Inspection Overview: Accomplishments and Goals/Jason Bolenbaugh (Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality) Arkansas Water Works and Water Environment Association Presentation

Mr. Jason Bolenbaugh undertook a presentation at the Arkansas Water Works and Water Environment Association Conference titled:

Inspection Overview: Accomplishments and Goals (“Presentation”)

Mr. Bolenbaugh is a Compliance Branch Manager of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality’s (“ADEQ”) Office of Water Quality.

The Presentation included a discussion of ADEQ Office of Water Quality field offices and personnel. They were described as:

• 8 District Field Offices
• 20 Field Inspectors (4 Oil & Gas)
• 2 Supervisors, 2 Administrative Specialists, and 1 Manager

The various ADEQ inspection types by the Office were discussed. They were described as including:

• Compliance Evaluation
• Compliance Sampling
• Collection System/SSO
• Pretreatment
• Stormwater
• Construction
• Industrial
• MS4
• Complaints
• STAA
• Fish Kills
• Spills/Emergency Response
• State Permits
• Compliance Assistance
• Water Routes

The Presentation included a discussion of why facilities are inspected addressing:

• Scheduled
• Complaint Based
• Requested

The focus areas identified included:

• United States Environmental Protection CMS Requirements

• Identified Areas for Improvement

  • Individual Discharge Permits

  • Pretreatment Inspections

  • MS4 Audits

  • Construction & Industrial Stormwater

Set Goals were described such as:

• Primary Goals
• Secondary Goals
• Complete by September 30, 2016

The Presentation included “Individual Discharge Results” for FY 2013-2017 for:

• Majors
• Minors
• SSO/Collection System

Data for stormwater was referenced for:

• MS4

• Industrial Stormwater

• Stormwater

  • Phase 1

  • Phase 2

Under the heading “Other Notables” over 1,034 oil and gas inspections were cited and more than 400 complaints.

The future in terms of “Fiscal Year 2017 and Beyond” was described as:

• Refined Goals and Schedules

  • CEI’s scheduled according to Permit Renewal

  • 2-year plan for majors

  • 5-year plan for MS4s

  • 5-year plan for PCIs

• Increased consistency = increased compliance?

• Increased Accountability

• Decreased Confusion

Schedules for “Major Municipals” and “Major Industrials” were referenced. Also noted were MS4 Audits and Pretreatment Compliance Inspections.

Challenges were identified as:

• Turnover

  • 21 inspectors have left the Branch since 2012

  • Permittee has similar challenges

• Training and Experience

  • Takes time to gain knowledge

  • Ranges from 14 years to weeks

The Presentation also addressed under the topic of “Working Together”:

• Use the inspectors and inspections as a tool to improve your facility
• Do not hesitate to call if you need assistance or have questions
• Do not ignore requests for information

A copy of the Presentation can be downloaded here.