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The Division of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) has issued for public input on the Conceptual Closure Plan for the C & H Hog Farm waste storage ponds.

DEQ States that the waste storage pond closure activities will be undertaken by contractors it retains.

The C & H facility involved the operation of a swine facility in Newton County, Arkansas. The liquid animal waste management systems at the facility triggered certain permitting requirements. Administrative and judicial litigation involved C & H’s appeal of DEQ’s denial of permits for such systems.

The administrative and judicial litigation was resolved this summer through an Agreement announced by Governor Hutchinson. The Agreement included the payment of $6.2 million to the C & H owners. This funding is generated by both state funds and a portion from the Nature Conservancy.

A key provision of the Agreement included termination of the existing Contained Animal Feeding Operations.

DEQ states that upon certification the C & H owners have fully ceased operations and conducted a final wash down of the buildings the pond-closure activities will be initiated. Further, upon conclusion of the public-input process it will finalize the closure plan. At that point, procurement of a qualified contractor will be initiated.

The deadline for submitting public input is stated to be 4:30 p.m. on October 15th.

A copy of the Conceptual Closure Plan can be downloaded here.