Louisiana Environmental Ambassadors Program (LEAP)

The Air Permits Division (APD) ensures the protection of air quality by issuing permits protective of human health and the environment. The APD maintains and protects Louisiana’s environment and natural resources by conducting comprehensive technical evaluations of incoming air permit applications.

• Process applications and prepare appropriate responses for certain basic air permit-related actions
• Prepares letters to rescind permits (when requested by the permittee) and letters approving the appointment of individuals to act as duly authorized representatives for responsible officials
• Completes appropriate TEMPO work activity log (WAL) tasks and prepares associated Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) transmittal forms

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

Communications handles all media functions including media inquiries, press releases, the LDEQ website, Facebook, X (Twitter) and YouTube. These activities provide valuable information to the public on LDEQ environmental activities that are of interest to or that impact them.

• Write and edit press releases
• Monitor and create content for social media
• Attend press-related events

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 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
• Input permits and enforcement actions in EPA's database
• Conduct compliance reviews of referrals from the public and divisions within the agency

Financial and Administrative Services includes Budget & Expenditure Reporting, Accounts Payable, Employee Travel Reimbursements, Billing & Data Management, Accounts Receivable, Funds Management, Grant Processing and Expenditure Reporting, Revolving Loan Financial Processing and Reporting, Contract Processing and Management, Procurement, and Motor Fuel Trust Fund Reimbursement Processing.

• Assists with ensuring invoices are reviewed before being paid; including matching dates, reviewing supporting documentation and ensuring vendor is in the system
• Coordinates with end users to ensure new assets are received
• Assist accountants with posting payments to general and subsidiary ledger
• Reviews waste tire accounts to identify those with delinquent reports and/or payments

The Public Participation and Permit Support Division (PPPSD) function is to facilitate public participation and provide administrative, database and certification notifications support to the media based permit divisions. PPPSD consists of two sections: Permit Support and LELAP (Louisiana Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program) Section (PLS) and Notifications and Accreditations Section (NAS).

• Assist with the assessment of a laboratory
• Assist with the preparation of training books and documentation for laboratory assessor refresher training and technical training
• Proctor Solid Waste Operator Exams and Third Party EPA Lead Exams
• Process asbestos and lead accreditation applications and create cards

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

LDEQ’s UAS program utilizes pilots across the state to perform remote sensing duties for inspections, emergency response, and more. The program operates multiple aircraft and many different sensors in order to provide staff with a variety of data. With capabilities like thermal imagery, water sampling, air analysis, high-resolution mapping, live streaming, and more, the UAS program is able to support all aspects of LDEQ’s environmental mission.

• Reviewing UAS, hardware, software, and state and federal rules and regulations governing use
• Collecting and monitoring air and water qualiity data and explore how it can be used in ArcGIS
• Collecting different types of imagery particularly thermal imagery, learning what it’s used for, how to collect it, and how to process it
• Collect depth and water quality data using unmanned watercraft and process it to create maps and other deliverables

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