§ 8-4-311 - Powers generally. - Arkansas Statutes

8-4-311. Powers generally.

(a) The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality or its successor shall have the power to:

(1) Develop and effectuate a comprehensive program for the prevention and control of all sources of pollution of the air of this state;

(2) Advise, consult, and cooperate with other agencies of the state, political subdivisions, industries, other states, the federal government, and with affected groups in the furtherance of the purposes of this chapter;

(3) Encourage and conduct studies, investigations, and research relating to air pollution and its causes, prevention, control, and abatement as it may deem advisable and necessary;

(4) Collect and disseminate information relative to air pollution and its prevention and control;

(5) Consider complaints and make investigations;

(6) Encourage voluntary cooperation by the people, municipalities, counties, industries, and others in preserving and restoring the purity of the air within the state;

(7) Administer and enforce all laws and regulations relating to pollution of the air;

(8) Represent the state in all matters pertaining to plans, procedures, or negotiations for interstate compacts in relation to air pollution control;

(9) (A) Cooperate with and receive moneys from the federal government or any other source for the study and control of air pollution.

(B) The department is designated as the official state air pollution control agency for such purposes;

(10) Make, issue, modify, revoke, and enforce orders prohibiting, controlling, or abating air pollution and requiring the adoption of remedial measures to prevent, control, or abate air pollution;

(11) Institute court proceedings to compel compliance with the provisions of this chapter and rules, regulations, and orders issued pursuant to this chapter; and

(12) Exercise all of the powers in the control of air pollution granted to the department for the control of water pollution under 8-4-101 -- 8-4-106 and 8-4-201 -- 8-4-229.

(b) The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission shall have the power to:

(1) (A) Promulgate rules and regulations for implementing the substantive statutes charged to the department for administration.

(B) In promulgation of such rules and regulations, prior to the submittal to public comment and review of any rule, regulation, or change to any rule or regulation that is more stringent than federal requirements, the commission shall duly consider the economic impact and the environmental benefit of such rule or regulation on the people of the State of Arkansas, including those entities that will be subject to the regulation.

(C) The commission shall promptly initiate rulemaking to further implement the analysis required under subdivision (b)(1)(B) of this section.

(D) The extent of the analysis required under subdivision (b)(1)(B) of this section shall be defined in the commission's rulemaking required under subdivision (b)(1)(C) of this section. It will include a written report that shall be available for public review along with the proposed rule in the public comment period.

(E) Upon completion of the public comment period, the commission shall compile a rulemaking record or response to comments demonstrating a reasoned evaluation of the relative impact and benefits of the more stringent regulation;

(2) Promulgate rules, regulations, and procedures not otherwise governed by applicable law that the commission deems necessary to secure public participation in environmental decision-making processes;

(3) Promulgate rules and regulations governing administrative procedures for challenging or contesting department actions;

(4) In the case of permitting or grants decisions, provide the right to appeal a permitting or grants decision rendered by the Director of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality or his or her delegatee;

(5) In the case of an administrative enforcement or emergency action, providing the right to contest any such action initiated by the director;

(6) Instruct the director to prepare such reports or perform such studies as will advance the cause of environmental protection in the state;

(7) Make recommendations to the director regarding overall policy and administration of the department, provided, however, that the director shall always remain within the plenary authority of the Governor;

(8) Upon a majority vote, initiate review of any director's decision;

(9) Adopt, after notice and public hearing, reasonable and nondiscriminatory rules and regulations requiring the registration of and the filing of reports by persons engaged in operations that may result in air pollution;

(10) (A) Adopt, after notice and public hearing, reasonable and nondiscriminatory rules and regulations, including requiring a permit or other regulatory authorization from the department, before any equipment causing the issuance of air contaminants may be built, erected, altered, replaced, used, or operated, except in the case of repairs or maintenance of equipment for which a permit has been previously used, and revoke or modify any permit issued under this chapter or deny any permit when it is necessary, in the opinion of the department, to prevent, control, or abate air pollution.

(B) A permit shall be issued for the operation or use of any equipment or any facility in existence upon the effective date of any rule or regulation requiring a permit if proper application is made for the permit.

(C) No such permit shall be modified or revoked without prior notice and hearing as provided in this section.

(D) Any person that is denied a permit by the department or that has such permit revoked or modified shall be afforded an opportunity for a hearing in connection therewith upon written application made within thirty (30) days after service of notice of such denial, revocation, or modification.

(E) The operation of any existing equipment or facility for which a proper permit application has been made shall not be interrupted pending final action thereon.

(F) (i) An applicant or permit holder that has had a complete application for a permit or for a modification of a permit pending longer than the time specified in the state regulations promulgated pursuant to Title V of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, or any person that participated in the public participation process, and any other person that could obtain judicial review of such actions under state laws, may petition the commission for relief from department inaction.

(ii) The commission will either deny or grant the petition within forty-five (45) days of its submittal.

(iii) For the purposes of judicial review, either a commission denial or the failure of the department to render a final decision within thirty (30) days after the commission has granted a petition shall constitute final agency action; and

(11) (A) Establish through its rulemaking authority, either alone or in conjunction with the appropriate state or local agencies, a system for the banking and trading of air emissions designed to maintain both the state's attainment status with the national ambient air quality standards mandated by the Clean Air Act and the overall air quality of the state.

(B) The commission may consider differential valuation of emission credits as necessary to achieve primary and secondary national ambient air quality standards, and may consider establishing credits for air pollutants other than those designated as criteria air pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

(C) Any regulation proposed pursuant to this authorization shall be reported to the House Interim Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor and the Senate Interim Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor or appropriate subcommittees thereof prior to its final promulgation.