Teresa Marks, Director
5301 Northshore Drive
North Little Rock, AR 72118-5317 
(501) 682-0744

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The Emergency Response Section is a unit within the Hazardous Waste Division.

The staff of two specialists, the Manager and the Emergency Response Coordinator, has the primary responsibility of implementing and coordinating first response to oil and chemical releases to the Arkansas environment.

Notification of a spill or release is normally made to the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) on Camp J. T. Robinson in North Little Rock (800-322-4012), which is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When the ADEM receives information about a petroleum product or hazardous material release, it notifies one of the section members, one of whom is always on call. The manager and coordinator are both skilled in emergency response procedures, and immediately initiate actions to mitigate the effects of pollution and secure assistance from other agencies at all governmental levels and/or from private sources to control releases of contaminants.

Once the emergency phase of a substance release is over, the Section depends on the regulatory programs – represented by the Air, Solid Waste, Water, Hazardous Waste and Regulated Storage Tank Divisions – to conduct investigations and pursue appropriate remedies to environmental pollution, whether deliberate or accidental.

The Department does have an 800 telephone line, (800-327-8411 or 800-EARTH-11), which is monitored by the Emergency Response Section. This is only for routine, non-time sensitive matters such as public access to information about the Department programs and personnel. It also allows citizens to report any suspected violations of environmental laws, such as illegal dumping, or air or water releases which could endanger the ecosystem. Please note that this number is not for emergency or time-critical notifications because it is not attended 24 hours a day. Use the ADEM number (800-322-4012) for emergencies.

This Section maintains records of spills which occur in Arkansas from any source, including transportation or fixed manufacturing or storage facilities. The spills registry is maintained on a continuously updated computer data file which was begun in October 1989. The public may request information on spills which have occurred in a specific area (city, county, etc.) from this data file by request to the Section.

The Emergency Response Section also coordinates training with EPA Region VI in emergency response techniques, particularly relating to OSHA-required training levels for Department personnel and other public employees.

Contact Information

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Inquiries concerning spill issues should be addressed to:

Dean VanDerhoff	(501) 682-0716	vanderhoff@adeq.state.ar.us
Fax:	(501) 682-0798
Street Address:	5301 Northshore Drive North Little Rock, AR 72118-5317