USA Metal begins permit process

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

— USA Metal Recycling is beginning the process of obtaining the proper permits to operate on a site south of Gentry.

Tom Smith, chief operations officer for USA Metal, said he’s been processing metal at the site on Old Highway 59 for years; but until Monday, it wasn’t open to the public.

After meeting with Benton County planning staff last Wednesday, Smith said the site will be closed to the public. All other USA Metal sites will continue to operate as normal.

USA Metal opened at 13670 Old Highway 59 on Monday, Oct. 29. On Oct. 26, Smith announced the company’s scrap yard at 2109 E. Kenwood St. in Siloam Springs would close Monday, the same day the new one opened.

“Our Old Highway 59 site has been in operation for years, so in an effort to comply with the city of Siloam Springs’ request and retain the jobs of the current employees, it was a good option,” Smith said about the move from Siloam Springs.

On Oct. 30, Benton County Circuit Judge John Scott ordered USA Metal to cease metal recycling at the site on Kenwood Street. In exchange, all citations against USA Metal will be dismissed. Smith said the order was an agreement between USA Metal and Siloam Springs.

David Cameron, city administrator, said city staff reported Oct. 30 the scrap yard on Kenwood Street had closed.

“I’m pleased for our residents in the East Gate area that have expressed concern over this (facility’s)operation,” Cameron said.

More than a dozen people have complained about the new scrap yard on Old Highway 59, said Chris Ryan, director of planning and environmental services for the county. He explained how the scrap yard needs to go through the process for a large-scale development before it can operate.

Recently, neighbors also were concerned about a business looking to receive an environmental permit to operate a recycling center for construction and demolition debris at the site.

Ryan said a permit from Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality wasn’t issued for it to operate.

Lloyd Clapp, chairman of the board for Total Life Community Center, explained the scrap yard wasn’t a positive thing. The community center is west of the scrap yard.

“It doesn’t represent what TLC’s focus is,” Clapp said. “It doesn’t represent our area very well.”

Clapp said the new scrap yard will likely attract more rodents. This is an issue because the community center offers food for the needy.

It also offers clothing at its thrift store and training classes for the community.

Neighbor Jose Suarez said his property value has decreased because of the scrap yard next door.

“I don’t like it,” Suarez said. “I think, 'Anything except this.'"

If USA Metal officials were to install a fence and stop the noise in the mornings and afternoons, he said maybe it would be OK. He said his neighbors across Old Highway 59 receive a lot of dust from the site.

David Jensen said the banging is the hard part.

“They started loading something, then boom, boom, boom,” Jensen said.

On Wednesday, Ryan said a letter was sent to USA Metal asking it to stop operating until it receives the permit to do so. Also, Ryan said he met with Smith to discuss the process to obtain a large-scale development permit to operate the metal scrapyard and that it will close until the permit is received.

If USA Metal officials were to apply for the permit by the end of the week, the soonest the permit could be issued would be Dec. 5. Two planning meetings would need to be hosted, and the Dec. 5 one would include a public hearing.

If the business were to continue to operate without a permit, Ryan said it could face daily citations.

News, Pages 3 on 11/07/2012