Meeting Cancelled

Around 3pm on January 27th this meeting was inexplicably cancelled. Maybe in response to the awesome response from supporters of the Buffalo who deluged the committee with emails and texts! It could resurface in the coming days/weeks and we will keep you informed as we learn more.

URGENT Action Required Before Jan. 28: Help Defeat Senate Bill 84 Which Prohibits Moratoriums Statewide

Read the bill below

When BRWA was organized in 2013 we had two simple(!) goals: 1) to close the C&H hog CAFO and; 2) to secure a permanent moratorium prohibiting any future hog CAFOs in the Buffalo River watershed. We accomplished the first in 2019 with closure of C&H and the second is now being threatened.  Senate Bill 84 would statutorily prohibit moratoriums against the issuance of permits for swine CAFOs (and any other permits) statewide, including specifically in the Buffalo National River watershed. It is an obvious end-run around pending rule makings which include protections for the Buffalo. Senate Bill 84 was filed on January 21 and will come before the Senate Ag Committee at 10 am on Tuesday January 28. Your help is urgently needed now:

Please click this link to Send an Email to the Arkansas Senate Agriculture, Forestry, and Economic Development committee asking them to support a permanent moratorium on CAFOs in the Buffalo River Watershed, as well as thorough public notification about CAFOs.

If the link doesn't work for you:

That html link works with most email systems, but some don't support it. The text of the message to the legislators is below. You can copy and paste it into a new email. You can put the following list of legislator email addresses in your 'To' box.

[Put the following list of email addresses in your email 'To' box - you can put them in all at once:]

ronald.caldwell@Senate.ar.gov, matt.stone@senate.ar.gov, steve.crowell@senate.ar.gov, jonathan.dismang@senate.ar.gov,ben.gilmore@senate.ar.gov, jimmy.hickey@senate.ar.gov, greg.leding@senate.ar.gov, jamie.scott@senate.ar.gov

[Below is the message - add to or change it if you wish:]

Please protect the Buffalo National River and Support a permanent moratorium on large swine CAFOs in the BR watershed.

Protect the Natural State's beauty and recreation opportunities, our drinking water resources, business economic opportunities, and towns, school systems, and family farms in the area around the BR watershed.

Vote NO on SB84.

And support robust notification requirements about CAFO permits.

BRWA Concerns

* This bill leaves vulnerable the Buffalo National River which is a state icon and economic engine worthy of protections from threats to its water quality.

* Passage of this bill invites a repeat of the $6.2 million state buyout of the C&H disaster and is financially irresponsible.

* This bill leaves vulnerable all watersheds in the state, including those of numerous municipal water systems, including the Maumelle watershed which is currently protected by a moratorium.

Please join us TODAY in urging members of the Senate Ag Committee to oppose SB 84.  

Thank you! 

Text of SB84

By: Senator B. Johnson 

By: Representative Vaught 

For An Act To Be Entitled 
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 

Subtitle 
TO PROHIBIT A MORATORIUM ON THE ISSUANCE OF PERMITS IN WATERSHEDS AND OTHER BODIES OF WATER. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 

SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 15, Chapter 23, Subchapter 1, is amended to add an additional section to read as follows: 
15-23-107. Prohibition on moratorium in watersheds and other bodies of water. 
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a state agency, including without limitation the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy and Environment, shall not institute a moratorium on the issuance of permits in a watershed, including without limitation the Buffalo River Watershed, or other body of water.
(b) If a state agency wishes to institute a moratorium related to a watershed or other body of water, the state agency first shall obtain approval from the Legislative Council. 

SECTION 2. DO NOT CODIFY. Existing moratoriums. 

A moratorium related to a watershed, including without limitation the Buffalo River Watershed, or other body of water instituted before the effective date of this act is unenforceable on and after the effective date 1 of this act.

Senate Agriculture Committee Members

Chair: Senator Ronald Caldwell

Vice-Chair: Senator Matt Stone

Senator Steve Crowell

Senator Jonathan Dismang

Senator Ben Gilmore

Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr

Senator Greg Leding

Senator Jamie Scott