Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit
October 27, 2017
Clinton Library

Morning Plenary: (9:00-10:15)
Overview of Changes in U.S. Environmental Policy in the Trump Administration
Hear what environmental policy changes have taken affect since inauguration day and what changes are
planned. An expert on national environmental policies will provide a general overview and insights.

Morning Breakout Sessions: (10:30-11:30)
Changes in National Environmental Regulations and Policies: What They Mean for Arkansas
A panel of experts will discuss the relationship and impacts of recent changes in national environmental
regulations and policies and how they may affect our air and water.

Leading the way at the local level
Hear what is happening in communities around the state to enhance and protect our natural resources
from a panel composed of city and county officials, an electric coop representative, and a community
organizer.

Lunch with Keynote Speaker- (11:45-1:00): Al Armendariz, Senior Campaign Representative, Sierra
Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign; former EPA Region 6 Administrator
 

Afternoon Breakout Session (1:15-2:15)
When The Well Runs Dry: The Depletion of Aquifers in Arkansas, The Consequences, and
Alternatives
The 2014 Arkansas Water Plan states that as a result of over a century of agricultural reliance on
groundwater for crop irrigation, the water levels in these aquifers have been declining. Projections
suggest that by 2050, there will be demand for about 7 million acres feet per year of groundwater that
cannot be met with groundwater supplies in eastern Arkansas. Hear from a farm interests, agency
scientists and an Arkansas community leader on what is being done to address this issue.

Animal Feeding Operations: What Do They Mean For The Arkansas Environment?
Concentrated or confined animal feeding operations involve thousands of animals kept and raised in
confined areas. They generate significant volumes of waste, which can produce a host of health and
environmental risks. Learn from panelists about the impact of CAFOs in other states, the state’s role in
permitting these facilities and a small farmer’s viewpoint on these large operations.

Solar in the Natural State
In 2016 Arkansas was ranked 45th in the nation in installed solar. However with a 64% decline in the
price of solar over the past five years Arkansas is beginning to see an increase in solar investments. Hear
what projects and policies are currently underway and the future of solar in the Natural State.
 

Afternoon Plenary (2:30-3:30)
Climate Change: A local perspective
Climate change is happening! A panel of experts will discuss the current impact of climate change on our
environment and various segments of our economy; what is being done to address it; and what we can
expect for the future?