Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission

Established in 2019 as part of the Transformation and Efficiencies Act of 2019 (Act 910), the new umbrella agency called the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment (E&E) absorbed the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission (PC&EC).

The Pollution Control and Ecology Commission is the environmental policy-making body for Arkansas. With guidance from the Governor, the Legislature, the EPA and others, the Commission determines the environmental policy for the state and the Division of Environmental Quality implements those policies.

Though the Commission and the Division of Environmental Quality work closely, each is distinctly different.

The Commission is comprised of 15 members, seven representing state agencies and eight appointed by the Governor. The seven agency representatives are directors - or their designee - of the:

Arkansas Department of Health
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Arkansas Forestry Commission
Arkansas Natural Resources Commission
Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission
Arkansas Geology Commission
Arkansas Department of Agriculture
The eight other members of the Commission represent each of the four congressional districts in the state. Each district must have at least one representative on the Commission, but no more than two representatives.

By law, the Commission must meet four times each year. In practicality, they meet once a month with the exception of November.