Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive |
Totals Climb Into Hundreds Of MillionsPublished Wednesday, February 18, 1998 in the Nevada County Picayunefrom State Rep. Percy Malone Protecting and maintaining the environment of Arkansas carries great importance as well as a high price tag. Recent studies show that for every $100 spent in Arkansas by state and local governments, about six dollars will be spent on the environment. That totals environmental expenditures in the hundreds of millions of dollars for state and local governments. Much of the expense is required to provide waste disposal and treatment, to ensure the safety of natural resources and to perform safety inspections, which can promote the responsible use of other wise hazardous materials. Within state government, the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology is faced with the task of providing the expertise to patrol the condition of the environment statewide. The department takes its responsibilities seriously and recognizes the significance of a well cared for natural environment. The department's mission statement reflects its level of commitment by saying its role is 'to protect and enhance the environment by the control and abatement of pollution that might adversely affect the water, air and land, in a manner consistent with the economic well-being of all Arkansans.' Members of the 81st Arkansas General Assembly enacted several pieces of legislation that support the department in its mission. Act 1219 of 1997 provides for the renaming of the department in addition to further defining the role of the organization. Effective March 31, 1999, the department will become known as the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). The new name will help to further establish the department as an independent entity of state government. Act 310 of 1997 authorizes the department to collect fees from facilities that choose to operate under conditions of a Pollution Prevention Plan instead of an air permit, and it allows the department to carry out responsibilities established by the Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990. Act 691 of 1997 creates the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund for Pollution Control and Prevention, which is to be administered by the Department of Pollution Control and Ecology. The fund will be used to provide financial assistance to small businesses as they seek to meet regulatory mandates in pollution control and develop pollution prevention techniques. Act 1207 of 1997 outlines the authority of illegal dumps control officers to enforce laws and regulations regarding illegal dumping and requires that the officers obtain licenses from the Department. These laws and many others may help Arkansas in her plight to retain her place as 'The Natural State.' This title has been applied because of Arkansas' scenic beauty and rich natural heritage, but it will not be applicable any longer if pollution and exploitation of natural resources is left unchecked. The Arkansas General Assembly and the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology are working to ensure the safety of the natural environment. Their efforts in combination with preventive measures enacted by citizens and businesses statewide may help secure the beauty of the state for the future. Search | Nevada County Picayune by date | Gurdon Times by date |
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