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pnnt I G E-!lliJil I COlnn1~nt I ***Rat<; I [l'IT"J Text Size Marble Falls mired in sewage struggle By HANNAH JEPPSEN hannahj@harri~Qndaily.com Published: Saturday, August 1, 20096:06 AM

MARBLE FALLS - The Newton County community of Marble Falls is having se .. issues, a problem that has been ongoing since early March, according to Willie Hefley, Marble Falls resident and former Marble Falls Sewer Improvement Dist (MFSID) commissioner.

About 40 years ago, Marble Falls, which is now home to 100-150 residents, boasted a convention center, ski resort and motel among other attractions on land adjacent to the USA theme park. A wastewater treatment plan1 was built at the time of construction to accommodate the waste flow. The treatment plant is located about a mile and a half southeast of Marble Falls.

Hefley said the system, which he likened to an antique by sewage standards, is in dire need of repair after failing to operate due to damage sustained during the ice storm in February.

The sewer system has a line that runs down the hill from the chalets and condominiums along the Highway 7 Spur and under Scenic Highway 7 to a lift station, which pumps the waste back up to the waste water plant for treatment. Hannah Jeppsen/Staff Hefley said the main lift Liquid spills from the lift station that operates as part of Marble Falls' sewage system. The spillage was due to thl station has not operated Thursday rain. Below, Rex Isbell points out the sewer since March after its treatment plant tank for Marble Falls located just down th equipment rooms flooded road from the old Dogpatch . during ice storm. He said this has caused waste from the lift station to spill over into a creek bed leadin· Mill Creek, which feeds into the Buffalo National River.

Since that time, the plant has been operating on "emergency mode." Hefley s. this consists of using a rented external pump to pump waste from the lift stati to a tanker parked on Highway 7, which Hefley and fellow former commission!

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Rex Isbell use to transport waste to a manhole at the top of the hill. They thel gravity take it down the other side to the treatment plant.

The exact owner of the sewer system has remained a gray area, although Tahoe Gaming does own the land where

See Sewer, Page 14A

Dogpatch was located. This has only complicated the search for who should b paying for repairs and maintaining the sewer plant.

Harrison lawyer Van Younes is listed with the Secretary of State as Tahoe Gaming's registered agent. Younes was unable to verify whether the treatmer plant was located on that land, although Hefley and residents claim it is.

In the meantime Hefley and Isbell, who both resigned as a commissioners of MFSID June 24, have taken on the job of hauling the waste, using Hefley's equipment and providing the labor a few days a week.

Isbell said the lift station has overfilled at times, causing spillage. Hefley said· these spillages could pollute the creek.

"We have spillages on a regular basis," Hefley said. "I don't know how much i~ leaking out under there. Nobody knows."

The damage to the lift station, which Hefley estimated at $100,000, is too cos for the district to repair, so Hefley has been seeking support elsewhere.

Among the agencies Hefley contacted are the Arkansas Department of Emergt Management, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ). He also contacted local state representatives and senators.

Hefley has had no luck, and the waste has continued to spillover intermittentl

"Everybody refers me to someone else. I applied for a FEMA Public Assistance grant, but that was rejected," Hefley said. "I've done absolutely no good with anybody."

Hefley alerted ADEQ of the problem in May, and it sent a field agent to inspec situation July 16. The July 27 ADEQ inspection report confirmed "unpermitted discharges of untreated waste water" had occurred and outlined regulation violations.

ADEQ public information officer Aaron Sadler stated that the agency is aware the situation at Marble Falls.

"We have not decided if enforcement action is warranted," Sadler said of the violations recorded in the report. "We don't distribute money; we are a regula agency. Our job is to make sure they are operating the plant properly."

ADEQ has given the Marble Falls Sewer Improvement District until Aug. 8 to c up with a proper plan of action and response.

Hefley said that that may not happen.

"I don't know if I will reply because I resigned as commissioner, but I may wr, letter as a concerned citizen," he said. "The report is accurate, and we are doi the best we can, but no one seems to be concerned."

The responsibility for the damage, however, will lie on the Marble Falls Reside

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Association (MFRA), which has been operating the plant for 15 years.

According to an ADEQ letter Hefley received in late June, any entity that has taken over operation and made the decisions for the plant will be accountable Marble Falls, that would be the Marble Falls Resident Association.

Buffalo River National Park Superintendent Kevin Cheri said Hefley had given' the "heads up" about the potential damage at Marble Falls, but he was unawa any spills. He said it was a state issue and sympathized with the Marble Falls Resident Association, who he said had "adopted this responsibility by default.'

"We're certainly concerned for them and the potential affects on the environment," he said. "I guess they are between a rock and a hard place. Th need help."

Isbell agreed.

"We're at our wits end/' he said. "It's been a mess. We've gone from a local justice of the peace to the governor's office, and no one seems to care. I don' know where else we can go."

Marble Falls Resident Association met Saturday, July 25, to discuss further action. Hefley estimated 10 homeowners attended.

"Most people, as long as they can flush their toilets and pay their bills, don't care," he said.

CarrQIII:Q Soard readleslQ..h.ei;lr from owners Hill ponders past cJecadei'lt N,

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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of harrisondaily.com

Ed wrote on Aug 1, 2009 6:38 AM: " Where's the sitimulas money? Where's the EPA to help? Where's the tree huggers to help? Hats off to Mr. Hefley! Thank you for your efforts. Bottom line where is the goverment when yo need them?"

head N 4 high ground wrote on Aug 2, 2009 932 PM: " I sure feel sorry for the low man on the totem pole, or in this case those downstream ... Gues! you have to turn off the water coming in till some has a fix for that going out... And that whole system, not just the lift station, could use an upgrade ..wild guesstimate ... 3 million$$ ..hmm, about a 85$ per household per month sewer bill..Just a guesstimate.. ..

carla wrote on Aug 3. 2009 1027 AM' " Contact the EPA & dept of interior. this can be hazardous to the nalional river, animals and public safety. there are also grants that could be written by newton county natural resources group if asked to do so .... i'm saddened by the condition that the marble falls area is in. This w a thriving area when dog patch was up and running ...

Rodney Cook wrote on Aug 2009 827 PM .. I'm not sure I understand the reporting on this:

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1. Raw sewage is being pumped into the local creeks and river and its someone else's responsibility besides those who are the one's dumping it? What is the financial structure that would make the residents of Marble Falls not feel they were responsible for their own crap?

2. County, State and even Federal folks aren't concerned that raw sewage is being put into the possible drinking water of local residents to make it stop?

3. The HDT can't find anyone in the state or county government to discuss concerns about the pollution?

And here I thought Jim Jones was the only person to get folks to drink toxic kool-aid .•

marie wrote on Aug 4. 2009 10:50 AM: • The people listed in this article are intellegent, concerned people that have gotten the government run around of a royal order. If you have led such a blessed life that you have neve had to try to get help for such a monumental problem, Yeah for youl Finding someone in a positon of authority that will at least give the impresson they care is near impossible. And if the article is carefully read you will see that the EPA (ADEQ in Ar) WAS contacted, as w the National Parks Div. State and Federal government. •

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