Northwest District

Image

The Northwest District, headquartered in Pensacola with branch offices in Tallahassee and Panama City, provides environmental permitting assistance and environmental education outreach in 16 counties in the Florida Panhandle.

Famous for its stunning sugar-white beaches and beautiful emerald waters, Florida’s Panhandle attracts visitors from all over the world. The region is home to many freshwater and saltwater fishing spots as well as the source of the famed Apalachicola Bay oysters. Northwest Florida’s diverse landscape is also filled with natural springs, unique hardwood forests and fresh water rivers.

The Northwest District promotes environmental protection through regulatory consistency, accountability and partnerships in support of a growing economy and healthy community. In addition to issuing various kinds of program-specific permits, the district's offices conduct the majority of the day-to-day environmental inspections, including the performance of compliance assistance and enforcement functions.

District Director Elizabeth Orr provides guidance and oversight to the program areas. The district’s three program areas include:

• The Office of Business Planning
• Permitting Program
• Compliance Assurance Program

Jurisdiction: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton and Washington counties.

Meet the Director

Elizabeth Mullins Orr, Director, Northwest District

As director of the department’s Northwest District, Elizabeth is responsible for environmental permitting, compliance, and environmental education for DEP’s regulatory programs within the 16 counties of the Florida Panhandle. 

Prior to being promoted to district director, Elizabeth served as the district’s assistant director for five years, and was responsible for overseeing the district's Compliance Assurance program. She also previously served as program administrator for the district’s Permitting program.

Elizabeth was born and raised in South Carolina and has Bachelor’s Degrees in Biology and Anthropology and a Masters Degree in Environmental Studies from the College of Charleston.

.