Resistance (to science and the will of the people) Continues

Why your continued attention is necessary-

1. The permanent moratorium on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) for hogs is not yet fully in place.

2. The clean-up plan is not finalized.

3. The Governor's plan to provide funding for water quality improvements in the Buffalo River watershed has run into some skepticism and suspicion.

Read about these issues and more below.

But first, a N Little Rock event that might interest you.

4th Annual Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit . Nov 8

The Buffalo River Watershed Alliance will be participating in the Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit on November 8, at Pulaski Technical College in North Little Rock. Come hear the latest and have a chance to speak with BRWA Board members. Other topics for the day include: Our Air, Our Water & Soil, Our Wildlife, Our Energy and more. Registration $15 which includes lunch! To view the agenda and register click here.
Sponsored by Audubon, Public Policy Panel, Sierra Club . (copy of draft agenda below)

The Struggle Continues

Moratorium
The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission (APC&E) voted unexpectedly for an additional 90 days for public comments on the proposed hog CAFO ban in the Buffalo watershed. The excuse for this delay was sited as being due to the publication of the Big Creek Research and Extension Team's (BCRET) final report. This is particularly disappointing because while the report concludes that C&H caused no significant impact, the data contradicts that conclusion and provides glaring evidence that C&H has discharged significant amounts of contaminants into Big Creek.

Although on October 24 the APC&E Commission agreed to reopen a 90-day comment period on the Reg 5 and Reg 6 rule makings (primarily regarding the moratorium), no public notice has yet been posted on the ADEQ site and there is no place to submit comments. BRWA is working to review the BCRET final report and we are preparing comments. When ADEQ confirms the comment period we will notify supporters and share draft comments soon.

Closure
According to a C&H attorney, C&H has farrowed its last piglets and is on schedule to close the facility by the end of the year. ADEQ will then take over the cleanup of the ponds and final closure.

The Buffalo River Conservation Committee

One million dollars from Governor Hutchinson's "rainy day" fund combined with another $1 million private money collected by the Nature Conservancy is being offered to provide conservation and water quality grants for the Buffalo River watershed. Distribution of the funds would be overseen by the newly created "Buffalo River Conservation Committee." Smooth adoption of the Governor's proposal was interrupted by a few legislators who felt rushed into voting. This week, Senator Missy Irvin arranged two public hearings on the issue, one in Marshall, and one in Jasper. During these meetings it was stressed that public input and participation in the allocation of these funds would be of the highest priority.

For more
To view press coverage of the issues discussed above go to the right hand side of the BRWA “Home” page to view “Recent Media Posts”.

DRAFT Arkansas Environmental Policy Summit

Our website has a new look and organization. A few items are still under revision, but the process is essentially complete. Tell us what you think. buffalowatershed@gmail.com

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Buffalo River Watershed Alliance
Box 101
Jasper, AR 72641.
Thank you for your continued support.
Buffalo River Watershed Alliance
buffalowatershed@gmail.com