Buffalo River meeting today in Fayetteville: Don't miss it!

Dear Gladys, NPCA is working with local partners to protect water quality at Buffalo National River. Please attend a public information meeting in Fayetteville (May 1) or Jasper (May 8) to learn about a confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) sited a few miles upstream of Buffalo National River. Water quality at the Buffalo, America’s first national river, is threatened by this factory farm, permitted by Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and financed by USDA Farm Services Agency to contain 6,500 head of swine. The operation, located on a major tributary to the Buffalo, could generate over 2 million gallons of manure, litter, and wastewater annually. Arkansas Department of Health has stated concerns that water-borne pathogens, including E. coli and Cryptosporidium may pose a risk for swimmers in the river. The Buffalo National River has more than 1 million visitors each year who spend $38 million dollars in local communities. We must speak up to protect the quality and health of our river! May 1 Meeting Details WHAT: Public Information Meeting regarding the C & H Hog Farm operation WHEN: Wednesday, May 1, 6 - 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Fayetteville Public Library, 401 West Mountain Street Fayetteville, AR 72701 WHO: Concerned citizens and Highlands Chapter, Ozark Society May 8 Meeting Details WHAT: Buffalo River Watershed Alliance Public Meeting WHEN: Wednesday, May 8, 4 - 5:45 p.m. WHERE: The Buffalo Theater on Jasper Square, 200 N. Spring Street, Jasper, AR 72641 WHO: The Buffalo River Watershed Alliance is a group of concerned citizens created to preserve and protect the pristine quality of the Buffalo River OTHER INFO: This meeting will conclude at 5:45 p.m. so that those interested can attend the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) meeting at 6 p.m. in the Carroll Electric Building (see details below). WHAT: ADEQ informational meeting on C& H Hog Farms permit WHEN: Wednesday, May 8, 6 p.m. WHERE: Carroll Electric Cooperative Building, 511 E. Court Street, Jasper, AR 72641 WHO: ADEQ OTHER INFO: This meeting will be an informational session on the permit issued for C & H Hog Farms to operate in Mount Judea. ADEQ is charged with protecting the air, water and land from the threat of pollution. If you have questions about these public meetings, please feel free to contact NPCA's Emily Jones at ejones@npca.org, 865.329.2424, or 865.335.4666. Please join us to learn more about this farm, and what it could mean for the health of the Buffalo National River! Sincerely, Emily Jones Sr. Program Manager Southeast Region NPCA