Governor’s Conference on Tourism Should Address C & H Hog Farms Impacts on Buffalo National River, Local Economy
Coalition Opposed to Factory Hog Farm to Join Rally Outside Conference
On March 11, Arkansas’ Governor Beebe will speak at the annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Simultaneously, outside the conference, individuals from across the state plan to rally in support of the preservation of Buffalo National River and the tourism the river supports throughout Arkansas.
The Buffalo River Coalition – which includes the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance, Ozark Society, National Parks Conservation Association, and Arkansas Canoe Club – plans to attend in support of the Buffalo with information on the C & H Hog Farms threat and media availability with coalition spokespeople.
The Buffalo National River is consistently ranked as the #2 tourist destination in Arkansas and is an economic engine for the Ozarks, where it supports $44 million in spending and 610 jobs annually. C & H, located a few miles upstream on one of the largest tributaries of the Buffalo, threatens that important source of income. Teresa Marks, director of Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), has publicly stated that waste from this concentrated animal feeding operation will likely reach Buffalo National River. When that happens, tourism will suffer. Tourism brings in approximately $6 billion dollars and employs almost 60,000 people in Arkansas. It generates $1.1 billion in salaries. C & H Hog Farms supports 6 jobs.
The coalition urges members of the media to ask the difficult questions that need to be addressed around C & H Hog Farms, including:
The Buffalo River Coalition was formed to protect the Buffalo National River from this urgent factory hog farm threat. The coalition filed a lawsuit in August of 2013 challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for their inadequate review and improper authorization of loan guarantee assistance to C&H. More recently, the coalition pointed out additional misrepresentations around the permitting of C & H Hog Farms and called on ADEQ to reopen the permitting process. Those calls have been ignored by the state.
Members of the National Parks Conservation Association, the Ozark Society, the Arkansas Canoe Club, and the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance, along with concerned citizens and business owners.
Media availability from coalition members, including:
***For interview requests, please check in at the Buffalo River Coalition information table located near the rally.***
Tuesday, March 11th, 11:30-1:00CT
Governor’s Conference on Tourism
Embassy Suites and John Q. Hammons Convention Center
3303 Pinnacle Hills Parkway – Rogers, AR 72758
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