Aurelia Skipwith Giacometto brings over 20 years of distinguished experience in environmental law, regulation, and policy, having served in presidential and gubernatorial appointed positions and corporate roles that shape the public and business regulatory landscapes. In her most recent position as the 14th Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ), she managed the environmental quality of air, water, and wastewater, the application of nuclear and radiation, solid waste disposal, and hazardous materials regulation. Her leadership at LDEQ maintained essential standards for soil and groundwater remediation while implementing initiatives of advanced and innovative technologies for waste conversion to feedstocks, including internship programs for the next generation of environmental leaders.
In one of the Nation’s most industrial states, she issued more than 36,000 environmental permits and certificates annually. Aurelia attacked federal overreach through challenges to federal zoning of private lands, wetland determinations, discriminatory emission standards, and other facets of federal overreach. She has worked collaboratively with elected officials and communities to develop federal and state legislative frameworks that promote sustainable new energy generation and economic growth while minimizing compliance burdens and streamlining permitting initiatives. Her crisis management experience is notable, having coordinated responses to significant environmental events, including hurricanes, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security to ensure effective regulatory compliance within the oil and gas sector. She has also led strategy for crisis communications in delivering key messages during turbulent transitions.
In her capacity within the Department of the Interior, Aurelia provided strategic direction and oversight for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, managing an annual budget of $2.9 billion and leading a workforce of over 8,500 employees. In this capacity, she was instrumental in implementing key policies under the key environmental laws Her work in the environmental laws, include the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Mining Act of 1872, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and the National Historic Preservation Act. Her work has involved handling permits, compliance orders, information requests, reporting requirements, remediation issues, penalties
Aurelia’s expertise extends to funding/grant reviews for alignment with policy goals, laws, and statutes, and consistency with legal and regulatory frameworks. She has managed criminal and legal divisions during her state and federal service, overseeing litigation and enforcement actions related to various environmental laws, and rulemaking, demonstrating her comprehensive understanding of the regulatory landscape.
Aurelia serves a broad mix of clients, including corporations, municipalities, small businesses, utility districts, non-governmental organizations, associations, and state entities, across the full scope of her environmental and regulatory experience. She provides critical counsel on legal, regulatory, policy, legislative, and sustainability matters. Recognizing that advocacy is often a key component of effective environmental strategy, she values relationships, brings unconventional thinking when needed, and leads conversations around balancing ecological integrity with economic growth while championing innovative solutions to today’s environmental challenges.
