Final Drilling Study Report

BRWA Press Release on Drilling Report, Dec. 16, 2016

BRWA Questions to ADEQ regarding drilling report, Dec. 15, 2016

Drilling Investigation

Harbor Environmental and Safety presented the results from its drilling study at C&H Hog Farms December 1, 2016, in a briefing with ADEQ, which was open to the public. However, questions were not allowed at the presentation and the public was directed instead to submit questions in writing to ADEQ by December 16, 2016. ADEQ reportedly will answer questions and will make an announcement regarding its conclusions following the completion of the review of the final report. 

See BRWA's questions linked above. Other questions from the public may be found under Stakeholder Comments.

EC Farms Permit Appeals Follow the progress of the 3 appeals by clicking on the docket for Nancy Haller. The APC&E Administrative Law Judge is currently reviewing motions and testimony and will make a decision and issue an Order at the January 27 Commission meeting.

Recommended Decision of Administrative Law Judge remanding EC permit back to ADEQ for assignment of a separate permit. January 5, 2017  

Governor Asa Hutchinson announces Buffalo River Action Committee       Youtube video 9/30/2016

Governor's Directive for Beautiful Buffalo River Initiative (BBRI) "To address water quality concerns throughout the watershed and ensure the Buffalo National River maintains all designated uses"  Sept 30, 2016

BCRET July-Sept, 2016 Quarterly Report

BRWA comments on proposed revisions to Regulation 6. October 17, 2016

ADEQ 2018 Assessment Methodology Review website for reviewing criteria for 303d List of Impaired Streams, Nov.3, 2016

BRWA comments to ADEQ on 2018 Assessment Methodology for determining impairment of Arkansas streams, October 30, 2016

Ozark River Stewards comments on Assessment Methodology, supported by BRWA. October 30, 2016

All public comments submitted to ADEQ on Reg 6 Revisions

Isaak Walton League Gives Arkansas a D+ for Water Quality

BRWA Poster

TIMELINE: INVESTIGATIVE DRILLING AROUND C&H PONDS

Following revelations by BRWA in April, 2016, ADEQ agreed to perform investigative drilling around the C&H swine waste ponds to determine if, as suggested by ERI results, the ponds are leaking. Below are related documents in chronological order. Also see the ERI section of the Documents page for more. Drilling was completed on September 26.

Read Comments on drilling plan.

July 8: Representatives of BRWA and the Buffalo River Coalition met with ADEQ officials at offices of Attorney Richard Mays to discuss plans for an independent investigation of possible leakage of the C&H swine waste lagoons as was indicated by electrical resistivity imaging conducted in early 2015.

July 8: ADEQ Powerpoint presentation to BRWA and the Coalition at above meeting describing proposal for independent investigative drilling.

July 11: Bert Fisher letter to ADEQ with recommendations for drilling.

August 4: Letter to ADEQ from BRWA and Coalition objecting to presence of two BCRET as observers during well drilling while disallowing BRWA's recommended observer, Dr Bert Fisher. 

August 4: 2nd Letter to ADEQ from BRWA and Coalition providing comments on technical aspects of the Draft Workplan. 

August 5: ADEQ announces drilling scheduled for August 8 will be delayed, pending availability of drill rig.

August 24:BRWA FILES INJUNCTION

seeking hearing on investigative drilling at C&H. 

August 26: Final Drilling Workplan is posted.

Sept. 2: BRWA withdraws injunction

Sept. 2: ADEQ issues C&H Hog Farm a Notice of Technical Incompleteness due to C&H sudden refusal to allow drilling to proceed.

Sept. 6: BRWA letter to ADEQ reiterating request for multiple bore holes and referencing 2014 Expert Review Panel recommendations re: pond leakage. 

Sept. 7: C&H agrees to allow drilling to proceed at state's expense with drilling date of Sept 19.

Sept. 12: BRWA and Coalition ask EPA to be present during investigative drilling.

Sept 21: Drilling begins. See daily updates here

Sept. 23: Drilling is completed and borehole is filled with cement, although a "void" at 25 feet deep makes it difficult and cementing is not completed until Sept. 26. See the Observation Logs here. Director Keogh states that the Final Report will not be made available to the public until January, 2017.

Sept. 29: ADEQ press release announcing completion of drilling

More to come!

OTHER RECENT NEWS

Water analysis results. This document includes a map of numerous sampling locations along Big Creek,from upstream of C&H to the confluence with the Buffalo. The results are suggestive of nutrient loading in the vicinity of the hog factory.

Downstream People - A Documentary, a movie trailer for an upcoming documentary about C&H and its effect on the community. July 23, 2016

BCRET Quarterly Report, July 22, 2016