Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

LDEQ partnered with Senator Adam Bass to host the Louisiana Water Infrastructure Improvement Seminar in Bossier City. Several state agencies, the Governor’s Office, and technical assistance and finance assistance programs presented to local elected officials, engineers, and others on creative funding structures for aging water systems in the area. Thank you to Senator Adam Bass for his commitment to his constituents in Northwest Louisiana.

LDEQ Secretary Aurelia S. Giacometto crossed the northern part of the state to visit West Monroe and Shreveport as the final two stops of LDEQ’s statewide waste tire town hall tour. This marks the end of the agency’s efforts to engage the public on the issue of waste tire storage and their proper disposal to mitigate environmental pollutants, reduce fire hazards, and protect against mosquito breeding grounds. “LDEQ has prioritized this issue—and this tour of the state has been critical to meeting our objective by creating an open forum for public conversations around the issue of waste tire disposal and promoting regulatory compliance to protect our environment,” said Secretary Giacometto. “I am grateful to all state, regional, and local leaders, and members of the public who joined us to listen, ask questions, and offer their experiences and ideas.”

Metairie is the fourth stop of LDEQ’s six-region tour of Louisiana to engage with people, communities, and local governments around the issue of waste tire disposal. LDEQ Secretary Aurelia S. Giacometto spoke with officials to identify needs and ideas local communities have to address the blight that improperly managed waste tire sites have caused. Some conversations focused on fostering deeper support for local initiatives aimed at improving tire recycling rates to turn them into valuable commodities. The group came up with a number of exciting new ideas to address this environmental hazard of significant concern in the state.

LDEQ has awarded Main Street Homer a $50,000 Brownfields Planning Activities Program Grant. This grant will provide essential technical assistance for redeveloping historic buildings in downtown Homer, Louisiana, furthering the town’s rehabilitation and revitalization efforts. We are proud to support organizations and communities like Homer in their endeavors to revitalize historic spaces and transform environmentally contaminated sites into economic engines. Congratulations to Main Street Homer — and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of this grant on the community.

A good day starts with coffee here at LDEQ. Happy International Coffee Day!

Congratulations to the LDEQ Employee of the Month for September: Deanna “Dee” Bloodworth! Following an open call for nominations, Dee was selected for her outstanding work as an Environmental Scientist DCLA in the Permit Support Division of the Office of Environmental Services. In her role, Dee maintains the revision schedule for all standard operating procedures assigned to the Permit Support Division. She keeps administrators informed on the status of performance data for EPA grants. Further, Dee has been instrumental in ensuring the successful completion of national evaluations and internal audits for the Louisiana Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program. Her dedication and impact have helped enable her team to achieve its objectives in service to the public, and LDEQ is proud to honor Deanna Bloodworth as its Employee of the Month. Pictured: LDEQ Secretary Aurelia S. Giacometto (L) and Assistant Secretary for the Office of Environmental Services Dr. Amanda Vincent (R) present the award to Dee.

LDEQ's Small Business Assistance and revolving loan staff will be present at all Rural Community Funding Summit (RCFS) locations this year. The office of Senator Bill Cassidy and several state agencies will also attend to help ensure that your community can access essential funding through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill. Don't miss this opportunity to secure financing for your city or town. Plan to attend an RCFS event near you.

Secretary Giacometto visits Pineville on the third stop of LDEQ’s tour across six regions of Louisiana to tackle the issue of waste tire disposal – by increasing awareness of the prevalence of the problem and the importance of proper disposal. Secretary Giacometto and regional officials held conversations on strengthening the area’s tire management infrastructure and implementing comprehensive constraints to protect the environment from improper waste tire storage and disposal and bring relief to parishes and residents.

LDEQ Deputy Secretary Jordan DesHotels represented Louisiana at the 2024 Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) Fall Meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. With delegates from 47 states in attendance, the event fostered important discussions on environmental policy, innovation, and collaboration across the country. Louisiana is proud to stand alongside our nation’s environmental leaders committed to protecting and enhancing our environment and advancing regulatory consistency to support industrial and economic development. #ECOS2024 #LDEQ