Hog farm bill poised for passage at Arkansas Legislature

2:15 p.m. UPDATE:

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas House and Senate approved identical bills Wednesday that would make it harder to perpetuate complaints against farms that need permits to retain then dispose of liquid animal waste.

Under the proposals, third parties wouldn't be able to raise complaints after a comment period if the farm remains in "good standing" with state regulators. Opponents fear an inability to remedy potential problems, and a state senator said it could establish a precedent of regulators ending public input on other matters.

"We don't want to do anything that will result in an unintended consequence," said Sen. David Sanders, R-Little Rock.

The House approved the bill on a 73-6 vote, and the Senate approved its version 21-7. Only one version needs to pass for the matter to go to Gov. Asa Hutchinson. Final votes are expected Thursday as lawmakers try to wrap up a special session.

The bill's House sponsor, Rep. Jeff Wardlaw, has routinely prefaced his remarks by saying the proposal didn't pertain to the C&H Hog Farm, which since 2012 has been authorized to hold 6,503 pigs near a tributary of the Buffalo National River.

Environmentalists concerned about potential manure runoff fear a new law might undermine their fight against C&H. Wardlaw said making a law out of current Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality practice would also benefit bankers concerned about ongoing challenges.

"We are not changing the public comment period. This outlines that, once this takes place, they are not subject to more lawsuits for new reasons," Wardlaw said.

Michael McAlister, the managing attorney for ADEQ, said the proposal doesn't weaken any environmental standards. "Depending on the circumstances and what you propose, you would have to meet the necessary requirements," he said.

State regulators rejected a C&H permit application in January as the farm sought to change from one type of permit to another. The farm continues to operate while it appeals the rejection.

ADEQ said Wednesday that 159 farms hold liquid waste permits like that sought by C&H. The Arkansas Pork Producers Association said the law would help its members in case there are future complaints.

"It gives some clarification to our current producers that someone cannot come in and sue them for what they have already been in business for," said Jerry Masters, the association's executive director.

In its application to the state, C&H estimated its lagoons would hold about 2.337 million gallons of waste — the equivalent of about 5.4 feet (1.6 meters) of waste atop a standard American football field.

— The Associated Press

Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

11:30 a.m. UPDATE

The Arkansas House has approved a bill that designates when and for how long third-parties can protest against farms that require liquid animal waste permits.

The chamber OK'd the measure Wednesday on a 73-6 vote and sent it to the Senate, which earlier in the day saw a committee approve an identical version of the bill.

Farmers say state law should spell out that, if state regulators grant a waste permit, others shouldn't be able to mount continuous challenges. The bill's supporters say the proposal would give banks a certain peace of mind if they know their clients aren't being sued often.

Arkansas legislators are meeting in a special session that started Tuesday. Gov. Asa Hutchinson also asked them to look at reimbursement rates for prescription drugs, and other matters.

— The Associated Press

10:23 a.m. UPDATE

An Arkansas Senate committee approved with little dissent Wednesday a bill that would ensure limitations to what the public can say and when on existing state animal farm permits.

The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee approved by a voice vote Senate Bill 8, a parallel bill to House Bill 1007 passed Tuesday. Sponsors said the bill would put in writing a process already practiced by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality to only accept public comments on permit modification requests that are related to the specific proposed modifications.

Supporters said the bill would reassure farmers and bankers who lend to them, who are concerned that farmers could be subject to challenges after being permitted. Supports said concerns arose following the department’s denial of a new permit to C&H Hog Farms, a large concentrated animal feeding operation located on Big Creek in Newton County, about 6 miles from where the creek flows into the Buffalo National River.

Sen. David Sanders, R-Little Rock, was the only dissenting vote, arguing that he didn’t think the Legislature should establish a precedent of passing laws to curb third-party public comments.

— Emily Walkenhorst