In case you didn’t read this Sunday’s Mike Masterson column, he alerted us to a proposed change of notification rules regarding CAFOs [concentrated animal feeding operation]. I am opposed to changes in the required notification of adjacent landowners, the nearby cities, the local paper of record, and the public in general in reference to any agricultural or industrial development.
The new rule proposes only the notification being on an obscure department of AR agriculture website. I was appalled that millions of our tax money had to be used to buy out a hog farm that without good public planning was situated in the Buffalo River watershed. To avoid this kind of damage, cost to taxpayers, and lack of good planning we need public notification of any activities that could have negative effects on our property and resources.
It is more cost effective to plan ahead than to remediate and litigate, and this can only be done by notifying the cities and towns nearby and the newspapers before a development. I believe in property rights but not when they are used in such a way that degrades the value of others property or the resources held in common.
Written comments must be received by September 16, 2024. Make your comments to: Corey Seats, 1 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, AR 72205, or email: rule.comments@agriculture.arkansas.gov
Gwen Bennett