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The Public Participation Group
The Public Participation Group (PPG) is a part of the Public Participation & Permit Support Division within the Office of Environmental Services. PPG is responsible for issuing public notices and conducting public hearings and meetings associated with LDEQ permitting activities related to the four categories of media (Air, Hazardous Waste, Solid Waste, and Water) as specified under Subtitle II of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 30:2001, Environmental Regulatory Codes LAC 33 and the Code of Federal Regulations 40 CFR.
Questions related to public participation activities can directed to (225) 219-3035.
Objectives
Public involvement efforts are designed to enable the citizens of Louisiana to be part of the environmental decisions that affect their lives. Through the public notices, public hearings, and availability of material associated with the permitting activities for public review, the LDEQ provides opportunities for the citizens of Louisiana to present their comments and additional input of information that helps the agency decision-makers in their review and evaluation of the proposed permit decisions.
Goals
To keep the citizens of Louisiana informed and involved in all activities associated with the issuance of the air, hazardous waste, solid waste, water permits and other LDEQ activites of public interest.
Public Notice / Public Comment
LDEQ solicits public comments via a request in a public notice for pending permits and in one or more newspapers if required by regulations of the different media, and is sent via mail or email to all those who requested to be included in the public notice mailing list.
Online: To view public notices and submit public comments online, click on the LDEQ Public Notice Webpage button.
Email: To submit comments by email, click on the Email Public Comments button.
Mail: To submit public comments by U.S. Mail, send to the following address:
Department of Environmental Quality/ Office of Environmental Services
Public Participation and Permit Support Division/ Public Participation Group
P.O. Box 4313
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Mail: To submit public comments in-person or by Fedex, DHL or UPS, use the following address:
Department of Environmental Quality/ Office of Environmental Services
Public Participation and Permit Support Division/ Public Participation Group
602 North 5th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
When submitting comments please include the Company Name and/or the name of the Facility, Activity Interest Number (AI#), and Activity Tracking Number (PER#). Please review additional instructions for submittal of comments.
Our agency provides a clear, consolidated table outlining all public notice requirements. It summarizes publication obligations, comment periods, fees, hearing notices, media expectations, permit types, and the regulations that govern them. This resource helps applicants, stakeholders, and the public navigate the process with confidence and transparency.
Public Hearing / Meeting Information
The differences between Public Hearings and Public Meetings are outlined in PPG's Public Hearing Brochure.
The information on this webpage applies to LDEQ-held public meetings and hearings.
| Public Hearing | Public Meeting |
|---|---|
| A public hearing is where comments from the public go into the public record. | A public meeting is more of a discussion between interested parties and comments do not go into the public record. |
| Some public hearings are required by regulations, while others are granted on a case-by-case basis. | A public meeting is not required. |
| A public hearing is not a question-and-answer format. | A public meeting is a question-and-answer format. |
| A public hearing is governed by rules concerning who speaks when and for how long. A public hearing is overseen by a hearing official. | A public meeting is an open discussion with an LDEQ moderator to make sure comments stay focused on the proposed permit and that everyone has a chance to ask his or her question. |
The Public Participation Group is responsible for coordinating public hearing / meeting activities related to permitting activities. Click on the button below to see the calendar of upcoming public hearings and public meetings.
Repositories for Public Review
Based on the media regulations, the material may be available for review at different repositories. Check the public notice for specific locations associated with the draft permit. Please note that you can review the public notices on the DEQ Public Notice Page.
Materials associated with permit activities are also available for review at LDEQ Public Records Center located at 602 North 5th Street, Baton Rouge, LA. Viewing hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday (except holidays).
Public Notice Mailing Lists
To receive public notices by email, join the Public Notice Email Mailing list by subscribing.
If you would like to be added to or removed from our mailing list to receive the email or hard copies of our public notices, please contact us by either mail, email or phone.
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Environmental Services
Public Participation & Permit Support Division
Public Participation Group
P.O. Box 4313
Baton Rouge, LA 70821(225) 219-3035
Learn more about Public Participation Group