Department of Environmental Quality

State Officials Deny EPA Violation Claim

The Associated Press — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

State environmental quality officials say they followed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's instructions on submitting a plan to reduce ozone, but they are unsure why Louisiana was included on a list of states that failed to do so.

Louisiana Bucket Brigade Reports Oil Pollution Increasing

Eileen Fleming — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Louisiana Bucket Brigade is releasing a report later today on accidents at refineries across the state during 2011. The group says pollution is increasing.

DEQ fines company over leaks in Isaac

The Associated Press — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:39:19 +0000

State regulators say they are issuing a $12,189 fine against a chemical terminal flooded during Hurricane Isaac because it did not notify authorities fast enough about chemical releases.

DEQ fines helps purchase new equipment

The Associated Press — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:15:49 +0000

Criminal fines are allowing the state Department of Environmental Quality and state police to buy air monitoring equipment, vehicles, clothing, safety goggles and first aid kits.

Tim Knight, administrator of DEQ's assessment division, tells The Advocate the $1 million in fines allows the state to purchase the items.

Officials say diesel found in liquefied swampland

Sheila V Kumar | The Associated Press — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 16:04:50 +0000

State officials say preliminary slurry water samples pulled from the acre of swampland that liquefied into muck over the weekend indicate the presence of small amounts of diesel hydrocarbons.

Stagnant swamp water causes odor in Bayou Manchac

The Associated Press — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 20:08:10 +0000

State officials say a stinky smell reported from Bayou Manchac last week stems from stagnant swamp water in Spanish Lake that heavy rains pushed into the bayou.

DEQ demands timeline on benzene spill

The Associated Press — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 13:46:29 +0000

State officials want to know exactly when ExxonMobil Chemical Plant staff knew that the amount of released naphtha, which includes benzene, was much higher than originally reported in the wake of a June 14 spill at the Baton Rouge facility.

Chemical company says March fire was unexpected

The Associated Press — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 21:50:25 +0000

GEISMAR — A Houston-based chemical company contends it should not be penalized for a March plant fire at its vinyl chloride complex here because an unexpected and unprecedented chemical chain reaction touched off the fire.

Audit: Waste tire program not tightly monitored

The Associated Press — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:36:10 +0000

A new audit says the state Department of Environmental Quality didn't have proper controls over a state program meant to keep tires from being dumped illegally, allowing overpayments.

Two Environmental Groups Asking For Federal Takeover Of State Department of Environmental Quality

Eileen Fleming — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Two environmental groups are asking the federal government to take over the state Department of Environmental Quality. The request is sparked by four accidents over the past two months.