Numerous electric service providers throughout the Ozarks are presently using a combination of herbicides to kill the native plants, trees, and shrubs that grow beneath the power lines throughout our region. Countless numbers of plants and animal communities are being sprayed, causing extensive harm to a wide range of species. Studies from around the world show that the toxic chemical residues from pesticides and herbicides can and do wash into area creeks, ponds, and groundwater.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 15 -- The Army Corps of Engineers has issued a permit to allow Chesapeake Operating Inc. to install a water intake structure and rehabilitate a boat ramp on the Little Red River north of Searcy in White County.

The permit, issued under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, requires several conditions before, during and after construction. The conditions are the result of concerns expressed during the Corps' public interest review that included comments from the public and other agencies.

March 24, 2008
The Ouachita and Ozark National Forest "Hotline" (1-888-243-1042)
announced cumulative burning of 13,456 acres for Monday, March 24, 2008.
The burning was to take place over numerous districts in both forests.
Seven of the nine burns were over 1000 acres in size, and three of the
burns were over 2000 acres.

For a comprehensive look at the background and environmental issues surrounding the oil and gas industry, including resources and strategies for concerned citicens, go to:

www.ogap.org

To access a local network of Arkansas citizens working on gas well issues in the Ozark and Ouachita region, go to:

www.arcare.info

For specifics dealing with the Oil and Gas industry leases and use of public lands, go to:

www.earthworksaction.org/publicland.cfm

For more information about Hydraulic Fracturing, go to:

www.earthworksaction.org/hydfracking.cfm

The USFS Utility Right of Way (ROW) Herbicide proposal raises many concerns, particularly for those who live near, within, or, adjacent to our National Forests. The utility’s proposed use of untested and unapproved combinations of herbicides displays a blatant ignorance and disregard for the biological sensitivity of human health and the environment.

The Buffalo River Chapter will
host the Ozark Society Spring
Meeting at Tyler Bend on the
Buffalo River (AR), April 19th-20th, 2008.
A group camp site has been reserved.
Registration will be from 8 to 10
AM. The General Membership
meeting will begin at 10 AM with
programs following lunch and the,
not to be missed, potluck at 6 PM.
Circle your calendars now.
Bring Grandma, Grandpa, all the
kids and come join us for a great
weekend on the river!

By DAVID HOLSTED, times staff - davidh@harrisondaily.com
03/16/2008

LOWER BUFFALO WILDERNESS - An occasional buzzard circled lazily in the sky.
A tentative rabbit hopped a few steps before stopping to reconnoiter.
Somewhere over the heavily wooded hills, in their final days before
giving birth to another spring, the Buffalo River rolled unimpeded, as
it had for centuries, to its rendezvous with the nearby White River.

The Arkansas Governor and natural gas producers proposed a compromise last week on the severance tax issue. The compromise plan calls for a 5% tax rate, with a 36 month reduced rate of 1.5% for high cost new wells and a 24 month reduced rate for all other new wells.

The following newspaper article from New York State explains how gas drilling companies across the nation are injecting toxic chemicals into the ground without government or industry oversight.

The U.S. House of Representative's Oversight and Government Reform Committee
is investigating the process called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, used
in the creation of gas wells, which allegedly has caused contamination of
the drinking water in several locations around the country. In the fracking
process, water, sand and other materials are injected deep into underground

According to an Associated Press release of Feb. 8, 2008, a frog new to the scientific community, has been discovered by Emily Lemmon, who found the quarter-sized, ground dwelling amphibian while studying for her doctorate in evolutionary biology.
The Cajun Frog, as it is commonly called, resides in western Mississippi, eastern Texas and Oklahoma, all of Arkansas, and southern Missouri, and is kin to the Spring Peeper and Green Tree Frog.
So now there is yet another reason for encouraging people to throw away that Roundup (safely).