County Planners Quiz USA Metal

Friday, November 23, 2012

— Benton County planners said Wednesday they need more information on environmental issues before they can approve plans for a metals recycling operation near Gentry.

The county Planning Board held a Technical Advisory Committee review of a proposed large-scale development plan from USA Metal for the company’s property on Arkansas 59 near Gentry.

The company began operating there in October without having gone through the planning process and was sent a notice by the county to cease operations until they obtained the required approval.

Tom Smith, chief operating officer of USA Metal, told the planning board his proposed Gentry facility will be “a feeder yard” for his larger metal recycling operation in Lowell. Smith said the company has a similar feeder yard operating in Fayetteville. Smith said 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 Lowell. The company also buys other types of metals for recycling and resale.

The company began operating at the location near Gentry in October and the county learned of the operation when neighbors complained. A cease and desist letter was sent to USA Metal directing it to stop operating at the site until its plans are approved by the Planning Board.

The company’s location within the Illinois River Watershed was a primary concern Wednesday. Smith was asked why there is no storm water permit for the company and the board noted the sensitive nature of the area.

“I’m very concerned about that,” Curtis said. “The Illinois River Watershed has come under fire from the state of Oklahoma and you are in it.”

Curtis said that without the proper environmental permits and assessments of the potential impact of the company he wasn’t sure the application could proceed. A public hearing on the plans is scheduled for the Planning Board’s meeting Dec. 5.

“I’m thinking this is a very important piece of the puzzle and I’m not sure it can happen in two weeks,” Curtis said.

Smith said he was working on the permit issue and would try to have any other information the board needed for the Dec. 5 hearing. Chris Ryan, county planning director, said the staff would work with Smith on getting the information together so the public hearing could proceed.