In Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is responsible for the preservation and enhancement of the nonrenewable natural resources of the state such as land, water, oil, gas, and other minerals. DNR through conservation, regulation, management, and exploitation ensures that the state of Louisiana realizes the appropriate economic benefit from its asset base.
DNR was created pursuant to La. R.S. 36:351. DNR is comprised of the following offices:
- The Office of the Secretary- Serves as DNR’s executive management and policy office and implements the policies of DNR;
- The Office of Coastal Restoration and Management- Provides for the maintenance and protection of the state’s coastal wetlands, regulates the use of Louisiana coastal zone, and protects, develops, and restores the resources of the state’s coastal zone;
- The Office of Conservation- conserves oil, gas, lignite and other natural resources; regulates the exploration and production of oil, gas and other hydrocarbons and lignite; controls and allocates energy supplies and distribution; and protects public safety and the state’s environment from oilfield waste, including regulation of underground injection and disposal practices; and
- The Office of Mineral Resources- manages the state’s mineral assets; provides staff to advise the State Mineral and Energy Board in granting and administering leases on state-owned lands and water bottoms for the development and production of minerals.
It is with the help of the office of Conservation and Office of Coastal Restoration and Management that DNR exercises its complex and various regulatory and permitting functions.
Further, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is responsible for: the regulation of air quality, water pollution control, and solid waste disposal; protection and preservation of the scenic rivers and streams of the state; the regulation and control of radiation; the management of hazardous waste; and the regulation of programs that encourage the reduction of wastes generated within the state of Louisiana. The DEQ was created pursuant to La. R.S. 30:2011. The head of the DEQ is the secretary, who shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate.
The DEQ consists of the following offices:
- The executive office of the secretary- Provides for supervision of DEQ, internal audits, technical advisors, and communications;
- The executive office of the secretary- Provides to DEQ legal consultation and representation with regard to permitting, enforcement, grants, contracts, personnel, legislation, inter-government agreements, or such other matters;
- The office of environmental assessment- Provides for water quality assessment, environmental air quality assessment, laboratory services, and technology and administers all remediation services.
- The office of environmental compliance- Provides for surveillance of the regulated community, enforcement of the environmental laws, and the issuance of necessary licenses, registrations, exemptions, and certifications of radiation sources.
- The office of environmental services- Provides environmental assistance and issues necessary permits, licenses, registrations, variances, exemptions, and certifications.
