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The case originates in Pacoima California where a small subsection of the community was both concerned and aware that many of the houses in the low income, largely latino neighborhoods, contained lead paints, given many of the houses were constructed before the 1950’s. The Environmental Justice group, Pacomia Beautiful is a Nonprofit environmental organization, focused on community health. PB runs three programs in LA; community inspectors program (identification of hazards sources and simple solution generators), a Youth Environmentalist Program (assists youth to participate in projects to improve environment), and a Safer Home for a Healthy Community Program (Helps residents create healthy homes). In 1999 the group approached the public health lead hazard in multiple ways. They first assessed community knowledge through a pilot project working in tandem with CSUN (Cal State University, Northridge). They educated the community through trained volunteers called promotoras, who went door to door providing resources for lead remediation, working with public policy officials to as well devise a strategy to update current tenet and housing laws in order to prevent future exposure. The group collaborated with UCI, UCLA, LA Department of Health Services, and others to reach 2,500 residents, test children blood levels, test homes, as well as establish a database for homes that had been abated. This study is a great representation of how public health, environmental leaders, neighbors and academia all came together to support a project. As a result, the group along with the local community provided information to 2,500 residents, tested blood lead levels in 675 children, tested 300 homes and renovated (by 2015) 27%, and developed a registry of home that had been abated.

The LDEQ in recent years is underfunded and understaffed compared to previous years. Budget cuts and employee cutbacks are shown through the Environmental Integrity Project Report: During a Time of Cutbacks at EPA, 30 States Also Slashed Funding for State Environmental Agencies. Images below show Louisiana DEQ cutbacks. Red signifies the most cut backs while blue siginifies increased spending or employment by state. 

The agency is widely criticized as biased by environmental groups within the Parishes. Conflicts of interest have been cited due to the way in which the department generates funds and can expedite permit approvals. In ProPublica articles, the DEQ has been criticized for non-enforcement against polluting industries and doubting EPAs monitoring. https://www.propublica.org/article/in-cancer-alley-toxic-polluters-face….. 

Most recently, the EPA is pursuing litigation against LDEQ and Louisiana Department of Health alleging that the LDEQ discriminates on the basis of race, violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Complaints filed on behalf of the Sierra Club, Concerned Citizens of St. Johns, Rise St. James, Louisiana Bucket Brigade and others are in regards to the LDEQ air pollution control programs and permitting that subjects residents on the basis of race, and that the failures to protect the health, disproportionately impact the minority communities, subjecting them to adverse health and environmental impacts.

The LDEQ has been critized for favoring industry, economic and business interests over public welfare. The DEQ has been cited as weighing the creation of jobs and land development over the air and communities being polluted. 

Conflicts of interests have been noted through the DEQ expidited permit reviewal process that approves the siting of petrochemical facitilies. If companies want to expidite the permitting process they must pay the DEQ employees overtime. Conflicts of interest have been noted in the structural process of permitting approvals in which the companies pay the regulators that approve them. 

The LDEQ consists of five major offices: Office of the Secretary, Office of Management and Finance, Office of Environmental Services, Office of Environmental Compliance, and Office of Environmental Assessment. The Office of Environmental Services is in charge of Air, Waste and water permits. The Office of Environmental Compliance works on surveillance and enforcement. There are multiple regional offices, 8 (shown below in added image), that serve the Parishes. Currently, as of April 2022, Chuck Carr Brown Serves as Secretary.

According to the LDEQ Website, “The mission of the Department of Environmental Quality is to provide service to the people of Louisiana through comprehensive environmental protection in order to promote and protect health, safety and welfare while considering sound policies that are consistent with statutory mandates.”