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Committee adopts amendment to SB 290 clarifying moratorium language for Buffalo River watershed
Summary
The House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development voted to adopt an amendment to SB 290 that narrows and clarifies moratorium language affecting the Buffalo River watershed and preserved existing watershed protections; the committee gave the bill a do-pass recommendation as amended.
The House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development adopted an amendment to SB 290 that clarifies moratorium language affecting the Buffalo River watershed and voted to give the bill a do-pass recommendation as amended.
Shane Corey, secretary for the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment, told the committee that agriculture, tourism and protection of the Buffalo River need not be mutually exclusive and that the amendment narrows language to avoid overbroad results. "I think there are 3 things that all parties can agree on in this particular matter, and that is that we appreciate and recognize that agriculture is the number 1 industry in Arkansas. We also understand that tourism is a huge and in growing important economic driver for Arkansas, and we also recognize that the Buffalo River is significant," Corey said.
The amendment preserves existing watershed protections the witnesses said, including protections for the Maumelle Lake/Maumelle Watershed and the Buffalo River Watershed. Shane Lewis, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, said the administration supports the amendment and the governor's "natural state" priorities to protect resources while improving public access.
Committee discussion and witnesses described the current Buffalo River moratorium as limited in scope. "The moratorium on the Buffalo River Watershed that exists is very limited. It only applies to medium and large size swine CAFOs," Corey said, and he added that the department has not sought to expand that moratorium. Witnesses also said the amendment establishes a process for future adoption of a moratorium that would include additional legislative review.
Representative Dan Vaught (District 87) moved adoption of the amendment. After brief discussion the committee approved the amendment by voice vote and later voted to give SB 290 a do-pass recommendation as amended.
The hearing record includes acknowledgments of stakeholders and sponsors on the issue; witnesses thanked Representative Ott, Senator Johnson and Governor Sanders for participating in the negotiations that produced the amended language.
Votes at a glance: the committee approved adoption of the amendment to SB 290 by voice vote and gave the bill a do-pass recommendation as amended. The transcript does not include a recorded roll-call tally.
