Responses to my recent open letter to GOP Gov. Asa Hutchinson asking him to become involved in stopping the potential contamination of the country's first national river continue pouring in from across Arkansas.
It's been a week since I respectfully asked the governor to do whatever's required within his administration to overrule the lobbyists and other obvious special political interests behind keeping C&H Hog Farms regularly spraying millions of gallons of raw waste into the karst-riddled Buffalo National River watershed.
I also reminded the governor that his Democratic predecessor Mike Beebe lamented that his biggest regret was that his administration even allowed such a place to become permitted without him knowing.
Should this state and national gemstone now become fouled on Hutchinson's watch, that probability could become an even worse regret for him, knowing what's now been scientifically discovered about diminishing water quality on at least three Buffalo tributaries.
Following are excerpts from a smattering of citizen reactions across Arkansas.
Mary from Little Rock--"I've fretted impotently about this issue for some time and can't understand why the hog farm hasn't been shut down and the site cleaned up before this. Even a moron could predict the long-term consequences of the pollution. It was good to read your frank, factual article and I sincerely hope it's been heard."
From Don--"Thank you for the column, which made all the important points. I've been extremely surprised that Asa has taken no interest in this issue or at least that I have heard about. I did a little checking today to find no indication that the current administration has shown any interest in preservation and ecology issues. I will continue to support any legal efforts that are made toward shutting this farm down."
Vic writes--"If they have their way they are now going to dump in the Little Buffalo watershed. This is like a cancer that never stops. I still think the only way to stop it is for the Waltons and others with wealth to get involved."
Robert from Springdale--"I, too, am waiting for an answer from our governor. Go Hogs Go has taken on a new meaning in Arkansas!"
Bryan from Fayetteville--"Governor: Many of us have been working to understand and cooperate with [the Department of Environmental Quality] these past two years. My conclusion is that [the agency] seems to be working against the [river's] best interests, seemingly at every turn. They cite regulation after regulation in regard to their pursuit of proper procedure, yet when there is hard data from [the U.S. Geological Survey] delivered to them by the National Park Service with a recommendation to find three tributaries as 'impaired,' they decide those rules need not be followed. These three tributaries contribute about one third to the flow of the Buffalo. I can only conclude that there is a political agenda at work within this agency. However, please don't get the impression that any of us have given up. We are in this for the long haul."
From Denise--"The column addressed to the governor was wonderful! Your points were well laid out and easy to understand. I wanted to stand up and applaud after reading it. Thanks for becoming a defender of our beautiful Buffalo River. It is so important."
Bob from Fayetteville--"It's hard to believe a state agency set up to protect us from such misuse actually approved such a deal. The jury's still out on what our river will look like in two or three years, but as long as we have voices such as yours, I think we have a fighting chance. Hopefully, Asa will see the light and help reverse this wrong."
From Dave Johnson--"Your compelling points put the ball squarely in [the governor's] court. Thanks too for keeping this travesty in the public arena. What will you write if he passes the buck ... to another newly created "commission" for further study?"
Phil from Little Rock--"I've been following your crusade and commend you for sticking with it. I cannot understand why some state leaders don't rise up and condemn the hog farm. Please keep up the drumbeat."
Gerald from Berryville--"Enjoyed today's article. As you know, the hog factory location was a very large mistake that will not just go away but can be corrected and it needs to occur quickly. A simple solution could be to agree a mistake's been made and must be corrected ASAP. Shut this farm down immediately, salvage recoverable value and write off all remaining debt."
From George Smith--"Every columnist looks to hit a home run ... Your thoughtful plea to Gov. Hutchinson to save the Buffalo River from possible contamination from hog offal was a walk-off grand slam. It was a high point in my life to have [traveled] to Washington with Neil Compton, Jim Gaston and others to testify before the House and Senate for designating the beautiful resource a national river."
From R.G. Smith--"It's been several years, and it's still there. Again, God bless your persistence. Never, never give up."
No fear of that, R.G.
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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at [email protected].
Editorial on 04/19/2016