Readers respond

MIKE MASTERSON: On the Buffalo

Feedback keeps streaming in about that hog factory at Mount Judea. I'd asked readers if they were bored with the controversy. Here are edited examples of only a few responses from across Arkansas:

Wincie says--"I've written previously about the possibility of turning our beautiful, national river into a 'Hog Wallow.' I commend you for continuing to 'stir the pot' about the C&H Hog Farm that sits so perilously close to the Buffalo River. [Many] have been aware of the findings of Todd Halihan and have been holding onto those findings ... Has this been a case of dollars changing hands? Political tradeoff? Stir harder! What a shame to ruin one of the state's gems for our citizens and tourism industry. Do those in the political arena get to act with impunity?"

Bill writes--"I fully support your efforts to preserve the Buffalo. It's a priceless Arkansas and national treasure ... This 'treasure' extends far outside the Arkansas borders and must be preserved ... Could there not be test drilling ... that could prove leakage? How can we 'prove' leakage is occurring or will occur? With proof, it would be much easier to insist on state action."

From Mary Cole--"Thanks for your columns about this atrocity in our state. For the 'powers that be' to have allowed this to happen to this beautiful river should be held accountable and fix this mess before it becomes a total catastrophe."

Dottie writes--"Thanks for the sustained effort you've put into keeping people aware of the need to shut down [C&H]. Americans have such out-of-sight, out-of-mind mentalities. I always turn to your page with hopes you haven't given up on this stinky subject ... I love your reference to Governor Beebe's quote that he regretted something wasn't done about it on his watch. Carry on ... There are many reading your articles and cheering for you and the Buffalo! Maybe like me, they just hadn't spoken up yet."

From Patti--"It's very clear neither [the Department of Environmental Quality], the governor's office nor the regional EPA office is interested in preserving the Buffalo National River. They would like you and all of the thousands of citizens in Arkansas who are passionate about saving the river from thousands of gallons of polluting hog waste to go away. We're not going away! Anyone who thinks this is a boring subject addles my brain! They apparently don't care about the environment, clean water, or big corporations (Big Ag) taking over our country for monetary gains that benefit them. [C&H] employs less than 10 people. Hundreds of jobs in Newton County are at stake when the Buffalo National River becomes too polluted for recreation. This is no anti-farm issue. Many of us came from farm backgrounds."

Grace says--"Please never give up writing on one of the worst scenarios ever to be allowed in our state. It is inevitable the waste is, or soon will be, in the waters of the Buffalo River ... Don't ever give up on something this important that you believe in."

Van writes--"Thanks sincerely from the many citizens of our state and country for continuing to write about the hog factory on Big Creek, a major tributary of the Buffalo National River. You serve as a key voice in sharing facts about this 'demonstration farm.' in an environment where lobbyists, special interests and numerous highly paid individuals manipulate information and confuse the issue for many without access to all the factual data. This is indeed a national story rife with meaningful questions of politics, economic gain at the expense of the taxpayers, open discussion of a controversial problem, environmental justice and ethical and fair treatment of most stakeholders ... Thank you for your long-range vision and eloquent way of sharing facts with readers."

Joe said--"Maybe someone out there is bored by this discussion, but it's certainly not me. In his 1992 book, The Battle for the Buffalo River, Dr. Neil Compton predicted while several battles were won--stopping the dams, creating the park--the future would hold many additional battles since most of the Buffalo watershed is privately owned and some private owners may not have ecological integrity of the river as priority. None of this is boring, unless a person thinks none of this is a potentially huge problem for our futures and all the attention to hog waste seeping into the watershed is imaginary ... I know karst and have seen many Ozark ponds that either didn't hold water or just seep and seep. Dr. Compton in his book's epilogue says: 'A protective attitude by human inhabitants for the entire watershed of the Buffalo River will be mandatory if it is to survive as a beautiful clearwater stream of national significance. That will mean restrictions on industry and certain types of agriculture in the area. Such modalities we must learn to accept and live with if there be places on this earth where our descendants can know and understand the wonders of creation.'"

------------v------------

Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at mmasterson@arkansasonline.com.

Editorial on 06/21/2016

Upcoming Events