Ms. Demetria Kimbrough undertook a presentation at the May 9th Arkansas Environmental Federation Air Seminar.
The presentation was titled:
ON THE AIR WITH E&E
Ms. Kimbrough serves as the Associate Director of the Office of Air Quality of the Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment – Division of Environmental Quality.
The Office of Air Quality consists of four branches:
- Permits
- Compliance
- Policy and Planning
- Asbestos and Enforcement
A key focus of the Office of Air Quality is meeting Arkansas’ federal obligations under the Clean Air Act.
Ms. Kimbrough’s presentation included an overview addressing:
- Office of Air Quality management restructuring
- SEEK transition (i.e., the new data management system for Arkansas Energy & Environment)
- Regulatory and funding updates
- Final rules PM 2.5, MATS, Greenhouse gas emissions
- Grants CPRG, IRA/IIJA Air Monitoring Network Funding
The Office of Air Quality management was identified which includes:
- Deputy Associate Director Heath Cobb
- Senior Operations Manager Tom Rheaume
- OAW Budget Liaison Karen Blue
- Compliance Manager Heinz Braun
- Policy Manager Erika Droke
- Asbestos Coordinator Ron Allen
- Enforcement Coordinator Heather Graham
- Air Lab Coordinator Robert Graddy
The Asbestos Branch was noted to be the first Office of Air Quality team to test SEEK. Advantages of the system were stated to include:
- Integrated account and documentation management for permitted sources
- Streamlined processing and account services
The presentation provided a regulatory update of the relevant rules and state implementation plans which identified:
- Rule/subject
- Affected sources
- Arkansas notes
- Plan going forward
Each of these categories were addressed on the slide for the following rules:
- EGU GHGs 111(d)
- Oil and Gas GHGs 111(d)
- EGU MATS
- PM 2.5 standard
- Ozone in Crittenden County
In terms of the final PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard the presentation noted that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) used 2020-2022 data to develop the rule and regulatory impact analysis. Further, designation letters are stated to be due to EPA February 7, 2025, using 2021-2023 data. 2023 data is stated to be not yet “final”. EPA final designations are stated to be February 6, 2026, using 2022-2024 data.
Updates were provided for the following additional issues:
- 2015 Ozone Transport – State Implementation Plan and Federal Implementation Plan
- Regional Haze Planning Period II State Implementation Plan
- Regional Haze Planning Period III
An update was also provided on funding/grants activity noting:
- Developed and submitted the Arkansas Energy and Environment Innovation Plan under CPRG Planning Funds March 2024
- Awarded 2 grants under IRA/IIJA funding to improve Arkansas’ monitoring network, update equipment, train staff, and automate AQ data processes
GO RED! (Reducing Emissions from Diesels) was addressed:
- Over 1 million in funding assistance distributed in 2023-2024
- This year’s program was open only one month before all funds allocated
- Changes coming to simplify the application process, set aside funds for specific air quality goals
A copy of the presentation can be downloaded here.
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