Hazardous Waste Division

Who We Are and What We Do

(CLICK HERE to go to the Hazardous Waste Division Main Page)

The Hazardous Waste Division staff issues permits, conducts investigations, and coordinates enforcement actions governing the transportation, storage, and disposal of those wastes requiring the most stringent management because of their potential danger to human health and the environment.

The Division is divided into three branches: Enforcement and Inspection, Programs, and Technical.

ENFORCEMENT AND INSPECTION

The Enforcement and Inspection Branch coordinates the Division’s enforcement actions, inspects facilities that generate, treat, store, and/or dispose of hazardous wastes; and responds to citizen complaints and emergencies.

The Hazardous Waste Division staff performs annual unannounced compliance inspections of generators and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDs). Commercial TSDs are inspected twice yearly. Any facility that generates hazardous waste is subject to inspection. Staff conducts site assessment investigations at abandoned sites where hazardous substances may be located, and manages maintenance and cleanup of abandoned hazardous substance sites.

PROGRAMS

The Programs Branch compiles data for reporting purposes, administers the contractor  certification program, and maintains the federal authorization and grants for the hazardous waste program.

TECHNICAL

The Technical Branch permits facilities that manage, treat, and/ or dispose of hazardous waste, manages cleanup activities at active facilities, inactive sites, and assesses the risk of hazardous substances to human health and the environment.

REGULATED ACTIVITY

Wastes are defined as “hazardous” through laws and regulations. Some wastes are designated as hazardous because they exhibit dangerous characteristics: they are ignitable, corrosive, reactive, or toxic. Any facility which generates, stores, transports, treats, or disposes of these or other regulated hazardous wastes are subject to hazardous waste regulations.

Hazardous wastes are not uncommon. It’s estimated that at least 20,000 businesses in Arkansas generate hazardous waste. Printers, equipment repair shops, manufacturers, dry cleaners, automotive maintenance shops, and funeral homes are some of the businesses that are generators of hazardous waste. Also regulated are treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDs) that manage hazardous waste.

Hazardous waste requires a more stringent level of labeling, packaging, and processing for disposal than does household and industrial municipal solid waste. Facilities are regulated according to the amount of hazardous waste they generate; the larger the quantity of hazardous waste generated, the more stringent the regulation.

Some facilities generate such a small amount of hazardous waste that they are exempt from some of the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations.

Facilities must investigate and remediate hazardous waste releases that occur at their site. These are done through voluntary actions, enforcement actions, or by court order.

Sites in Arkansas which are being cleaned through the federal remediation program (Superfund) are listed in the National Priority List (NPL). Sites in Arkansas which are being cleaned through the Remedial Action Trust fund Act (RATFA) are listed on the State Priority List. (SPL).

Environmental Laws
Federal
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Subtitle C
  • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
State
  • Arkansas Hazardous Waste Management Act
  • Remedial Action Trust Fund Act
  • Arkansas Voluntary Clean-up Act
Hazardous Waste Regulations
Reg. 23 (PDF) - Hazardous Waste Management
Reg. 29 (PDF) - Brownfields
Reg. 30 (PDF) - Arkansas Remedial Action Trust Fund Hazardous Substances Site Priority List
Reg. 32 (PDF) - Environmental Professional Certification Program
Regulated Hazardous Waste Division
Statistics FY 2011
Hazardous Waste Staff 50
Regulated Hazardous Waste Handlers
Active Permitted Treatment, Storage,
and Disposal Facilities:
Hazardous Waste Transporters:
Large Quantity Generators:
Small Quantity Generators:
19
52
180
300
Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement
Inspections    Enforcement
Scheduled:
Complaint:
Total:		 63
47
110		    Informal:
Formal:
Total:		 58
23
82

INACTIVE SITES – ARKANSAS NPL AND RATFA LIST

BROWNFIELDS REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

Other inactive sites are being cleaned through a voluntary initiative called the Brownfields Program. Individuals, companies or real estate developers who did not contribute to site contamination and who wish to purchase one of these abandoned properties may enter into an agreement with ADEQ for cleanup. The program encourages cleanup and reuse of contaminated property; thereby avoiding development of pristine land.

Inactive Sites - Fiscal year 2011
Voluntary Cleanup Projects:
Brownfield Redevelopments:		 4
6

Other Disposal Issues

The Hazardous Waste Division staff provides disposal information on the ADEQ Web site for these hazardous waste issues:

  • Transportation requirements
  • Universal waste disposal
  • Used oil management