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The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) Office of Air Quality publishes a quarterly newsletter (“Newsletter).

The Fall 2017 edition was recently published.

Items discussed in the Fall 2017 edition include:

• Arkansas State-Wide Attainment of the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (“NAAQS”)

• Arkansas Attainment of 2010 Sulfur Dioxide NAAQS
  • The Newsletter states that the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued an attainment designation for the NAAQS for Sulfur Dioxide for counties in Arkansas. It notes that all counties in Arkansas have been designated attainment, Unclassifiable/Attainment, or Unclassifiable. Results from sulfur dioxide monitors located in Pulaski and Union Counties are discussed.

• Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (“SIP”)Proposal
  • ADEQ is noted to be seeking public comment on a second Regional Haze SIP revision. It is stated in part:

This proposed SIP revision follows a recently finalized revision that allows power plants to satisfy regional haze nitrogen oxides requirements through compliance with the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. This proposed SIP revision seeks to address the sulfur dioxide particulate matter requirements for power plants.

• Go RED! 2016/2017 Success
  • ADEQ’s grant program for funding voluntary emission reduction projects is discussed. The awards granted to various school districts and the Southern Refrigeration Transport (20 Truck Stop Electrification Units) are noted.

• Permits
  • Discussion of Unchanged Air Permit Fee Factor
  • Reorganized Permits Branch Website Pages
  • Instructions on Dispersion Modeling
  • Request for Surveys on the Permit Process

• Compliance
  • Municipal and County Emergency Burn Sites Pre-Assessment Program

• Enforcement and Asbestos
  • Environmental Self-Disclosure Incentive Policy noting that this policy guides the Office of Air Quality (Enforcement Section) in the exercise of enforcement discretion and outlines conditions in which the amount of the gravity-based component of civil penalties calculated for consent administrative orders may be reduced.
  • Arkansas Asbestos Abatement Grant

Discussion of both grants and asbestos worker certification

A copy of the Newsletter can be found here.