Arkansas will now enforce its own hazardous waste rules, not federal ones

The US environmental regulators have formally approved Arkansas's hazardous waste management program. This means the state's own laws and rules, not federal ones, will now govern how hazardous waste is handled in Arkansas.

This rule shifts the day-to-day enforcement of hazardous waste laws from federal agents to state officials. For companies operating in Arkansas, this means they will now deal directly with state agencies for permits, inspections, and compliance, rather than the US environmental regulators. This decentralization can lead to faster approvals or different enforcement priorities, depending on state policy.