Ms. Tori Gordon, Associate Director – Office of Land Resources of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (“ADEQ”) undertook a presentation at the Arkansas Environmental Federation (“AEF”) Convention.
The topic of Ms. Gordon’s presentation was Office of Land Resources Update.
The Office of Land Resources is one of the three “Offices” encompassing the agency’s environmental media programs. The other ADEQ offices addressing environmental media are Air and Water.
The Office of Land Resources includes the former ADEQ Divisions of Hazardous Waste, Regulated Storage Tanks, Solid Waste Management and Surface Mining & Reclamation.
Ms. Gordon was named the Associate Director of the Office of Land Resources a number of months ago. She formerly served as a Policy Advisor in Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson’s Office. Her other activities in the Governor’s Office included:
- Governor’s Wind and Energy Coalition Representative
- Southern States’ Energy Board (Governor’s Alternative)
- Arkansas Workforce Retention Task Force
Ms. Gordon’s AEF presentation addressed topics such as:
- ADEQ’s Reorganization
- Creation of the Previously Referenced Offices
- Additions to the Agency’s Leadership Team
- Increased Communication, Cooperation and Consistency
The core responsibilities of the Office of Land Resources were identified, such as:
- Assure the proper handling, storage, treatment and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes
- Ensure proper operation and maintenance of underground storage tank systems
- Investigate, manage and remediate contaminated soil and groundwater
- Regulate the mining of coal and other mineral resources
Office of Land Resource accomplishments were listed as:
- Consistency in enforcement actions
- OSMRE reported that Arkansas is properly administering both the coal regulatory program and the abandoned mine land reclamation program
- Leadership roles in ASTSWMO & ASWANA
- Implemented LEAN Management practices
- Multiple Brownfield completions
- Prepared design packages for NABORS & DAMCO
- Successfully amended Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission Regulations 23 & 27.
The presentation also included a discussion of the Office of Land Resources leadership team. A personnel chart was reviewed. Further, the responsibilities associated with various sections of the Office of Land Resources were addressed such as:
- Regulated Waste Operations
- Mining
- Remediation & Enforcement
Topics under the heading “Moving Forward” included:
- Submit State Program Approval to EPA
- DAMCO & NABORS Closure/Post-Closure
- Offer more educational outreach training to industry
- Waste Tire Legislation for 2017 Session
- Train new hires and cross-train existing employees
- Look for ways to enhance efficiency and effectiveness
Copies of the slides from Ms. Gordon’s presentation, which includes the leadership personnel chart, can be downloaded here.
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