Haven't given up fight

Mike Masterson wrote an open letter to Gov. Asa Hutchinson in regard to the risks posed by this farm to our state's one and only national river.

Many of us have been working to understand and cooperate with Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality over these past two years. Sadly, the conclusion that I have come to is that the department seems to be working against the Buffalo National River's best interests, seemingly at every turn. They cite regulation after regulation in regard to their pursuit of proper procedure, yet when there is hard data from the U.S. Geological Study delivered to them by the National Park Service with a recommendation to find three tributaries as "impaired" (polluted), they decide that those rules need not be followed. These three tributaries contribute about one third of the flow of the Buffalo National River.

I can only conclude that there is a political agenda at work within this agency. However, please don't get the impression that any of us have given up. We are in this for the long haul and we are gaining a great deal of expertise in regard to environmental policy. That being said, please know that I stand firmly with Mike Masterson's letter.

BRIAN THOMPSON

Fayetteville

How to handle waste

In regard to the likely pollution of the Buffalo River by C&H Hog Farms--although the owners followed all the state rules for approval, the only two options presented thus far are to allow it to continue operation as approved or to force it to cease operations.

Perhaps a third option would be to install a sewage-treatment plant like those made for cities. If large cities can build effective sewage-treatment plants, surely one could be built for one hog farm. Since the state approved the facility and it was built in good faith by the farmers and at their expense, I think the state should share in the expense if such a plant could be built. Grant money could also be sought in the effort to protect the river. The state's share of the money should come out of the Department of Environmental Quality budget as an incentive to be more vigilant in their responsibilities.

LARRY McNEAL