Louisiana Contractors License Practice Exam

Which division handles requests for variances and emission reduction credit certificates?

1. LA Department of Environmental Compliance

2. LA Air Permits Division

3. LA Department of Environmental Assessment

4. Clean Air Division

The correct answer is: LA Air Permits Division

The Louisiana Air Permits Division is responsible for handling requests for variances and emission reduction credit certificates. This division focuses specifically on air quality management and compliance with environmental regulations related to air emissions. A variance is a request to deviate from standard air quality regulations, while emission reduction credits are a mechanism that allows for the trading of reductions in emissions to help meet regulatory requirements. Understanding the specialized roles within the various environmental departments is essential. For instance, while the LA Department of Environmental Compliance oversees broader compliance issues across multiple environmental regulations, and the LA Department of Environmental Assessment deals primarily with environmental impact studies and assessments, the focus of the LA Air Permits Division is specifically on air permitting and related issues. The Clean Air Division, while it seems relevant, is often not explicitly named in official state organizational structures and can be confused with the air permitting processes handled directly by the Air Permits Division. Hence, the designation of the Air Permits Division as the entity managing these specific requests for variances and emission reduction credits is accurate.