Polk, AR
Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology.
Environmental data for Polk in Arkansas · Population: 19,348
TRI sites such as Tyson Poultry Inc. - Grannis Processing Plant; Sterling Machinery Co.; Nidec Motor Corp; SDWIS systems such as WICKES WATERWORKS; ACORN RURAL WATER ASSN; FREEDOM PUBLIC WATER AUTHORITY; NPL sites such as Mid-South Wood Products anchor Polk, AR's EPA extract. Derived burden score 40/100 (Moderate Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.
Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Polk include WICKES WATERWORKS; COVE WATERWORKS; HATFIELD WATERWORKS, while Tyson Poultry Inc. - Grannis Processing Plant leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 38 / peak 167 in 2024.
Burden score 40/100 (Moderate Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Polk -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.
Release-over-release change
What changed for Polk, AR: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year
Same facilities, both years
+24.4%
4 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023
Whole inventory
+24.4%
171.5 thousand lb → 213.3 thousand lb, every facility that filed
- Polk, AR's total reported releases rose from 171.5 thousand lb in 2022 to 213.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Polk, AR's air releases fell from 2.6 thousand lb in 2022 to 1.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
- Polk, AR's water releases rose from 169.0 thousand lb in 2022 to 212.3 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
Air Quality History (2020–2024)
EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.
| Year | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy (SG) | Max AQI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 261 (81%) | 62 | 0 | 167 |
| 2023 | 188 (78%) | 54 | 0 | 92 |
| 2022 | 308 (88%) | 40 | 2 | 105 |
| 2021 | 299 (83%) | 61 | 0 | 93 |
| 2020 | 322 (90%) | 37 | 0 | 84 |
Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)
For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Arkansas, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.
Water Systems (7)
| System | System pop (SDWIS) | Violations |
|---|---|---|
| WICKES WATERWORKS | 2,014 | 2 |
| ACORN RURAL WATER ASSN | 1,975 | 0 |
| FREEDOM PUBLIC WATER AUTHORITY | 1,935 | 0 |
| COVE WATERWORKS | 651 | 27 |
| HATFIELD WATERWORKS | 641 | 17 |
| GRANNIS WATERWORKS | 548 | 0 |
| GILLHAM REGIONAL WATER DIST | 3 | 14 |
TRI Facilities (5)
| # | Facility | Total Releases |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyson Poultry Inc. - Grannis Processing Plant | 859.5K lbs |
| 2 | Sterling Machinery Co. | 649 lbs |
| 3 | Nidec Motor Corp | 81 lbs |
| 4 | Red River Ready Mix LLC | 0 lbs |
| 5 | Hatfield Lumber Co | 0 lbs |
Superfund Sites (1)
| Site Name | Status | HRS Score |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-South Wood Products | NPL Site | 45.87 |
Cities in Polk (6)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the environmental risk level in Polk, Arkansas? ▼
Are there Superfund sites in Polk? ▼
How many toxic release facilities are in Polk? ▼
What is the air quality in Polk? ▼
Is the drinking water safe in Polk? ▼
What environmental agencies cover Polk? ▼
What does this county environmental profile show?
This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.