Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality Office of Land Resources Update: Kevin White (Deputy Director) Arkansas Environmental Federation Convention Presentation

Mr. Kevin White undertook a presentation at the Arkansas Environmental Federation Convention/Tradeshow titled:

Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality of Land Resources Update (“Presentation”)

Mr. White serves as the Deputy Director (Office of Land Resources) for the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”).

The Presentation addressed a number of programs and issues related to the Office of Land Resources.

Of particular importance, Mr. White reviewed the 2016 ADEQ reorganization. The reorganization created the Office of Land Resources. Mr. White noted that this Office now includes:

• Hazardous Waste
• Regulated Storage Tanks
• Mining
• Solid Waste
• Used Tire Recycling & Accountability

Key personnel heading certain sections include:

• Operations & Policy – Julie Nicol
• Regulated Waste Operations – Charles Johnson
• Resource Management – Bob Blanz
• Used Tire Recycling & Accountability – Tammie Hynum

The functions and areas of each of these four parts of the Office were described.

A significant portion of the Presentation addressed the Used Tire Recycling & Accountability program. This program includes the following topics:

• Generators & Transporters
• Processors & Waste Tire Sites
• Business Planning

Mr. White reviewed the development of the Used Tire Recycling & Accountability program legislation that was passed by the Arkansas Legislature in the previous legislative session. He noted that the primary goal of the program was to:

. . . recycle or put to beneficial use as many used tires as possible.

The legislation (Act 317) is being expeditiously implemented by ADEQ. For example, the development of an implementing regulation (36) was discussed.

Specific goals of the tire program are stated to include:

• Protect public health and environmental quality
  • Reduce nuisance tire sites
    • Habitat for pests and vector-borne disease
    • Fire hazard
  • Divert tires out of landfills
  • Promote recycling & reuse of tires

• Economic development and efficiency
  • Put used tires to beneficial use
  • Implement electronic manifest system for efficiency and accountability
  • Equalize fees and protect consumers
  • Manage reimbursements to local used tire programs

The program is stated to benefit:

• Individuals
  • Flat “rim fee” prevents overcharging/confusion
• Retailers
  • Simplified compliance
  • Tire dealers receive 5 cents more per tire
  • Fewer tires excluded from payment

• Communities

  • Increased funding for tire abatement
  • Electronic manifest enhances regional cooperation and accountability
  • Increased recycling of used tires reduces public health threats and financial liability
  • Job creation from market innovations
  • Incentives for public-private partnership

A copy of Mr. White’s slides can be downloaded here.