The Farm Services Agency (FSA) an agency of the US Department of Agriculture, along with the Small Business Administration (SBA) provided federal loan guarantees of $3.5 million to C&H Hog Farms. Inc. This was the subject of a law suit brought by BRWA and others in 2014 based on the inadequacy of their environmental assessment.
FARM SERVICE AGENCY DOCUMENTS
Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) prepared by Farm Services Agency, the USDA agency which has provided a funding guarantee for C & H Hog Farm. Note: This is only the Executive Summary of the EA. Following is the EA divided into 3 parts, approximately 200 pages each.
Environmental Assessment Part 1
Environmental Assessment Part 2
Environmental Assessment Part 3
Letter from Buffalo National River to the Farm Services Administration responding to the EA/FONSI and outlining 45 significant errors, misstatements, inaccuracies and other problems. If you only read one document this is the one The Park Service was not notified on the CAFO and was excluded from the assessment of impacts, violating federal guidelines.
FSA Response to Buffalo National River Letter This is the official response to the letter from the Buffalo National River above that cites 45 problems with the EA an FONSI documents. Posted 4/1/13.
FSA Handbook – Environmental Quality Programs
NEW ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, AUGUST 2015
Draft Environmental Assessment,
August, 2015 submitted per Judge D. Price Marshall’s court order finding that the original EA was “cursory and flawed”.
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND EXPERT OPINIONS ON DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
PRESS RELEASE, Sept 4, 2015:
Arkansas Groups Find Draft Environmental Assessment of Industrial Hog Facility in Buffalo River Watershed Significantly Flawed
Buffalo River Coalition Comments on draft EA, submitted by Earthjustice, Sept. 4, 2015
Exhibit 1 – Comments of Professor John Van Brahana, Ph.D., P.G.
Exhibit 2 – Comments of Professor JoAnn Burkholder, Ph.D.
Exhibit 3 – Survey of Threatened and Endangered Bat Species on Big Creek,
James Gore, Arkansas State University
Followup Bat Survey of Left Fork of Big Creek, August, 2015, James Gore
Exhibit 4 – Comments of Michael Smolen, Ph.D.
Exhibit 5 – Declaration of Professor Steven B. Wing, Ph.D
.Exhibit 6 – Electrical Resistivity Surveys of Mt Judea, Oklahoma State University
Tom Aley, Ozark Underground Laboratory testimony on behalf of BRWA given at the public hearing in Jasper, AR, August 27, 2015
Lisa R. Pruitt, Professor of Law and Linda T. Sobcynski, J.D., University of California at Davis statement regarding the environmental justice impacts of C&H Hog Farms
BRWA Talking Points on draft EA
National Park Service/Buffalo National River comments
ADEQ Comments on the draft EA
Duane Woltjen’s comments on draft EA
Marti Olesen’s comments on draft EA
Chuck Bitting’s comments on draft EA
Susan Watkins comments on draft EA
Carol Bitting’s comments on draft EA
Friends of the North Fork and White Rivers comments
Draft Biological Assessment prepared to comply with the Endangered Species Act. October, 2015
FSA/SBA request 90-day extension until March 1, 2016 due to unprecedented volume of comments received.
Final Environmental Assessment with Draft Finding Of No Significant Impact, December 23, 2015. A comment period was opened for this draft FONSI, ending January 29, 2016.
Earthjustice requests extension on EA Comment Period until Jan. 29, 2015. This request was approved.
Earthjustice comments on draft final EA/FONSI submitted on behalf of BRWA, NPCA, Ozark Society and Arkansas Canoe Club, Jan. 29, 2016
PRESS RELEASE, Jan. 29, 2016
BRWA initial general comments on draft FONSI
BRWA comments on the draft final EA/FONSI, submitted Jan. 28, 2016
Dr. Van Brahana’s comments, submitted January 28, 2016
FSA and SBA Sign Final Finding Of No Significant Impact, February 18, 2016
Buffalo River Coalition Press Release, responding to Final FONSI, February 24, 2016