Tontitown public hearing requested against Eco-Vista Landfill air permit request
TONTITOWN, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Tontitown residents have requested a public hearing against Eco-Vista Landfill's air permit application to the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ).
The hearing follows an ongoing controversy between Eco-Vista and the city of Tontitown. Recent air studies in the last year have shown toxins in the air significantly higher than the United States Environmental Protection Agency's recommendation for safe levels.
Timeline: Tontitown's landfill controversy
According to studies conducted through the Center for Toxicology and Environment of Health, the following levels were found in certain sites surrounding the Tontitown landfill:
Acrolein was found to be 4,900% over the Regional Screening Level (RSL) Threshold in one spot
Benzene was found in one area at 209% over the RSL
Cholorform, Naphthalene, and Carbon tetrachloride were also detected more sparingly than the other two chemicals, but still exceeded RSL levels at certain surrounding sites.
You can find a more in-depth look at the chemical numbers here.
In the most recent development, Eco-Vista applied for an air permit, which, if accepted, would allow the landfill to release a limited amount of air pollutants.
Over the years, the people of Tontitown expressed concern over their health and believed sickness in the city is due to air pollution through the landfill.
The public hearing with the ADEQ is scheduled for Feb. 27 to address the public's concerns over the air permit.
This is a developing story.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Sam's Club says it plans to remove synthetic dyes from private brand by end of 2025
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Sam's Club announced on Thursday plans to eliminate more than 40 ingredients from its private label brand, Member's Mark, by the end of the year. The wholesale chain said in a news release that under the initiative, 'Made Without,' it will alter its food and beverage products to offer items without certain ingredients in order to cater to specific dietary preferences. In April, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary announced plans to phase out several types of artificial, petroleum-based dyes used as food coloring in various snacks, drinks and desserts that line grocery shelves, mainly citing kids' health as the reason for the move. 'We take pride in the high-quality ingredients that go into our products, but what truly differentiates us are the ingredients we consciously leave out,' Julie Barber, chief merchant at Sam's Club, said. 'Our 'Made Without' commitment underscores our aspiration to be members' go-to destination for quality at a disruptive value. For us, it's about listening to our members and providing the items that resonate with their lifestyles.' Here is the list of ingredients Sam's Club plans to eliminate from its 'Made Without' products: Acesulfame-K (Acesulfame Potassium) (Ace-K) Acetylated Ester of Mono & Diglycerides (ACETEM) Artificial Flavors Aspartame Azodicarbonamide (ADA) Benzyl Alcohol Butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) Butylparaben Certified Synthetic Colors/FD&C Colors Cocamide DEA Cyclamates Cyclopentasiloxane Cyclotetrasiloxane Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate (DSS) DMDM Hydantoin Ethyl Vanillin Formaldehyde Hexa, Hepta, Octa Esters of Sucrose High Fructose Corn Syrup Lactylated Esters of Mono & Diglycerides (OLEON) Methylparaben Neotame Phthalates Potassium Bisulfate Potassium Bisulfite Potassium Nitrate/Nitrite Propyl Gallate Propylparaben Saccharin (All) Simplesse Sodium Ferrocyanide Sodium Propionate Sucroglycerides Sucrose Polyester Talc Tertiary Butylhydroquinone (Except for our 35-pound food service frying oils) Toluene Sam's Club said it has already released cookies and other snacks without artificial colors. The retailer is also offering fresh sushi as part of its 'Made Without' program. In addition to Sam's Club, Tyson recently announced it planned to eliminate synthetic dyes from its products, according to CEO Donnie King. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Arkansas medical marijuana sales 'on track' to reach new high, DFA says
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Medical marijuana sales in Arkansas topped $121 million through May, setting a pace that could break the state's annual sales record. Medical marijuana sales in Arkansas totaled $121,024,696 from January through May 2025—an increase of about $7.2 million compared to the same period last year, according to the Department of Finance and Administration. During those five months, dispensaries sold 32,474 pounds of product, up from roughly 30,000 pounds in early 2024. Monthly sales broke down as follows: January: $23.6 million February: $21.9 million March: $25 million April: $24.9 million May: $25.5 million So far this year, tax revenue from medical marijuana is averaging $2.68 million per month. Daily sales are averaging $806,000, which puts the state on track to surpass 2023's record of $283 million in total sales, DFA spokesperson Scott Hardin said. In 2024, total sales reached $275.9 million, with dispensaries selling 75,598 pounds of product, up from 62,227 pounds in 2023. The rise in volume was attributed to lower prices, which led to increased purchasing even as total revenue declined. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission announce new outdoor education pilot program As of the latest count, 109,854 of around three million Arkansans hold active medical marijuana patient cards, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. In April 2025, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders vetoed a bill that would have allowed medical marijuana deliveries via dispensary vehicles or drive-throughs. Sanders said in her veto letter that '[t]his legislation would expand access to usable marijuana, therefore I am vetoing.' On October 21, 2024, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that votes for a medical marijuana expansion measure would not be counted because its ballot language was 'misleading' and did not fully explain the effects. Although early voting had started, the measure stayed on the ballot but any votes cast for it were discarded. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children uses forensic artists to help save lives
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — As the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of Morgan Nick approaches, one organization dedicates themselves to helping law enforcement bring home missing children. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is the largest child protection service in the country. In 2024, they aided in over twenty-seven thousand reports of missing children. That number is good for a 91% overall recovery rate in cases involving missing children. According to NCMEC, the organization does this in a variety of ways. Including issuing AMBER Alerts, protecting children from sexual exploitation, and using age progression imaging to assist in finding missing children, among other things. Senior forensic artist at NCMEC, Christi Andrews, said that the opportunity to help save the lives of children is her main goal. Plan Bentonville enters phase two of long-term development for city 'It's a fascinating job. To use art to help find missing children and identify deceased children was never on my radar,' Andrews said. 'I don't think most artists would anticipate that they would be doing something like that. To use my skills in that way is so rewarding.' When a child is missing for over two years, their picture may not be an accurate depiction of what they currently look like. In those long-term cases of missing children, forensic artists create age progression and facial reconstruction images to help identify the individuals. This past year, one hundred and forty-one children were recovered from the use of age progression images. Andrews said, getting the images out consistently helps in the recovery process. 'The more eyes we have on these images, the better. That's a higher chance. It's just odds, you know, it's a higher chance of somebody seeing the image and recognizing that child,' Andrews said. 'That's what we want at the end of the day, to get these children home and give a child their name back.' For more information on NCMEC and the work they do, visit their website at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
