The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment - Division of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) and Little River County entered into a February 21st Consent Administrative Order (“CAO”) addressing alleged violations of Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission (“APC&EC”) Rule 22. See LIS No. 25-012.
The CAO provides that Little River County operates a solid waste transfer facility in Ashdown, Arkansas.
Little River County is stated to have previously entered into three CAO’s. DEQ is stated to have issued Permit No. 0003-STSW-MC to Little River County on October 17, 2007. Such permit authorized the construction and operation of the solid waste transfer station.
DEQ is stated to have conducted an inspection of the facility on May 29, 2024, and identified the following alleged violations:
- Failure to prepare and file annual reports by March 31, covering the previous period of January through December, violating APC&EC Rule 22.904(n).
- Failure to route drainage to approved collection and treatment system, violations APC&EC Rule 22.904(d).
- Failure to discharge all drainage to sanitary sewers or permitted onside treatment facility, violating APC&EC Rule 22.904(l).
After Little River County’s meeting with DEQ on June 14, 2024, it requested an amendment to revise the existing plan to rebuild the transfer station. A plan was submitted to DEQ on June 25, 2024, indicating a plan to install drains, a roof cover, waste pumps, and a leachate holding tank. Detailed plans would be provided by Little River County’s Professional Engineer along with the project schedule. An existing septic tank had been capped to prevent discharge. An estimated timeframe of 12 months was provided to achieve compliance.
The CAO requires that Little River County immediately cease all operations generating drainage from cleaning, unloading, and processing areas. Further, on or before the effective date of the CAO, Little River County must submit a report, stamped by an Arkansas Professional Engineer, stating that any discharge from the septic tank or any connected pipes has ceased.
Within 30 calendar days of the effective date of the CAO, Little River County is required to submit for review and approval a Comprehensive Corrective Action Plan (“CAP”) developed by an Arkansas Professional Engineer, that, at a minimum, contains the methods and best available technologies that will be used to correct the current violations and prevent future violations. A milestone schedule is required with a date of final compliance no later than July 1, 2025. Upon DEQ’s approval of the CAP, Little River County must implement it.
The CAO also requires that within 30 calendar days of the effective date of the CAO Little River County submit to DEQ its 2022 and 2023 annual reports.
A copy of the CAO can be downloaded here.
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