Wildlife biologist Allan Mueller speaks to the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Administrative Rules subcommittee on behalf of the Arkansas Audubon Society on Thursday, November 14, 2024, opposing a proposed Department of Agriculture rule that would limit public notice of new permit applications for livestock and poultry farms. (Screenshot/Arkansas Legislature)
Arkansas lawmakers deferred action on two proposed rules regarding large livestock farms from Thursday to next month.
The Arkansas Legislative Council’s Administrative Rules subcommittee heard public comment from several individuals who criticized a state Department of Agriculture rule that would limit public notice of new permit applications for livestock and poultry farms to the department’s website.
The department promulgated the rule as part of the enactment of Act 824 of 2023 , which gave the agency regulatory authority over large livestock farms, often known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) previously held this authority.