A legislative committee in Arkansas has rescheduled a meeting to review regulations that could impact hog farming in the Buffalo River watershed. The regulations, proposed by the Arkansas Department of Agriculture and the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality, have sparked controversy among environmentalists who want to ban hog farms near the Buffalo River due to concerns about pollution. The regulations would also affect transparency surrounding the permitting of new pig farming operations in the state.
Environmentalists have been advocating for a permanent ban on hog farms near the Buffalo River, citing the potential environmental hazards posed by liquid animal waste from commercial farming. After a large commercial hog farm in the area was shut down in 2019, there was a temporary moratorium on new hog farms near the river. The Department of Agriculture now oversees permitting for concentrated animal feeding operations, including large hog farms.
The Department of Environmental Quality has also proposed banning hog farms near the Buffalo River, but there is a conflict with the regulations proposed by the Department of Agriculture. Environmental groups are urging lawmakers to reject the current permitting rule due to concerns about weakened public notice requirements.
Brian Thompson, president of the Ozark Society, a conservation group, has expressed opposition to the regulations in their current form, stating that the lack of public notice makes it difficult for his organization to support them. The issue will be revisited by the legislative committee on December 19, where a decision on the regulations is expected to be made.
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