Hearing set over Springdale brewery’s permit

SPRINGDALE — Environmental regulators will hold a hearing this fall to reconsider a wastewater storage permit the state granted to a northwest Arkansas brewery, after the local water district voiced concerns that it could imperil the area’s drinking water.

The Beaver Water District requested the hearing before the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission over the permit issued to Saddlebock Brewing LLC in Springdale. The district’s CEO, Alan Fortenberry, said it is concerned about the possible pollution of the Beaver Lake watershed, which provides drinking water to several cities in northwest Arkansas.

“Our concern is anything within the Beaver Lake watershed, anything that has potential to offer any type of contamination,” Fortenberry said.

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality has issued a stay on the brewery’s no- discharge wastewater permit, which means the brewery must collect industrial waste above ground and dispose of it through an approved facility. The permit previously issued by state regulators allowed the brewery to collect the wastewater and store it in an underground septic system.

Brewery owner Steven Rehbock said that over the past month he’s disposed of most industrial waste by giving it to a local farmer who uses it as chicken feed. Rehbock said he could also use local wastewater treatment plants to handle the waste.

“I’m not that cost- conscious about it,” Rehbock said. “I just want to do things right.”

Saddlebock Brewery is the one of the first breweries in northwest Arkansas, and provides beer for wholesale distribution.

The Arkansas Democrat- Gazette reported Sunday ( that a hearing is set for Sept. 4 in North Little Rock.