LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY | Secretary Aurelia S. Giacometto
A DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) is authorized by the Environmental Quality Act to provide immediate response to any environmental problem or emergency incident which threatens human health or the environment. The Emergency Response Section, under the Office of Environmental Compliance, is tasked to meet this obligation. This section began operation with the inception of DEQ in 1984. It was initially formed within the Hazardous Waste Division with four assigned employees.
Today, the LDEQ has regional offices which are located in Baton Rouge, Harahan, Bayou Lafourche, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Alexandria, Monroe, and Shreveport. Collectively from these offices, there are ten specially trained persons in place as dedicated emergency responders on call to work emergencies on a 24 hour, 7 day a week basis. Added to this group is support from other individuals from the Department that are also capable of performing "emergency response duties". The initiative that formed these teams has resulted in an enhanced overall capability of LDEQ to protect the citizens of this state and its environment.
LDEQ emergency responders maintain a close working relationship with the Louisiana State Police Emergency Services Unit (ESU) in dealing with hazardous material incident responses. The LDEQ responders also investigate environmental complaints.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE SECTION INFORMATION
PROCEDURES
Complaint Reporting Procedures
Single Point of Contact Procedures
Written Notification Procedures
EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESOURCES
RECENT NEWS
OTHER RESOURCES
Emergency Response Regulations (Title 33, Part I, Subpart 4, Chapter 69)