Bliss M. Higgins

As former Assistant Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Ms. Higgins held the authority to grant or deny all environmental permits, licenses, variances, and exemptions in the state for all media, including air, radiation, water, solid, and hazardous waste. She has extensive experience in the development and implementation of air quality programs and standards. Her experience also includes reviews of the toxicological effects of air pollutants, development of regulations, and negotiating compliance strategies for individual facilities and industry sectors. Ms. Higgins has testified before the US Congress, the Louisiana state legislature, and other administrative bodies. She has also provided deposition testimony on a variety of air issues.

• Responsible for final decision-making for environmental permitting in Louisiana, including air quality federal operating permits, air quality new source review, air toxics, water quality, hazardous waste, wetlands certifications, asbestos and lead certifications, radiation registrations and licensing.
• Conducted collaborative negotiations with industry groups, environmental groups, community groups, federal, state and municipal governments on a variety of projects to formulate state legislation, formulate state and federal policy, develop state and federal air quality rules, and reach settlement agreements on enforcement actions.
• Specific, detailed experience on federal policy formulation for chemical manufacturing, paper mill and refinery air toxics regulations (MACT), and infrastructure programs including source modifications, MACT hammer and state program equivalency. Key participant on EPA national stakeholder groups for Operating Permits program revisions and Consolidated Air Rule development.
• Led the development and implementation of the Federal Operating Permits Program in Louisiana. Convened and led the Operating Permits Program Advisory Committee, comprised of industry, citizens, DEQ and EPA representatives, to develop program structure. Authored comprehensive rewrite of Louisiana air permitting regulations to implement Part 70 program.
• Led the development and implementation of the Louisiana Air Toxics Program. Represented Louisiana DEQ in stakeholder negotiations of program structure with industry and environmental groups. Worked with staff scientists to review toxic effects of pollutants and develop ambient air standards. Authored regulations to implement those standards.
• Coordinated the review and approval of facility compliance plans for all Louisiana major air toxics sources for Louisiana MACT and toxic air pollutant ambient air standards. Chaired industry/DEQ workgroups to develop negotiated Louisiana MACT for the chemical industry and petroleum refineries.
• Developed and presented numerous state and federal air quality training workshops and seminars on topics including permitting procedures, SOCMI Hazardous Organic NESHAP, Consolidated Air Rule, environmental justice, ozone requirements, and air quality compliance issues.
• Chaired national Air Toxics Committee for the association of State air agencies (STAPPA), formulating state policy positions and negotiating with EPA and the regulated community on air toxics program implementation (Title III). Served on federal advisory committee to advise EPA on the Integrated Air Toxics Strategy.
• Worked with DEQ/industry/citizen stakeholder groups to negotiate state implementation plan (SIP) strategies.

BS, Professional Geology, Louisiana State University

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