Latest news with #ArkansasDivisionofEnvironmentalQuality
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After hearing, Arkansas company commits to timeline to shut down waste lagoon in Van Buren
A dredge works on the Denali waste lagoon in Van Buren. (Photo obtained from Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality files) Russellville-based Denali announced Friday that it will stop depositing waste from chicken processing facilities in its Van Buren lagoon by the end of 2025. The announcement came after dozens of Fort Smith-area residents spoke at a public hearing held by the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality Thursday evening. Both residents and elected officials described how odors from the lagoon, and from Denali's land application operations, had negatively affected their lives and businesses, and the region as a whole. 'Denali will discontinue bringing material to the storage facility this year,' Denali CEO Todd Mathes said in an emailed press release. 'Disposition of the material at the site will be determined after Dec. 31, 2025. Denali is currently executing its long-term plan for alternative storage capacity and long-term infrastructure solutions throughout the region, which will allow for the closure of the open-air facility in Crawford County,' Mathes said. 'Working with regulatory officials to obtain permits and permit modifications are required in order to completely close the storage facility in a timely manner.' Denali told the Advocate earlier this month that 'we have not committed to an exact date,' citing the need to obtain additional storage and permits. Denali said it would provide notifications to local officials before the lagoon is cleaned out. A previous clean-out of millions of gallons of sludge from the lagoon in 2024 led to dozens of complaints about odor to DEQ from Fort Smith residents. However, the waste recycling company emphasized that Sebastian and Crawford counties remained 'important operational areas' for Denali due to the number of food processors in the region. The press release did not address concerns of some critics about the volume of waste being applied to fields in the area nor how land applications were affecting residents living nearby. Crawford County has one of the highest number of land application permits in the state, with at least eight. Most of the Crawford County permits are held by Denali. HydroAg Environmental is another permit holder. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Officials take drastic measures after toxic spill caused by severe storm: 'Immediate action was required'
Arkansas officials took steps recently to help residents of the state impacted by a fuel spill caused by severe storms. According to the Arkansas Advocate, environmental regulators issued an emergency order to help address a large spill of red dye diesel fuel in Craighead County, Arkansas. The containers holding the fuel were severely damaged by a series of tornadoes in the region, causing the fuel to leak into the surrounding environment. The fuel leaked into ditches near the storage site that ran through a residential area, with the potential to reach the St. Francis River. Inspectors who visited the site reported high concentrations of diesel fuel in the ditches. "Given the extent of the storm impact and damage, imminent heavy rainfall and the forecast for additional severe weather and heavy flooding in the area, it was apparent that immediate action was required to protect human health and safety as well as to mitigate further impact to waters of the state including the St. Francis River," the emergency order said. This order allowed Bailey Taylor, director of the Arkansas Division of Environmental Quality, to send remediation contractors to the site to assess the damage and potential environmental impact of the spill. It also allowed her to authorize the use of funds from the Remedial Action Trust Fund if it was determined that the spill was significant enough to pose a threat to the surrounding area. Red dye diesel fuel is the same as normal diesel fuel, but it is taxed less heavily than standard diesel, per Fuel Logic. It is used specifically in off-road vehicles, primarily in the construction and farming industries. Diesel fuel is one of the most toxic forms of petroleum-based fuels in use, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Direct contact with it can result in the death of fish and wildlife, and ingesting diesel fuel through your drinking water can cause serious illness in humans, as well as skin irritation. Because it is less viscous than other forms of oil, diesel fuel tends to absorb into the soil quicker, which can have a profound negative impact on the environment. The good news is that if the spill is relatively small, the fuel could evaporate before much damage occurs. However, given the amount of rain and the fact that the St. Francis River is a source of drinking water in the area, the emergency order allows authorities to assess and handle the situation before it poses a threat to the environment or the people living in the area. How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
