The Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission unanimously voted the other day to adopt changes to a state regulation that would make permanent the existing temporary moratorium on medium and large swine farms/Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) in the sacred Buffalo River watershed.

It was a frustrating and controversial years-long struggle to finally shutter the enormous C&H Hog Farms beginning in the mid-2010s by those who care deeply for the welfare of this unique and precious God-given resource. It was a facility that had been quietly licensed even to the surprise of the former Department of Environmental Quality's director and even the governor.

Thankfully, I came to know most of the dedicated Arkansans and their groups so actively and admirably involved in saving the river.

Those permanent changes will go into effect if they are approved by the state Legislature in December. We all will be eagerly watching.

A news account in this newspaper said the permanent moratorium is included in a group of changes to the state's Regulation 6, which oversees and governs our state's administration of the federal Clean Water Act. "Over 200 individuals and groups submitted public comments, both in favor and against the proposed changes. The comments were almost entirely addressing the moratorium.

"Michael McAlister, the........

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