Consent Order reveals several findings that point towards failures on the part of Donny Dawson, the Paradise Acres and White Oak Wastewater Supervisor and Public Works Director.

Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment – Division of Environmental Quality

The Consent Administrative Order with the above referenced agency is summarized as follows:

Consent Order reveals several findings that point towards failures on the part of Donny Dawson, the Paradise Acres and White Oak Wastewater Supervisor and Public Works Director.

The findings that implicate potential failures by Dawson and should be part of the internal investigation and best practice identification - include:

• DMR Violations: The repeated violations of permitted effluent discharge limits at both Paradise Acres and White Oak WWT facilities, spanning from June 2020 to May 2023, suggest a prolonged period of non-compliance.

  • As the supervisor responsible for these facilities, Dawson's oversight and management appear to have been inadequate in preventing these ongoing violations.

• Delayed Corrective Action: The extended timeline for submitting the initial Corrective Action Plan (CAP) and the subsequent need for revisions and further extensions indicate a lack of urgency and effectiveness in addressing the identified problems.

  • This delay reflects poorly on Dawson's leadership and ability to implement timely solutions.

• Inspection Violations at White Oak: The April 2023 inspection uncovered various operational and maintenance deficiencies at White Oak, including improper sludge management, lack of tailings analysis, and equipment malfunctions.

  • These issues point to a failure in maintaining proper operational standards and regulatory compliance, which falls under Dawson's purview.

• Lack of Response to Inspection Findings: The absence of a response to the inspection report further underscores a lack of accountability and initiative in rectifying the identified violations.

  • As the responsible supervisor, Dawson's failure to address these findings demonstrates a disregard for regulatory compliance and environmental protection.

• White-Out on Records: The use of white-out on official records at the White Oak facility raises serious ethical concerns and potentially constitutes a legal violation.

  • It suggests an attempt to obscure or alter information, which undermines the transparency and integrity of the facility's operations.

In summary, the findings presented in the Consent Order reveal a pattern of negligence and mismanagement on the part of the Public Works manager, at the time that was Mr. Dawson.

The repeated violations delayed corrective actions, operational deficiencies, and the use of white-out on records highlight his failure to ensure the proper functioning and compliance of the wastewater treatment facilities under his supervision.

The white-out incident raises serious ethical and potentially legal concerns that warrant further investigation.