The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission is to consider changing rules to ban big hog farms in the Buffalo River watershed.
The panel has enacted a six-month moratorium on issuing new permits for large confined animal operations in the area of the Buffalo National River. That will give members time to decide whether to change the rules to block large animal operations.
Commissioners issued an order that notes there are geological and hydrological issues that would lead to large or medium swine operations posing "an unnecessary risk to the public health, safety and welfare."
Existing operations can have their permits renewed or modified. The moratorium affects only new operations and expires Oct. 22.
C&H Hog Farm Inc. is trying to locate a swine operation near Mt. Judea.