In defiance of the DNR's constitutional mandate to protect the health and well being of Missourians, to protect the quality and quantity of water in the state, and to protect our state parks and historic sites, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is determined to license CAFOs.
As I reported in my last posting, the DNR just last Friday licensed a chicken CAFO on the uplands above Roaring River State Park, less than a mile from the park boundary, and it is set soon to do the same for a hog CAFO less than two miles from Arrow Rock State Park, close to the village of Arrow Rock, a picturesque historic site, known for its historic Lyceum Theater.
All right, you city folk, buckle up, because I'm about to take you on a ride out into the country to find out about a battle that's brewing. A group of Missourians is girding to fight more than City Hall. Citizens near the state parks in Arrow Rock, Roaring River and Battle of Athens are about to sue the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the state of Missouri over CAFOs (contained animal feeding operations).
The dispute began when landowners applied for CAFO licenses near those three state parks, and the DNR supported them at every turn against the objections of other locals. After all, a farm with 4800 hogs or 65,000 chickens stinks to high heaven. And aside from their own preferences about not having to live with that stench, many local landowners get their livelihood from the tourist industry in and around the state parks. ("Hey, Joe, what say we go down to Roaring River this weekend for some trout fishing?" "Sure. Sounds good." "It is good, long as you don't mind smelling chicken shit while you're casting." "Um, no thanks.")
STATE BLOGS
All right, you city folk, buckle up, because I'm about to take you on a ride out into the country to find out about a battle that's brewing. A group of Missourians is girding to fight more than City Hall. Citizens near the state parks in Arrow Rock, Roaring River and Battle of Athens are about to sue the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the state of Missouri over CAFOs (contained animal feeding operations).