Louisiana State Overview

The state of Louisiana and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) became a state delegated to administer the NPDES Program in August of 1996. Louisiana's Water Quality Regulations mandate permits for the discharge of pollutants from any point source into waters of the State of Louisiana. This surface water discharge permitting system is administered under the Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (LPDES) Permitting Program. 

The LPDES General Permit for Large and Small Construction Activities authorizes the discharge of stormwater is comprised of two separate permits:

• CGP for Large Construction Activities: "Large Construction Activities" are classified as project sites where land disturbing activities will be taking place on more than five (5) acres."

• CGP for Small Construction Activities:  "Small Construction Activities" are classified as project sites where land disturbing activities will be taking place on more than one (1) acre, but less than five (5) acres.

Stormwater discharges from construction activities can only be authorized under a Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (LPDES) General Permit if the project site owner or operator: (1) develops a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan covering either the entire site or all portions of the site for which they are operators; and (2) submits a complete and accurate Notice of Intent (NOI) using the NOI form provided by the State Administrative Authority.