Arkansas: Proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant near Pinnacle Mountain Faces Study Requirements
A recent decision has taken center stage in the debate regarding a wastewater treatment plant near Pinnacle Mountain in Arkansas, adjacent to a proposed 76-home subdivision at Roland Cut-Off Road. The state commission, in a move that resonated with the judgement of an administrative law judge, relocated the needle by remanding a previously issued permit.
In the ongoing tug-of-war between developers and local residents, the Pinnacle Mountain Community Coalition—a not-for-profit organization—filed a lawsuit in October 2022, citing concerns about the potential impact on Mill Bayou, which provides water resources to 1,200 households via the Maumelle Water Corp.
The crux of the matter is further study, as deemed necessary by the commission, to address potential effects on the public drinking water well. This judgment arrives even as the state Department of Energy and Environment is carefully analyzing the plant’s construction application.
The plaintiffs, led by the Pinnacle Mountain Community Coalition, maintain that the current approval process has not accounted for critical elements like sewage disposal, drainage, and flood control, which they argue violates Pulaski County’s development code.
The project’s proponent, developer Rick Ferguson, stands by the environmentally sound nature of the plant. He has emphasized that the subdivision would serve a growing demand for affordable homes in the region, offering incentives to individuals in specific professions such as military service members, law-enforcement officers, teachers, firefighters, public officials, and healthcare workers.
Residents of the area, including the nine Roland families, assert that the proposed discharge of treated sewage can be detrimental to Mill Bayou. They point to runoff issues, particularly those amplified by existing runoff mitigation techniques, noting that contaminants like pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and animal waste are already present in the area.
In the spirit of balance, the state commission, in remanding the permit, is acknowledging the need for further study. This decision may usher in a new era of assessments, where potential effects on the public well and surrounding natural spaces are carefully considered, leading to a more responsible wastewater treatment solution.
As reported by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, this decision instills hope, highlighting a shared understanding that environmentally sound development is indeed possible. The Pinnacle Area for Responsible Development, an initiative that promotes such balance, explains that the area currently lacks a wastewater treatment plant for the unincorporated Roland community.
For now, work on the proposed subdivision has been halted, pending the resolution of the litigation and the completion of the required studies. The journey continues, and the state commission’s ruling indicates that, for progress to be made, further study is indeed required.
