AR HB1716

Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality Director may authorize short-term activities affecting water quality standards if essential to public interest protection and unlikely to cause permanent impairment of beneficial uses.

Eligible short-term activities include wastewater treatment facility maintenance, fish eradication, mosquito abatement, algae and weed control, dredge and fill projects, construction activities, and beneficial use enhancement or maintenance.

Processing fees for short-term activity authorizations shall not exceed $200 per stream crossing, in-stream activity, or other eligible activity at each identified site.

Department shall waive 25% of fees annually to state agencies, boards, commissions, municipalities, cities, or counties, and may waive all fees for emergency activities (storm debris removal, emergency bridge or road maintenance or repair) upon written request.

State agencies, municipalities, or counties must provide phone or email notice before in-stream activity and submit written waiver requests describing emergency conditions, with completion notice required after activity concludes.