School Not Required to Pay Attorneys' Fees Even Where IDEA Violation Found
December 30, 2019
by Devin R. Bates
A hearing officer with the Arkansas Department of Education (“ADE”) finds that a school violated the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) by failing to evaluate and develop a behavior intervention plan (“BIP”) to address a student’s behavior deficits. Under the IDEA, this…
Analysis of State Recycling Definitions: Environmental Research & Educational Foundation Report
December 30, 2019
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Environmental Research & Educational Foundation (“Foundation”) issued a 2019 report titled: Analysis of State Recycling Definitions (“Report”) The Report represents an effort by the Foundation to “document the various ways recycling may be defined” by the 49 state agencies that use that term…
Air Enforcement: Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment Division of Environmental Quality and Van Buren County, Arkansas, Natural Gas Compression Station Operator Enter into Consent Administrative Order
December 30, 2019
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment Division of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) and XTO Energy, Inc., (“XTO”) entered into a November 27th Consent Administrative Order (“CAO”) addressing alleged violations of an air permit. See LIS No. 19-108. The CAO provides that XTO owns and operates…
Hemp/Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Announces Approval of 10 Pesticide Products
December 27, 2019
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) on December 19th approved the use of 10 pesticide products on hemp pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (“FIFRA”). Nine of these products are denominated biopesticides and one is described as a conventional…
Arkansas Darter Survey: Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission Identifies Additional Darters
December 27, 2019
by Walter G. Wright, Jr.
The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (“ANHC”) announced in a December 20th publication that a survey had identified additional Arkansas Darters. The survey was undertaken by both ANHC Aquatic Ecologist Dustin Lynch and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The Arkansas Darter is described as a…