Petition Regarding Hog Farming On Big Creek/buffalo River

[grizwilson]

Good link griz. I wish there was no such thing as commercial hog farming, chicken farming or feedlots, but that is how our nation operates. In the Ozarks every watershed flows into a beautiful river that is prized for it's recreation. If all environmental laws are being followed this farm should not pose a problem to the buffalo, land applied waste happens in every watershed, there are hundreds of dairy farms in the Ozarks, and guess where human waste from our septic tanks gets applied, you guessed it, some guys field. I understand the concern, and wouldn't want this farm to be my neighbor, but it has to go somewhere, and at least it isn't right on the banks of the main river.

I understand that it needs to go somewhere. We all intrude on the enviornment. However, what is the reasoning behind a hog operation in the Ozarks karst topography which drains too rapidly into ground water and streams before being absorbed into ground where plants can utlize the waste. The corn to feed the hogs has to be shipped in. The hogs have to be shipped out to packing houses.... Seems there may be a better place raise hogs. The logistics and environment just do not to fit.

g

[Terrierman]

Everything has to be somewhere and this operation is no exception. But just because it has to be somewhere, in my considered opinion it doesn't have to be in the Buffalo watershed. There was a similar set to not long ago about a CAFO going in close to Roaring River. Pretty sure it went in and hasn't had problems yet. But that still doesn't make it smart to put a CAFO in a place where if there is a problem it's sure to be a biggie. From what I've read though, this is going to be a tough one to stop from happening, regulations not being written considering this sort of issue and so on.

[Riverwhy]

Hog confinment facilities produce waste problems that are much more severe than other livestocl operations such as a large dairy farm. The dairy farms in our region are likely located on farms with adequate pasture ground to support the herd. Waste is much more likely to be disbursed over a larger acreage than a hog operation that pumps waste into some form of sewage lagoon. The potential breach or other type of failure of these waste holding lagoons could cause significant damage to the waterway. Locating these facilities in the uppermidwest surrounded by farmground with 50 feet or more of topsoil is a much smarter idea.

[chub minnow]

Yes the hog waste getting into the river is a potential disaster, but what everyone tends to overlook when one of these operations goes in is the water usage. How much water do you think a hog consumes in a day? How about 5000 hogs? Then there is the cleanup and sewage lagoons. This will have a significant impact on the water table as well. It could likely have an impact on neighbors wells and affect the flow ultimately reaching the river. Even if there is never a problem with the waste (unlikely, IMO) there will be a negative impact in both water and air quality.

[Al Agnew]

Just because it has to go somewhere doesn't mean it should go within the watershed of the Buffalo. As others have pointed out, these hog farms have about the worst reputation of any confined feeding operation for pollution problems. They stink the worst, and there's basically nothing you can do about that. They produce huge amounts of waste, they use lots of water, and there are NOT good, well-enforced laws to mandate adequate sewage treatment for an operation of this size, which produces as much waste as a good sized town. It's a disaster waiting to happen.

[Terrierman]

Just because it has to go somewhere doesn't mean it should go within the watershed of the Buffalo. As others have pointed out, these hog farms have about the worst reputation of any confined feeding operation for pollution problems. They stink the worst, and there's basically nothing you can do about that. They produce huge amounts of waste, they use lots of water, and there are NOT good, well-enforced laws to mandate adequate sewage treatment for an operation of this size, which produces as much waste as a good sized town. It's a disaster waiting to happen.

Arkansas does not do a very good job regulating human wastewater either. Ask Oklahoma.

[Outside Bend]

And there's more to the sewage than just poop-antibiotics and other adjuncts can wind up in the water and be detrimental to fish and other aquatic critters as well.

Are there Ozark hellbenders in the Buffalo? If so, their threatened status may put a wrench in any large-scale animal development.

[Justin Spencer]

This sort of regulation needs to be set before it comes up, it's too late now that they have been approved and I doubt we see any problems from it. I would argue the widespread logging in many of our watersheds is much more detrimental than a hog farm would be, but it is too big a part of our economy to ever stop.It goes against my liberal leanings to argue against the environmental position, but this is still Merica let freedom ring.

[Mitch f]

I signed it! This is crazy

[LetsGoToTheRiver]

Thanks to all who took the time to read and consider this petition.

Scott