BELLA VISTA, Ark. (AP) State environmental officials say the air quality near an underground fire at an illegal dumping site in northwest Arkansas is better than expected.
The Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality May 16-22 readings from two sites near the Bella Vista fire show the air quality as good, not unhealthy as forecast.
The Bella Vista Property Owners Association says the air quality is still unhealthy for those the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency categorizes as sensitive, such as people with heart and lung disease, older adults and children.
Bella Vista residents reported the underground fire last July.
The association is responsible for extinguishing the fire, and must do so by June 14 under a contract with the state environment agency. The association says that will cost around $4 million.
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