Office of Coastal Management

Coastal Wetland Permitting seminar planned

Coastal officials at the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have recently implemented new measures that make the coastal “permitting” process easier for the public and industry. To support these efforts, DNR is hosting an inter-agency seminar to educate participants on the new procedures and ways to speed-up project requests.

State laws require that oil and gas-related activities be regulated by DNR. Additionally, landowners, developers, levee districts and other government entities are subject to regulations for coastal use permitting in the state.

In November 2003, DNR Coastal Management Administrator David Frugé introduced the agency’s first major step in streamlining the permitting process---a Joint Permit Application Form used by both state and federal authorities for a number of specific land-use requests. Frugé said the new form shortens the application approval time considerably. To further reduce processing time, downloadable forms are also available at http://www.dnr.state.la.us/crm/coastmgt/cup/cup.ssi.

The upcoming Coastal Permitting Seminar is scheduled for Monday, January 26th at DNR headquarters in Baton Rouge. Other state and federal agencies including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the departments of Wildlife and Fisheries and Environmental Quality will offer helpful information to attendees. The seminar is open to the public.

DNR Coastal Permitting Seminar
Monday, January 26, 2004 ---8:30 am to 2:30 pm
LaSalle Office Building, 617 North 3rd St., LaBelle Room, Baton Rouge, LA

Editors: For more information, contact Program Manager Rocky Hinds or the DNR Public Information Office at225-342-8955.