Arkansas legislature bill to end waterway moratoriums pulled by sponsor
Video: Report on changes to the electric utilities bill and the withdrawal of the moratorium prevention bill
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A bill that would end an Arkansas agency's ability to place a moratorium on issuing permits in watersheds was pulled by its sponsor in committee on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 290 would end moratoriums along waterways, such as the one currently in place by the Department of Environmental Quality on issuing permits for confined animal feeding operations along the Buffalo River. The bill was withdrawn by its lead sponsor, Sen. Blake Johnson (R-Corning), after testimony by both supporters and opponents to the Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee.
New bill introduced in Arkansas legislature to end Buffalo River, watershed protections
After the testimonies, Sen. Jimmy Hickey (R-Texarkana) expressed concern about the bill's potential conflict with the Administrative Procedures Act, telling Johnson he could not support it in its current form. Johnson responded by withdrawing the bill.
Other Senators on the committee voiced concern about its structure and terms before Hickey's statement. Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Searcy) pointed out that the bill would essentially empower four committee members to have power over moratoriums in the state.
Committee members Sen. Ben Gilmore (R-Crossett) and Sen. Jamie Scott (D-North Little Rock) also had questions about the bill, including its ability to contend with a possible emergency.
Arkansas reaches deal to shutter hog farm near Buffalo River
This is Johnson's second attempt to create a law ending watershed moratoriums. An earlier version of the bill, Senate Bill 84, required approval by the legislative council for a moratorium to be in place. The new version of the bill, Senate Bill 290, mandated approval by the Agriculture, Forestry and Economic Development Committee.
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