A MESSAGE FROM THE ADEQ DIRECTOR

Our office building is a short stroll from the Arkansas River Trail. It’s so close that many of us walk there during lunch for exercise or inspiration. The trail project is a unique partnership of public and private interests in central Arkansas. The first time I heard about the proposal, I didn’t imagine that we would see a trail of more than 11 miles meandering through Pulaski County, with more on the way.

Three years ago I couldn’t have foreseen the expansion of activity resulting from natural gas exploration and drilling in the Fayetteville Shale area of north and central Arkansas, with economic benefits to the state in the billions of dollars.

As activity in the Fayetteville Shale escalated, we scrambled to analyze the environmental impact, and then responded with general permits that included provisions to protect against environmental harm that could result from activities associated with both natural gas and oil drilling.

The Department is charged with protecting, enhancing, and restoring environmental quality for the benefit of all Arkansans. In performing that mission we attempt to balance environmental needs with other demands of society and the economy, recognizing, of course, that environmental concerns are paramount. Our authority is bound by state and federal law, and our regulations are based on sound science.

Water quality protection associated with natural gas activities is a high-profile project, but certainly not our only concern. We permit and inspect thousands of businesses across the state, from car washes to major manufacturers. Our regulatory programs protect ambient air, water, and land from the threat of pollution.

Some want us to respond to environmental concerns and energy needs as quickly as the information of the moment arrives over the Internet. As regulators, we will protect the environment. As scientists, we will proceed deliberately. As professionals, we will continue to listen and learn and adapt to new information and technology.

My work at ADEQ causes me to consider how fortunate we, as Arkansans, are to have an abundance of resources in our state and how critical it is that we take measures to ensure the viability of those resources for generations to come. Please join me as we enjoy the beauty of Arkansas, as we protect its resources, and as we develop and succeed in ways we cannot even imagine today.

Teresa Marks
ADEQ Director

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