COMMENTARY: Passing Blame Helps No One

— Dear Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority Board of Directors: We are writing in response to statements made by the NACA Executive Director John Sampier which appeared in the Jan. 25 edition of the newspaper.

Mr. Sampier’s public statement “Wastewater plants aren’t the problem; runoff from pastures is how the majority of phosphorus gets into the rivers” seemed to lead the news reporter to frame the focus of the article to imply that sewer service rates might be raised as a direct result.

We were not present at the Rogers Water Utilities meeting that was reported in the article headlined “Phosphorus levels could raise sewer rates” to hear the presentation on balance to determine if more accurate statements were made that would have provided opportunity for another interpretation of Mr. Sampier’s comments.

We recognize and applaud the significant investment and improvements made in the treatment of wastewater to reduce phosphorus in the Illinois River watershed by the municipalities, particularly in the last eight years. On numerous occasions, representatives of the cities have observed that these investments are not recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency and the cities are not given credit for these significant improvements.

We agree.

John Sampier’s statement, however, follows this same frustrating pattern of not recognizing or appreciating the significant investments and actions taken by rural residents in the same time frame. Much has changed on the rural landscape as it has in municipal wastewater treatment plants in the last decade. We allneed to recognize both urban and rural improvements and be accurate in representing current conditions and actions.

Does the NACA board endorse statements that are not accurate on areas for which their executive director is not educated properly?

It is documented that over 50 percent, upwards of 70 percent, of poultry litter is transported out of the Illinois River watershed in Arkansas. Nutrient management plans were instituted in 2007 for application of poultry litter for any area of land greater than 2.5 acres. The recently introduced $30 million Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) and the $38 million Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) are both cost-share programs that can have significant improvements for the watershed.

The difficulty in enrolling acres in these programs is the same dilemma that the municipalities face and that is the cost share to the landowner/taxpayer.

These programs provide federal assistance, but there are also significant costs for farmers who do not have the ability to pass these costs along and have difficulty securing cost share financing or budgeting the full amount of outof-pocket costs upfront.

John Sampier’s comments put all responsibility for improving the watershed on the rural resident who is also working to improve pasture management, just like the cities have improved their wastewater treatment facilities since we all became aware of phosphorus issues. We are working just as hard as the municipalities to take responsibility for our actions. Mr. Sampier’s statementdoes not take into consideration the significant legacy phosphorus from both wastewater treatment plants and pasture runoff. We can all continue our current efforts and still see a portion of the phosphorus load come from the legacy phosphorus in the soil that is disturbed in constructing roads and highways as well as development.

John Sampier’s statement was very irresponsible and moves us backwards in trying to educate the public as to ways we have all taken responsibility for those areas over which we have control.

It is counterproductive when we attack each other and very productive when we show respect and appreciation of efforts made.

When we blame each other and do not take responsibility, that is when EPA says it must intervene. When we work together it invalidates the need for EPA to intervene.

We would like to ask the NACA board’s intention on support of John Sampier’s public statement that causes taxpayers to believe their actions have no effect on the watershed and that the problem is solely on the shoulders of agriculture.

We believe much more can be accomplished by uniting, recognizing the progress that both urban and rural landowners have made, and working together verbally and physically.

We hope any future comments from the NACA executive director will be accurate and reflect the totality of the problem in the Illinois River watershed and that is that we must all work together to take actions that improve water quality.

DAN DOUGLAS IS PRESIDENT OF THE BENTON COUNTY FARM BUREAU BOARD OF DIRECTORS. HE WROTE THIS ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 02/21/2011

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