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

(CLICK HERE to go to the Air Division Home Page)

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Arkansans enjoy consistently clean, healthy air. ADEQ’s Air Division staff manages protection of air quality ensuring that Arkansas has clean and healthy air. Arkansas’ commitment to clean air is crystal clear when one considers how the increase of industrial air pollutants is well below Arkansas’ overall growth in the last decade.

• The Division's Permits Branch issues new permits and permit modifications.
  
• The Compliance Monitoring Branch ensures that facilities are operating according to state and federal regulations.
  
• The Program Support Branch consists of three distinct sections, Administration, Enforcement and Asbestos.  The Asbestos Section is responsible for implementing state and federal programs related to projects that remodel or demolish buildings containing asbestos. It also implements certification programs for training providers, firms, and individuals involved in conducting asbestos abatement projects.  The enforcement section is responsible for recommending the actions to be taken in the event a facility is not complying with the appropriate regulations.  The administration section is responsible for the Division’s budget, grant application submittal and tracking, supplies, purchase request, travel request, mail processing, and other administrative tasks.
  
• The Asbestos  Section is responsible for implementing state and federal programs related to projects that remodel or demolish buildings containing asbestos. It also implements certification programs for training providers, firms, and individuals involved in conducting asbestos abatement projects.
• The Planning and Air Quality Analysis Branch is responsible for regulatory review and revision and scientific analysis of pollutant emissions and population exposure. It provides technical and educational assistance to the Air Division, the regulated community and the public.
  

Statewide Response

Seventeen out of the twenty-one ADEQ air inspectors live and work outside of Pulaski County so that the Department can quickly respond to environmental emergencies and concerns.

Permit Programs

The Air Division administers all delegated federal air programs. The Air Division reviews permit applications in order to assess the air quality impacts of facilities' emissions and to determine if facilities can comply with existing rules and regulations.

Regulated Air Pollutants

One set of regulated pollutants are called criteria air pollutants. They are common pollutants and include ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulates, sulfur dioxide and lead. Ozone is formed by the reaction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sunlight and nitrogen oxides. Because of their role in the formation of ozone, VOCs are also regulated.

Permits

The Air Division administers all delegated federal air programs. The Air Division reviews permit applications in order to assess the air quality impacts of facilities’ emissions and to determine if facilities can comply with existing rules and regulations.

Regulated facilities

Facilities that emit air pollution are regulated according to the type of industry and by the volume and the types of pollutants they emit. Major sources of air pollution are regulated through the Title V program. Facilities that emit more than 100 tons per year of a criteria pollutant are considered major sources, as are facilities that produce 10 tons per year of a single Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) or 25 tons of any combination of HAPs. Facilities that produce the largest volumes of pollution may be permitted through the more stringent Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program.

Facilities that emit pollutants below the Title V threshold may be eligible to apply for a minor source permit. Some facilities with similar processes may be eligible for regulation through general permit programs.

Compliance and Monitoring

The Compliance Monitoring Branch ensures that facilities comply with laws and regulations through inspections, stack testing and monitoring of reporting requirements. Major sources are inspected at least once each year, minor sources at least every two years, and general operating permittees at least every three years. Facilities that are the subject of complaint reports are inspected more frequently.

Economic Development Zone (EDZ)

EDZ is a designation which allows new emission sources to be located in a non-attainment area that meets specific socio-economic criteria, while demonstrating that new emissions will not affect re-attainment of the ozone standard. Crittenden County is the first area in the nation to receive an EDZ designation.

Action Against Ozone

Ozone Action Days is a public awareness program encouraging people to take simple voluntary measures to improve air quality by reducing ground-level ozone emissions in Central Arkansas.

When warm weather and other conditions trigger an Ozone Action Day alert, people are asked to adjust some of their daily activities, such as:

• Carpooling or sharing rides
• Waiting until after 6:00 p.m. to use gas powered equipment or put gasoline in automobiles
• Limiting vigorous outdoor activity for those with respiratory problems
• Not using oil-based paints and solvents

The local weather service and news media cooperate with participating agencies in publicizing Ozone Action Day alerts. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is published on the ADEQ Website to communicate air quality updates to the public.

• Air Quality Index (AQI) - Little Rock
• Air Quality Index (AQI) - Springdale

Asbestos

The Asbestos Section is responsible for implementing state and federal programs related to projects that remodel or demolish buildings containing asbestos. It also implements certification programs for training providers, firms, and individuals involved in conducting asbestos abatement projects.

Individuals who work in asbestos and lead abatement fields must be licensed or certified by ADEQ after appropriate training and testing.