Enviromental notebook

Comment extended on large hog farm

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality has extended the public comment period on the draft operating permit for C&H Hog Farms for 20 days.

The department will now accept comments through 4:30 p.m. April 6, according to a notice published by the department. The comment period was originally scheduled to end last Friday.

The department had received requests to extend the comment period.

C&H Hog Farms Inc., near Mount Judea in Newton County, sits on Big Creek about 6 miles from where it converges with the Buffalo National River. It is the only federally classified large hog farm in the river's watershed, which has typically been home to several small hog farms, and is currently permitted to house up to 6,000 piglets and 2,503 sows.

The new permit indicates the facility would house up to six boars of about 450 pounds, 2,672 sows of at least 400 pounds and 750 piglets of about 14 pounds and estimates that the two waste-holding ponds would contain up to 2,337,074 gallons of hog manure, similar to what is contained now. Additional waste and wastewater will be applied over certain sites as fertilizer.

State board OKs water lines loans

The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission's board approved more than $2.7 million in loans to entities for improvements to water lines at its March meeting Wednesday.

The commission approved a loan of up to $2.7 million to Prescott to replace a water main and eliminate leaks. Prescott also will get a $300,000 loan to be immediately forgiven for the same project.

The commission approved up to $30,900 for the Locke-Fern & Dollard Road Waterworks Public Facilities Board in Crawford County to extend water service and move meters. In addition to the loan, the board will get a grant of up to $61,800 for the same project.

The commission approved another $123,600 for the Cotter-Gassville sewer system to replace sections and regrade the sewer lines, and $51,500 to Ravenden Springs to paint a water tank.

The commission converted a $51,500 loan to East Prairie County Public Water Authority into a $46,492.32 grant. The request notes that flooding destroyed rental housing in the area and says that homes are not being rebuilt, hampering the district's ability to pay back its loan.

Wabbaseka will no longer receive a loan and grant of up to $412,000 for a wastewater project that the Jefferson County town never advanced, the commission decided Wednesday.

Metro on 03/19/2017

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