Officials Delay Action

Residents Air Concerns About USA Metal Site

— Benton County planners delayed a decision on a metal recycling facility near Gentry, hoping more information will be available for a renewed discussion in January.

At A Glance

What’s Next

The Benton County Planning Board will resume discussion of the large scale development plan for USA Metal Recycling at its next meeting, which is scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 19 in the Quorum Courtroom at the Benton County Administration Building, 215 E. Central Ave. in Bentonville. A resumption of the board’s public hearing on the plan will be set at that meeting.

Source: Staff Report

The Benton County Planning Board tabled action on a proposed large-scale development plan from USA Metal Recycling for a 39-acre site near Gentry. The board voted to wait until the company can present more information, including the results of its stormwater permit application pending with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality and an environmental assessment from Environmental Services Group, the firm hired by USA Metal to do the permit work.

The board tabled the matter after a nearly three-hour public hearing at which nearby residents complained about noise, dust, traffic, potential air and water pollution and the alteration of their rural residential neighborhood.

Jim Jenson, who gave his address as being in Siloam Springs, said he has lived on property near the proposed recycling facility for 53 years. Jenson said he has been concerned about the use of the land since 2004 and noted an increase in traffic, noise and dust. He said he relies on well water and is also concerned the business, which crushes wrecked vehicles, could contaminate his water supply.

“It just does not fit the community,” Jenson said. “I’m asking you to please deny this permit.”

The business also drew opposition from officials of a nearby school. Monte Fisher, principal of the Ozark Adventist School, said the school has many students with asthma, allergies and other health conditions.

“I just ask you to turn down this permit because we must consider the children and this business is not worth one child’s health,” Fisher said.

Smith told the board he heard and was concerned by the neighbors comments, but defended his business operation, which he said was suffering from the image of the industry as a whole. He said he prefers to meet with people individually to discuss any concerns.

“I hear their complaints and I think they can all be addressed,” Smith said. “Our company has worked hard to do things the right way.”

Wednesday’s public hearing was the second Planning Board meeting at which the USA Metal proposal was considered. At its Nov. 21 meeting, the board held a Technical Advisory Committee review of the proposed large-scale development plan for the company’s property on old Arkansas 59 near Gentry. The company began operating there in October without having gone through the planning process and was sent a notice to cease operation until it obtained the required approval.

Tom Smith, the company’s chief operating officer, told the board the Gentry facility will be “a feeder yard” for his larger metal recycling operation in Lowell. Smith said the company has a similar feeder yard in Fayetteville, as well as other locations. Planning Board members and Planning Department staff toured the company’s Fayetteville facility Friday as part of the board’s preparation for Wednesday’s public hearing.

Smith told the board the company primarily buys junked or wrecked vehicles from individuals, drains any gasoline, oil and other fluids and stores it for resale, then crushes the vehicles on site before transporting them to the company’s Lowell operation. The company also buys other types of metal for recycling and resale.

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