Bill introduced in Arkansas legislature to end Buffalo River, watershed protections
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill introduced in the Arkansas legislature would end the state's ability to hold moratoriums on permits along the Buffalo River and other watersheds.
If Senate Bill 84 becomes law, it will end the state moratorium on issuing, for example, confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) permits along the Buffalo River watershed.
Future of Buffalo National River discussed in Marshall
The state currently maintains a temporary moratorium on issuing new permits for medium and large CAFOs along the Buffalo. The Department of Environmental Quality initiated the moratorium in 2014 after environmental concerns about the waste generated by a large-scale hog farm near the river. The farm closed in late 2019 when the state purchased its assets.
The bill would require Legislative Council approval before any moratorium is put in place and would end any moratoriums already in place. It specifically calls out the Buffalo River Watershed in its language.
The bill has completed its initial readings on the Senate floor and is on the Tuesday agenda for the Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development committee.
Arkansas reaches deal to shutter hog farm near Buffalo River
SB84 is sponsored by Sen. Blake Johnson (R-Corning) and Rep. DeAnn Vaught (R-Horatio).
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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