Richard H. Mays, a Heber Springs lawyer long active in environmental issues, tells me he's president of a new group, the Arkansas Environmental Defense Alliance , aimed at preserving and defending natural resources. Action today: Comments filed with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality against reissuance of a general permit allowing medium to large hog farms to be permitted without a rigorous individual permit process In 2011, ADEQ issued a general permit that let hog farms obtain a permit by filing a notice of intent and waste management plan.