skills valuable to public and private entities
• Receive mentoring from agency professionals on existing projects
• Educational seminars with environmental professionals 
• Periodic educational excursions related to Agency activities
• Collaborate and network with students from other universities 

LEAP Opportunities

LEAP students will have the opportunity to work in the following LDEQ areas: 

Surveillance

Surveillance inspects facilities for compliance with their permits or other authorizations and responds to complaints. Surveillance activities include mandated compliance inspections, incident and complaint investigations, and water sampling.

• Assist inspectors with preparations for inspections; perform inspections and complaints including facility tours, documentation and report writing; and conduct regulatory research for compliance
• Perform water quality sampling, calibrate and maintain equipment
• Complete incident reports for businesses and facilities

Waste Permitting

Waste Permits Division (WSTPD) ensures the protection of the soil and groundwater resources by issuing permits and standards that are protective of human health and the environment. WSTPD performs comprehensive technical reviews of permit requests and regulatory determinations for generators, processors, and disposers of solid and hazardous waste. 

• Complete biennial report on hazardous waste management capacity
• Establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for engineering report evaluation
• Study the impact of waste compaction at Type III Landfills
• Assist with statistical analysis and groundwater protection standards

Emergency Response

The Emergency and Radiological Services Division responds to chemical and environmental emergencies, provides a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for reporting spills and complaints to the Department, and provides administrative services for radiation sources. Emergency Response (ER) conducts monitoring at incidents where chemicals have been released or have the potential to be released into the environment or to affect public health.

• Assist responders with responses and complaints
• Calibrate and maintain equipment
• Perform follow-up site visits/clean-up confirmations
• Transport equipment across the state to other regional offices

Enforcement

Enforcement ensures compliance with the environmental permitting laws and regulations and to deter future non-compliance by issuing the appropriate enforcement actions, thus encouraging a level playing field. Enforcement activity strives to ensure that the government, the private sector, and the public comply with federal and state laws designed to protect human health and the environment and sustain the environmental resources of the state.

• Tracking and monitoring required by EPA to administer the Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (LPDES) program
• Code permits and enforcement actions in EPA's database
• Conduct compliance reviews of referrals from the public and divisions within the agency
   

Internal Audit

Audit Services conducts performance, operational, investigative, and financial audits of the operations of the Department. Also, Audit Services audits those private entities that do not appear to be paying fees to the Department on a self-reporting basis.

• Assist with LDEQ's Annual Risk Assessment survey and report
• Request, research, and analyze internal data
• Edit and proofread internal audit reports, briefing memos, presentations, and correspondence

Contact Information

If you have any questions about LEAP, please reach out to our team at leap@la.gov.