Environmental Compliance

The DOTD Wastewater Program helps ensure the quality of the Louisiana waterways that may be adversely impacted due to transportation activities.  Through this statewide program, the Environmental Compliance Unit (ECU) is responsible for the inspection, compliance reporting, certification, and quality assurance/quality control of the Department’s 112 wastewater facilities.  The ECU currently has four wastewater laboratories across the state and is responsible for the continuous certification of laboratory technicians who perform the laboratory analyses.  These laboratories analyze the effects of transportation activities on water quality and make recommendations to minimize water pollution and other changes in the aquatic environment by performing complete field and laboratory testing of several parameters, including biochemical oxygen demand, fecal coliform, total suspended solids, pH, nitrates, phosphates, minerals, and etc. The Environmental Compliance Specialists monitor all wastewater treatment facilities throughout the state.  This includes weekly and monthly monitoring at rest areas, maintenance units, district headquarters, bridges, and ferries.  The Environmental Compliance Specialists also provide expertise in interpreting the results of test data as they relate to the proper operation of the treatment facilities.

The purpose of the DOTD Solid and Hazardous Waste Program is to ensure environmental compliance with State and Federal environmental guidelines regulating the management and disposal of hazardous waste.  This program is implemented statewide through tracking, monitoring, and site investigation of various hazardous materials owned or generated by DOTD. The ECU plans and schedule routine field investigations for site assessments and data collection for most federal aid highway projects. The Environmental Specialists oversee the inspection and investigation of non-routine hazardous material contamination found on the Department’s property or highway right-of-way in order to determine pollution levels.   Additionally, under this program it is the responsibility of the ECU to review all hazardous waste remediation plans and coordinate the remediation efforts provided by consultants hired by DOTD.  
As a component of the Solid and Hazardous Waste Program, the ECU is also responsible for partial implementation of the Hazardous Communication Program (HCP).  This statewide program is commonly referred to as the Worker’s-Right-To-Know.  The HCP provides guidance to department personnel on proper procedures for transporting, storing and handling designated hazardous substances along with corresponding documents such as Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), Chemical Inventory, and etc.  Under this program, the Environmental Specialists provides both classroom and computer base training to all departmental personnel to ensure regulatory compliance. 

This statewide program is primarily associated with the DOTD’s construction project development process.  The ECU is responsible for the investigation and evaluation of underground storage tank (UST) sites discovered within the required project right-of-way of by providing environmental site assessments for soil and groundwater contamination. Included in these UST evaluations are plan developments showing area of contamination, limits of excavation, and clean-up cost estimates required by the Real Estate, Design, Contracts and Specifications, and Construction sections of the Department.  Additionally, the Environmental Specialists ensure all UST closure documents, e.g., Registration Forms, Notice of Intent to Remove Forms, the Closure Assessment Forms, and the UST Closure Reports, are all completed and timely submitted to the LDEQ.

The Active UST Program is administered statewide through the ECU and comprises of sixteen facilities. This program, unlike the Non-Active UST Program, is primarily associated with the DOTD Operations’ process.  The USTs at these facilities are actually owned and operated by DOTD personnel.  In its effort to ensure state and federal environmental compliance, the ECU provides program oversight, performs inspections, monitors release detection method, provides record keeping, and ensures reporting requirements are met.  The ECU coordinates and monitors all required testing and operator training (Class A, B or C) for the UST facilities.  The ECU acts as the liaison between the DOTD and the regulatory agencies.  All UST registrations, closures, fees, and reports are handled through the ECU.  The ECU is also responsible for contract development and oversight for the removal/replacement of USTs, and site assessments and remediation due to leaking USTs.  

As a component of the Active UST Program, the ECU is also responsible for the environmental administration of the Aboveground Storage Tank Program (AST).  This program is implemented statewide and is comprised of 44 facilities.  The ECU ensures state and federal compliance through its semi-annual inspections, providing record keeping, and the development of Spill Prevention Control Plans (SPCs).  

The statewide Air Quality Program was established to help provide occupational safety for all DOTD employees.  The objective of the program is to ensure a safe work environment in various structures and worksites owned and operated by the DOTD.  The ECU Environmental Specialists interpret test data to determine the presence or type of contaminant in structures, as well as the extent of contamination.  This may include analytical data for mold, asbestos, and etc.  This data is further used when necessary to coordinate abatement efforts with Department and LDEQ certified contractors.  Additionally, the ECU investigates claims of Sick Building Syndrome in an effort to minimize health risks to employees.

The DOTD Stormwater program is one of the broadest statewide programs administered by the Environmental Compliance Unit.  It is comprised of three subcomponents: Industrial, Construction, and the MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System).  Together, these components are implemented to help protect human health and the environment by reducing the amount of pollutants in stormwater discharged into our waterways. The DOTD currently has over 110 permitted industrial stormwater facilities, over fifty construction projects in progress each year from which stormwater run-off leaves the site, and over two thousand stormwater outfalls within the boundaries of the 15 urbanized and designated areas of its MS4.   As mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), it is the responsibility of our Environmental Compliance Specialists to develop Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans for each industrial facility and to ensure regulatory compliance of the Construction and MS4 components.  This is achieved, in part, through the implementation of appropriate management practices and controls, quarterly inspections, working with stormwater team members within the various districts, working with Area Engineers, Project Engineers, Private Contractors, and by maintaining a good work relationship with the regulatory agencies.  For more information regarding our MS4 Stormwater Program component, please see our website:  http://wwwsp.dotd.la.gov/Inside_LaDOTD/Divisions/Engineering/Materials_Lab/MS4/Pages/default.aspx

The DOTD’s Vibration Monitoring Program is administered statewide via the ECU and was established to evaluate the impact of the Department’s construction activity on nearby structures.  The goal is to maximize continuity of construction activity and minimize negative impacts on structural integrity.   Surveillance is done by means of precision monitoring seismographic equipment.   In accordance with federal regulatory guidelines, the ECU employs vibration criteria to assess the potential risk of damage to structures.  As part of handling community complaints due to vibration activity, the environmentalists are also responsible for conducting preliminary screening procedures and generating a detailed assessment report with their findings and recommendations.