LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY | Secretary Aurelia S. Giacometto
A DEPARTMENT OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
The Public Participation Group (PPG) is a part of the Public Participation & Permit Support Division within the Office of Environmental Services. PPG is responsible for issuing public notices and conducting public hearings and meetings associated with permitting activities related to the four categories of media (Air, Hazardous Waste, Solid Waste, and Water) as specified under Subtitle II of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 30:2001, Environmental Regulatory Codes LAC 33 and the Code of Federal Regulations 40 CFR.
Questions related to public participation activities can directed to (225) 219-3035.
Public involvement efforts are designed to enable the citizens of Louisiana to be a part of the environmental decisions that affect their life. Through the public notices, public hearings and meetings, and availability of material associated with the permitting activities for public review, the citizens of Louisiana can present their comments and additional input of information that helps the agency decision makers in their review and evaluation of the permits.
To keep the citizens of Louisiana informed and involved in all activities associated with the issuance of the air, hazardous waste, solid waste, water permits and other DEQ activites of public interest.
The differences between Public Hearings and Public Meetings is outlined in PPG's Public Hearing Brochure:
The information on this webpage applies to LDEQ-held public meetings and hearings.
| Public Hearing | Public Meeting |
|---|---|
| A public hearing is where comments from the public go into the public record. | A public meeting is more of a discussion between interested parties and comments do not go into the public record. |
| Some public hearings are required by regulations, while others are granted on a case-by-case basis. | A public meeting is not required. |
| A public hearing is not a question-and-answer format. | A public meeting is a question-and-answer format. |
| A public hearing is governed by rules concerning who speaks when and for how long. A public hearing is overseen by a hearing official. | A public meeting is an open discussion with a DEQ moderator to make sure comments stay focused on the proposed permit and that everyone has a chance to ask his or her question. |
The Public Participation Group is responsible for coordinating public hearing / meeting activities related to permitting activities. Click on the Calendar to see the upcoming events.
Materials associated with permit activities are available for review at LDEQ Public Records Center located at 602 North 5th Street, Baton Rouge, LA. Viewing hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday (except holidays).
Based on the media regulations, the material can also be available at different repositories. Check the public notice for specific locations associated with the draft permit.
If you would like to receive our Permit Public Notices by email, you can subscribe at https://internet.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/SUBSCRIBES/PUBLIC-NOTIFICATION, or contact the Public Participation Group in writing at LDEQ, P.O. Box 4313, Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4313, by email at deq.publicnotices@la.gov, or by phone at (225) 219-3035.
Please note that you can also review the public notices on the DEQ Public Notice Page.
If you would like to be added to or removed from our mailing list to receive the email or hard copies of our notices, please contact us by email at deq.publicnotices@la.gov or by mail to:
Public Participation Group
P.O. Box 4313
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Copies of documents that are for public review can be requested through LDEQ Public Records Center at (225) 219-3167/68 or email publicrecords@la.gov.
LDEQ solicits public comments via a request in a public notice that is published on the DEQ public notice webpage (www.deq.louisiana.gov/public-notices) and in one or more newspapers if required by regulations of the different media, and is sent via mail or email to all those who requested to be included in the public notice mailing list.
Upon receipt of comments, the comments are processed and the commentors are added to the commentors list associated with that permitting activity.
Upon issuing the permit, a response to the comments is sent to all the commentors informing them of the final decision.
As for comments including requests for public hearings, the commentors will receive a letter of approval or denial of the public hearing request. In case of approval, the information related to the public hearing will be included.
When submitting comments please include the Company Name and/or the name of the Facility, Activity Interest Number (AI#), and Activity Tracking Number (PER#). Please review additional instructions for submittal of comments.
Comments may be submitted online at www.deq.louisiana.gov/public-notices, by email at deq.publicnotices@la.gov or by mail** to:
Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Environmental Services
Public Participation and Permit Support Division
Public Participation Group
P.O. Box 4313
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
**Material that is sent through FedEx, DHL or UPS must be sent to our physical address:
Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Environmental Services
Public Participation and Permit Support Division, Public Participation Group
602 North 5th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
| Media | Type | Publishing Newspaper(s) | Regulation | Comment Period | Public Notice Payments | Hearing Public Notice |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air | Proposed Permit | DEQ Public Notice Website | LAC 33:III.531 | Proposed 30 days & 30 days for neighboring states | N/A | N/A |
| Air | PSD | DEQ Public Notice Website | LAC 33:III. 509.Q | PSD 30 days & 60 days for neighboring states | N/A | N/A |
| Air | Hearing | DEQ Public Notice Website | Same as above | Usually ends a few days after the hearing, can end at the closing of hearing | N/A | 30 days prior to the hearing |
| Hazardous Waste | Receipt of RCRA Application | Official State Journal, Local Newspaper | LAC 33:V.708 | N/A | DEQ | N/A |
| Hazardous Waste | Draft | Official State Journal, Local Newspaper, Local Broadcast | LAC33:V.713 - 721 | 45 days | Facility | N/A |
| Hazardous Waste | Final | Official State Journal, Local Newspaper | For applicant appeals La. R.S.) 30:2024 For Public appeals La. R.S. 30:2050.21 |
30 days for appeals after letter received by facility or commentors | Facility | N/A |
| Hazardous Waste | Hearing | Official State Journal, Local Newspaper, Local Broadcast | LAC 33:V.711 | Usually ends a few days after the hearing, can end at the closing of hearing | DEQ or Facility* | 45 days prior to the hearing |
| Solid Waste | Technically Complete | Official State Journal, Local Newspaper | LAC 33:VII.513.G | 30 days | Facility | N/A |
| Solid Waste | Hearing | Official State Journal, Local Newspaper | LAC 33:VII.513.G | End of comment period 30 days after hearing | DEQ or Facility* | 20 days prior to the hearing. For Waste Tire application receipt, twice in local newspaper prior to the last 10 days before the hearing |
| Water (LPDES) | Draft LPDES | DEQ Public Notice Website | LAC 33:IX.3113-3121 | Min. 30 days | N/A | N/A |
| Water (LPDES) | Draft General LPDES Permit | DEQ Public Notice Website | LAC 33:IX.3113-3121 | Min. 30 days | N/A | N/A |
| Water (LPDES) | Hearing | DEQ Public Notice Website | LAC 33:IX.3113-3121 | Usually ends a few days after the hearing, can end at the closing of hearing | N/A | 30 days prior to the hearing |
| Water (Water Quality Certification) | Draft Water Quality Certification | State Official Journal & Local Newspaper | LAC 33:IX.1507 | 10 days for comment | Corps of Engineers/Facility | N/A |
| Water (Water Quality Certification) | Hearing | State Official Journal & Local Newspaper | LAC 33:IX.1507 | End of comment period 30 days after hearing | Corps of Engineers/Facility | 30 days prior to hearing |
*If the hearing is requested by the public, DEQ, or required by regulations, DEQ pays for the newspaper publication/radio broadcast as applicable. If the hearing is requested by the facility, the facility pays for the newspaper publication/radio broadcast as applicable (LAC 33:V.717.A.2, LAC 33:VII.513.G.3, LAC 33:VII.10513.C.3). If the hearing is for the receipt of an initial/renewal waste tire application (not a modification application) that is required by regulations, the facility pays for the ads (LAC 33:VII.513.G.3, LAC 33:VII.10513.C.3).
We are physically located at the DEQ Headquarters, Galvez building, 602 North Fifth Street, 7th floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802.
Our mailing address is:
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Environmental Services
Public Participation & Permits Support Division
Public Participation Group
P.O. Box 4313
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
For any questions related to permits public participation activities, please call us at (225) 219-3035.