General DNR News

KOHLER SELECTED FIRST LOUISIANIAN ON NATIONAL BOARD (NAPSR)

Joel Kohler, Assistant Director Pipeline Division of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, was recently elected secretary of the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) at their annual meeting in Breckenridge, Colorado. The appointment places Kohler in position for the national chairmanship in the year 2000.

Kohler is a licensed petroleum and environmental engineer and is a LSU graduate. He began working for DNR in 1983 and moved to the DNR's Office of Conservation, Pipeline Operations in 1990, and Pipeline Safety in 1993.

NASPR is comprised of professionals representing federal and state pipeline safety programs from across the United States. Louisiana was never before represented on the executive board of the organization. Founded in 1982, NAPSR sets policies, procedures and standards within the gas and liquid pipeline industry.

Editors: For more information on this release, please contact the DNR Public Information Office at (504) 342-8955.