(a) The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission, with the advice and assistance of the licensing committee, is given and charged with the power and duty to adopt rules and regulations implementing and effectuating such powers and duties of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and the licensing committee under this subchapter as may be necessary for the administration and enforcement of this subchapter.

(b) The department is charged with the responsibility of administering and enforcing this subchapter, with the advice and assistance of the licensing committee and is given and charged with the following powers and duties:

(1)

(A) To conduct examinations for licensing, which shall be held at least annually and more frequently as the commission shall deem necessary.

(B) This duty may be delegated by the department to the administrator of any approved course;

(2) To issue licenses to qualified solid waste management facility operators and qualified illegal dumps control officers, to renew those licenses, to suspend or revoke the licenses for cause after due notice and opportunity for hearing, to issue one-year apprenticeship licenses to operators-in-training, and to issue provisional certificates; and

(3) To initiate enforcement actions or institute court proceedings, or both, to compel compliance with the provisions of this subchapter and rules and regulations issued under this subchapter.

(c) The licensing committee shall:

(1) Conduct inquiries and establish findings necessary to advise the commission and the department on irregularities encountered in the management of the licensing program;

(2) Conduct inquiries and establish facts necessary to advise the commission and the department on the actions of licensees; and

(3) Recommend administrative sanctions, including, but not limited to, the suspension and revocation of licenses as necessary to promote the professional integrity of solid waste licensees.