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Committee adopts amendment to SB 290 clarifying moratorium language, preserves Buffalo River and Maumelle watershed protections
Summary
A legislative committee adopted an amendment to SB 290 that clarifies the bill's moratorium language, preserves existing protections for the Buffalo River and Maumelle watershed, and limits the existing moratorium to medium and large swine CAFOs, committee members and state agency officials said.
A legislative committee adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 290 on a voice vote after sponsors and state officials said the change narrows moratorium language and preserves long-standing watershed protections.
Shane Corey, secretary for the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, told the committee the amendment "allows us [to] continue to do all of these things" while balancing agriculture, tourism and protection of the Buffalo River. "I think there are 3 things that all parties can agree on in this particular matter... we appreciate and recognize that agriculture is the number 1 industry in Arkansas," Corey said.
Corey described the Buffalo River as "significant" and noted it is the nation's first designated wild and scenic river and an "extraordinary resource water." He said the amendment clarifies language to reduce concerns the bill could be overbroad and that it preserves existing protections for the Maumelle Lake/Maumelle Watershed and the Buffalo River Watershed that "have been in existence for over 10 years." Corey said the current moratorium on the Buffalo River Watershed "only applies to medium and large size swine CAFOs." He also said the department has no current plans to expand that moratorium but that the amendment sets a process for any future moratorium adoption that would include increased legislative review.
Shane Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, voiced support for the amendment, saying it helps balance protection and public access while endorsing the goals of the governor's "natural state" initiative. West Ford of the Department of Agriculture echoed the point that agriculture must be protected while implementing the amendment.
Representative Dan Vaught (District 87), who moved to adopt the amendment, said stakeholders and the governor's office worked to make language "palatable" and that "we got some wins out of this. And, and we got to protect what was already there." After no members rose to speak for or against the amendment and no committee questions were offered, the chair called for a voice vote; the chair announced the ayes prevailed.
The amendment, as adopted, will replace prior language in SB 290 pending further legislative action. Committee members and agency officials said the change retains existing protections for the two watersheds and clarifies how a future moratorium would be adopted.
Votes at the committee level were announced by voice; individual roll-call tallies were not provided in the transcript.
The measure drew brief remarks from officials representing energy and environment, parks and tourism, and agriculture, and the committee considered the amendment under regular order before approving it.
