Office of Coastal Restoration & Management
P. O. Box 44487
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-4487

Office of Coastal Restoration & Management
617 North 3rd Street, Suite 1048
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802

Our offices are located on the 10th floor of the LaSalle Building which is on the northwest corner of the North Street and 3rd  Street intersection.  We are two blocks due south of the State Capitol.

 If you are coming in on Interstate 10 from the east or west, when you get to the I-10/I-110 split follow I-110.  Take exit 1-D, the North Street exit (it exits to the left) then go straight for approximately 6 blocks.

A map and driving directions are also available on our website at http://www.dnr.state.la.us/visitordrive.ssi 

Parking for visitors to the LaSalle Building is provided in the State Visitors Center Parking Garage, located at the corner of Lafayette Street and North Street.  The garage is open 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Bring your parking ticket in for validation at either the front security desk or the Coastal Restoration Division receptionist on the 10th floor.  Please note that you will have to sign in at the security desk to enter the main part of the building.  No weapons, pocket knives, etc. will be allowed.

Please refer to the OCRM Contacts page to obtain contact information related to permitting, mitigation, interagency affairs, consistency, local programs, non-point source, or enforcement.  You may also submit you question or problem via e-mail to crdinfo@dnr.state.la.us.

General purpose fax: (225) 342-9439
For applications: (225) 342-6760

All comments must be in writing and submitted to Office of Coastal Restoration & Management - Permits, Mitigation, & Support Division at the addresses/fax number listed above.  Note that, to ensure your comments are received by the appropriate analyst, the analyst’s name (if known), the applicant’s name and the Coastal Use Permit number should be included in the letter.

Our files are available for inspection during normal business hours.  Office of Coastal Restoration & Management - Permits, Mitigation, & Support Division personnel will make any copies you wish to obtain on a staff-available basis (it may take a few days) for $0.25/page.

CZ maps are available from our office, from our Field Investigators and from Local Program officials in those parishes with approved Local Programs (Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. James, St. Tammany and Terrebonne Parishes). We hope to have an on-line version of the CZ map available in the near future.

The Conservation Plan Boundary delineates the area in which the State has agreed to ensure that there is no net-loss of vegetated wetlands caused by development projects.  This assurance makes the state eligible for a 10% reduction in its cost-share for major coastal restoration projects.  It does NOT increase the regulatory jurisdiction of the Coastal Zone Management Program. It differs from the Coastal Zone Boundary in that it is based on an ecological determination of the interior-most limits of tidal (salt water) influence. 

The Coastal Zone Boundary is a politically defined line that delimits Coastal Management’s regulatory jurisdiction.  It typically follows political (parish) boundaries and man-made features (the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, I-12, etc.) to make it easier for people to determine whether or not they are in the Coastal Zone.

Assuming you are certain that the proposed activity is outside the Coastal Zone, you do not need to submit anything to us unless you need a formal determination from our agency (on occasion some other regulatory entity will require a written determination from our office even though we would not normally regulate the activity).

No.  While the Coastal Use Permit and 404/10 permit processes are similar, they were established under different federal laws.

Essentially, yes.  Both groups use the soil characteristics, hydrology and plant species of the site to determine its wetland status.  HOWEVER, it’s important to realize that Office of Coastal Restoration & Management’s regulatory program evaluates a proposed project’s impact to “coastal waters”, a broader scope than “wetlands” alone.

Wetland determinations/delineations are conducted by the Corps of Engineers (COE).  Please contact the COE to arrange for them to evaluate your property.  You can visit the COE’s website to view more information about how to request a wetland determination at http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/ops/regulatory/reg_wetland_request_deter.asp

Yes.  While the Office of Coastal Restoration & Management’s program is heavily weighted towards minimization of impacts to vegetated wetlands, other aspects of your project might also be regulated.  If your project is in the CZ, you need to submit an application to Office of Coastal Restoration & Management - Permits, Mitigation, & Support Division and get an approval for your project before you commence work.

Uses of “state” concern are those regulated activities that have been specifically designated as being appropriate for permitting at the state level as opposed to being regulated by approved local programs.  Examples include activities using state or federal funds, being conducted on state waterbottoms or other state property, oil and gas projects, etc.

We are not regulating private property.  We regulate activities that have a direct and significant impact on state public resources.  Our authority derives from Louisiana Revised Statute 49:214.21 et seq.  To view the text of this and other legislative instruments, click here. 

(Please note that each section you wish to research will have to be individually entered.)

If you have internet access, the fastest way to get a copy is by going to: http://www.dnr.louisiana.gov/crm/coastmgt/cup/regs.pdf
OR
Upon request we will mail you a copy.

For residential uses, the permit application fee is $20. 

The permit processing fee is based upon the cubic yardage of material dredged (which includes such things as bucket dredging, propwashing, bulldozing, etc.) or used as fill material and is assessed at the rate of $0.04/cubic yard to a maximum of $2,000 .  No processing fee is assessed if there is less than 125 cubic yards of material dredged or filled. 

For non-residential uses, the permit application fee is $100. 

The permit processing fee is based upon the cubic yardage of material dredged (which includes such things as bucket dredging, propwashing, bulldozing, etc) or used as fill material and is assessed at the rate of $0.05/cubic yard to a maximum of $5,000.  No processing fee is assessed if the use does not involve dredging or filling.  A minimum permit processing fee of $25 is assessed if the use involves dredging and/or filling of less than 500 cubic yards of material.

Note that government sponsored drainage improvement projects are not assessed permit application or permit processing fees.

In most cases you need to wait for/already have a permit from the Corps and a building permit from the appropriate local agencies.

Yes, in most cases you will need approval from the Corps - the specific type will vary depending on your project.

If your project involves dredging or filling of wetlands you may need a Water Quality Certification from the Department of Environmental Quality (call Jamie Phillippe at 225/219-3465). 

Other approvals may be required from the State Land Office, the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the Department of Transportation and Development, the Department of Health and Hospitals and/or the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, but those agencies will notify you of their requirements as part of the Joint Public Notice process.

In general, if the proposed activity is in the Coastal Zone the safest course of action is to submit an application to Office of Coastal Restoration & Management - Permits, Mitigation, & Support Division for formal review.

Yes, you can either submit a “Solicitation of Views” (SOV) or a “Request for Determination” (RFD) without having to file a complete application.

If you submit a SOV, you will get a broad-brush opinion about whether a permit is required or not.  SOVs require only the barest of information - perhaps only the project location if you wish to know if a project is in the Coastal Zone.  However, the more information you provide the better and more complete our response will be. Application fees are waived for SOVs.   

If you submit a RFD, you will be more likely to get a more specific opinion.  RFDs require the submittal of a nearly complete application packet, though nonessential information (landowner notification affidavit, adjacent landowner list, etc.) can be omitted.  Application fees are not waived for RFDs.

Office of Coastal Restoration & Management - Permits, Mitigation, & Support Division issues three types of authorizations: determinations that the activity is exempt or has No Direct and Significant Impact on coastal waters (NDSI), General Permits (click here to review more information about General Permits), and individual Coastal Use Permits.

A General Permit is a type of Coastal Use Permit.  It is necessary to submit a complete application packet to obtain a GP authorization.  Copies of the current General Permits are available on the internet.  Click here to view the current General Permits.

Yes, though the original permit for the canal may allow you to maintain it without the need for additional permits - we’ll need to check the old permit(s) and see exactly what was and was not allowed.

First you will have to demonstrate that there is a need to impact the wetlands and that there are no feasible alternatives available (such as reducing the scope of your project or changing its configuration).  If those hurdles are met, you will have to mitigate for any remaining impacts to vegetated wetlands. 

The application form, instructions and checklist are available for download at the following web page:  http://dnr.louisiana.gov/crm/coastmgt/cup/cup.asp

If you are submitting your application by mail or express service, please provide eight (8) copies of your application.  Your application will not be rejected if the appropriate number of copies is not submitted, but processing might be delayed for a day or so until staff becomes available to make the copies.  If you are faxing your application, one (1) copy will suffice.

The application checklist found on the internet at:
http://dnr.louisiana.gov/crm/coastmgt/cup/checklist.pdf

In many cases your local parish officials should be able to help you by going over tax roles, utility bill records, etc.  It may be necessary to visit with the Clerk of Court to go over property transfer records.

To calculate cubic yards: multiply the length by the width by the depth (in feet) of the area to be dredged or filled and divide by 27.

To calculate acreage: multiply the length by the width (in feet) of the site and divide by 43,560.

Water depths are needed in our evaluation of whether dredging, propwashing, etc. might be needed to access a location.  Mean low and mean high water levels help us in that determination.  Additionally, this information is critical for activities located along shorelines to determine whether state waterbottoms will be impacted by the project.

In most cases surveyed plats are not required; however, the plats that are submitted need to be clear, legible, and reproducible.  The plats also need to accurately represent the current conditions of the site and what is proposed.  We also require the latitude and longitude and the section, township and range of the proposed activity.  Both are required for commercial activities, either is acceptable for noncommercial activities.

A “plan view” shows the layout of the proposed project from an overhead perspective - like you’re looking down on it from an airplane. 

In most cases (there are some exceptions) you must commence work on your project within 2 years of the date of permit issuance.  The initiation period can be extended for an additional 2 years if you submit a request to us no less than 60 and no more than 180 days before the initial 2 year period expires.  If you miss those deadlines you will not be able to extend the initiation period. 

In any event, the permit will expire 5 years from the date it was originally issued.  There is no provision in our regulations which will allow us to extend that expiration date.  Any work not completed by the expiration date and, generally (again, there are some exceptions), any future maintenance will require that a new application be submitted and a new permit issued before it is conducted.

Note that General Permit and NDSI authorizations are valid for 2 years and cannot be extended.

Yes.  Be aware that

1) Expiration of a permit does not eliminate the need to comply with all permit conditions (especially as it relates to mitigation and the maintenance of mitigation)

A permit transfer form and instructions are available on the internet at: http://dnr.louisiana.gov/crm/coastmgt/cup/transfer.pdf

No.

Yes, if you have appointed an agent by filling out blocks 8 - 10 of the application form and signed the “Statement of Authorization” in block 11.

The state law that mandates submittal of a landowner notification affidavit (R.S. 49:214.30.C.2.a.) contains no provision to exempt lease holders from the law.

Yes.

State law (La. R.S. 49:214.41) requires Office of Coastal Restoration & Management to obtain adequate mitigation for any impacts to vegetated wetlands.

• • Office of Coastal Restoration & Management- Permits, Mitigation, & Support Division approved mitigation bank/area credits
• Advanced mitigation credits
• Implementation of individual mitigation measure
• Monetary contribution to the affected landowner or affected parish (with an approved Local Parish Program) to implement an approved compensatory mitigation plan and/or to the Louisiana Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Fund
• Other options determined to be appropriate by the secretary which fully compensate for lost habitat values

• Mitigation must have positive impact on ecological value of the Louisiana Coastal Zone
• Should be on-site if possible
• Located on the affected landowner’s property (La. R.S. 49:214.41)
• Located within the same hydrologic basin
• In order of preference
• Same habitat type
• Produce similar ecological values to those impacted
• Contribute to the overall wetland health of the hydrologic basin despite being in a different habitat type

The first place to start with both of these questions is to coordinate with the landowner.  He may have habitat enhancement projects nearby which could be used.  If not, the Local Coastal Program contact or his equivalent in parishes without approved local programs is a valuable source of information and assistance.  In addition, Office of Coastal Restoration & Management- Permits, Mitigation, & Support Division and the Corps both maintain databases of approved mitigation areas and mitigation banks from which credits can be purchased. 

Processing of any permit application you have pending for the project will be suspended until the violation is resolved.  You may be required to remove any structures installed and restore any impacted habitat.  You may be subject to fines of up to $12,000 and may be put in jail for up to 6 months.  And that’s just the state’s side; resolution of any section 404/10 violations with the Corps can be significantly more expensive and more complicated.

Fines can range from $50 to $12,000.  Normal permit processing and mitigation fees may also be applied.  There may be additional fines applied by the Corps due to any section 404/10 violations.

You may be required to remove any structures installed and restore any impacted habitat that exceeds the permitted scope of the project.  You may be subject to fines of up to $12,000 and may be put in jail for up to 6 months.  And that’s just the state’s side; resolution of any section 404/10 violations with the Corps can be significantly more expensive and more complicated.

A representative from LDNR will perform a field investigation and project evaluation in order to determine the extent of any impacts and if you have violated any laws.

• Calcasieu
• Cameron
• Jefferson
• Lafourche
• Plaquemines
• St. Bernard
• St. James
• Terrebonne
• St. Tammany
• Orleans

Coastal Parish Advisory Committee Information*

*Please note that this schedule is subject to change.  Click here for the most current information.

The Consistency Section is responsible for regulating federal and private projects, in order to protect wetlands and other sensitive coastal features, under the Coastal Zone Management Act and Louisiana’s State and Local Coastal Resources Management Act.

• Federal agencies, whose activities (including new policies or regulations) may affect the land use, water use, or natural resources of the Coastal Zone
• Private individuals or companies with activities on federal property (whether owned outright or controlled by the federal government), such as National Wildlife Refuges
• Anyone whose activities are exempt from the Coastal Use Permits by State law (projects within fastlands or more than five feet above sea level, deep water ports, etc.)
• Parish or local governments receiving federal grants or loans, such as HUD Block Grants
• Oil and gas exploration and production on the Outer Continental Shelf