Interagency Affairs

The Interagency Affairs Branch of the Coastal Management Division is responsible for implementing three programmatic elements within the Division: Local Coastal Programs, Federal Consistency, and the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program.

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.