Interagency Affairs/Compliance Division

The Interagency Affairs Branch of the Interagency Affairs/Compliance Division is responsible for implementing four programmatic elements within the Division: Local Coastal Programs, Federal Consistency, Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program, Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP), and the Oil Spill Section.

The Local Coastal Programs Section provides technical assistance, guidance, and management to parishes in the development, approval, and implementation of local coastal programs (LCP). Parishes with a program approved by state and federal agencies may issue permits for projects of local concern in the parish's Coastal Zone.

The Federal Coastal Zone Management Act gives the state the authority to determine whether the activities of governmental agencies are consistent with the Louisiana Coastal Resources Program. Consistency Determination authority is exercised over some state and all direct federal agency activities. Consistency Determinations are also required for activities that are federally funded, licensed, and/or permitted, including offshore drilling in federal waters, navigation, flood control, hurricane protection and freshwater diversions, which might impact coastal waters.

The Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program is being developed, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and other governmental and nongovernmental agencies, to educate Louisiana coastal resources users about available best management measures, and to reduce pollutants that may impact the coastal waters of Louisiana.

The Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) purpose is “the protection of important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion from their natural or recreational state to other uses, and will give priority to lands which can be effectively managed, protected, and that have significant ecological value.”

The Oil Spill Section is responsible for planning, response, and Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) activities resulting from oil spill incidents that occur in the Louisiana Coastal Zone.  The OPA, 33 USC 2701 et seq. and the Louisiana Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act of 1991 (OSPRA), La. Rev. Stat. 30:2451 et seq., are the principal federal and state statutes, respectively, authorizing federal and state agencies and tribal officials to act as natural resource trustees for the recovery of damages for injuries to natural resources and services resulting from incidents in Louisiana.  Primary duties of the Oil Spill Section staff are related to NRDA and the Louisiana Regional Restoration Planning Program planning, development, and implementation.  Staff is also responsible for routine interagency coordination regarding oil spill events.

The Compliance Branch of the Interagency Affairs/Compliance Division is responsible for implementing or field investigation and the field offices, enforcement and monitoring technical support to the division.

Interagency Affairs:

• Local Coastal Programs
  • Local Programs Database
• Federal Consistency
  • Consistency Database
• Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control
• Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP)
• Oil Spill
• NRDA
• RRP

Compliance:

• Enforcement and Monitoring
  • Enforcement Database
• Field Offices