What's New at ADEQ?

Comment Period Extended for the Air Regulation Streamlining Project

In response to requests from stakeholders, ADEQ is extending the deadline for written comments on the Air Integrated Regulation (AIR) streamlining project by sixty days to October 20, 2018. A pre-initiation draft of Regulation 35 and additional information related to the project are available on the AIR Streamlining web page.

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Revisions to Regulation No. 19 Approved into State Implementation Plan

Over the past year, EPA has issued a series of actions to approve revisions adopted by the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission that were submitted by ADEQ for inclusion in the federally-approved state implementation plan. On August 8, 2018, EPA published in the Federal Register a direct final rule that addresses the remaining revisions to Regulation No. 19 that weren’t addressed in previous actions. EPA’s direct final rule, which is effective on November 6, 2018 unless EPA receives adverse comment, means that the federally-approved state implementation plan requirements will once again be consistent with current requirements under Regulation No. 19. EPA’s timely actions on ADEQ’s state implementation plan submittals illustrate the enhanced cooperation that EPA and ADEQ have committed to in their cooperative partnership.

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The federal Clean Water Act requires Arkansas to submit a report to the United States Environmental Protection Agency on the quality of water in the state every two years. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality released the proposed 2018 303(d) List, which is part of the report, today and seeks public comment on the proposed list through Monday, September 10, 2018. The proposed 2018 list is available at https://www.adeq.state.ar.us/water/planning/integrated/303d/list.aspx.

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Pollution Prevention and Lean Principles Training Set for Little Rock

ADEQ is partnering with the University of Texas at Arlington’s Environmental Training Institute to present a workshop on pollution prevention and Lean business practices. The training is set for July 31 – August 1, 2018, at the Cox Center, 120 River Market Avenue, in Little Rock. Sessions will be from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

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The 2018 Ozone Season has Begun!

Ozone season in Arkansas began on May 1st and runs through September 30th. That means it is important for everyone, but especially people with certain health conditions, to check the Air Quality Index before exercising outdoors for longer periods of time. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has already begun issuing forecasts for ground-level ozone, which may be particularly harmful to certain groups of people. When ozone concentrations reach higher levels, it can irritate airways and decrease lung function. People at greater risk of experiencing these symptoms include those with asthma, children, older adults, and individuals who are active outdoors. ADEQ has partnered with Metroplan, the Arkansas Department of Health, and the Arkansas Department of Transportation to inform the community about the potential risks from ground-level ozone. Learn more about ozone season.

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