SAVE THE OUCHITAS, SAVE ARKANSAS
SAVE THE OUCHITAS, SAVE ARKANSAS
The Issue
What:
Over 300 acres of national forest land in Arkansas could soon become the site of quartz mining, and the public has until early May to comment for or against. There were eight areas in the national forest identified as possible quartz mining sites, totaling 337 acres. Six of the eight tracts would be permitted for quartz prospecting, while the other two would be for more immediate mining and commercial sale. USFS presented an alternative plan that would only include around 207 acres, with six tracts for prospecting and one for competitive sale.
Who:
USFS / Mining Companies TBD
Where:
The project would be in the portion of the Ouachita National Forest within Garland and Saline counties and would include removing trees and quartz mining activities.
When:
Public comment began on April 5 and will end May 5, 2026. According to USFS, the objection period has an estimated start time of July 2026, an estimated decision deadline of August 2026, and an estimated implementation time of September 2026. Only those who submit comments on time can file an objection on the project later into the approval process, if it moves forward.
Why:
This area was identified as possible quartz mining sites, potential placement for data centers. This petition is AGAINST both options due to the insufficiency of justifying irreversible environmental damage solely on “market demand for quartz”
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EXPLANATION
Per the (linked) articles and studies done thus far, there is an “825% sedimentation risk to Lake Winona and the drinking water supply of 500,000 people.” Lake Winona is owned by Central Arkansas Water, the utility serving the region. We urge them to formally oppose the proposal and intervene in the process — a utility with 500,000 ratepayers at stake has significant standing and political leverage. The draft notes that lower-income communities could be disproportionately impacted by increased water costs caused by this issue.
Ozark Society Vice President Carolyn Shearman is specifically raising concerns about the Lake Winona tract and advocating that the Forest Service not permit any new mining. Coordinated organizational opposition carries more weight than individual comments alone.
This is not a political issue, half a million people’s drinking water is at risk.
"In the event of development of a full production mine, the site would likely consist of an open pit style mine that utilizes heavy equipment to dig trenches and pits, dump trucks to transport spoils and recovered minerals, and reclaimed areas," the assessment said.
The assessment included a number of issues that may exist with the project: During mining operations, the acres of timber that can be logged commercially will be reduced. Mining activities resulting in topsoil removal and stock piling may compromise soil productivity. Three of the nominations are within the ½-mile buffer of Lake Ouachita and the surface drinking water buffer. One nomination is within the surface drinking water buffer. The Aquatic Cumulative Effects (ACE) model estimates cumulative risk from the proposed action(s) to water quality and beneficial uses by calculating increases in sediment. The model categorizes risk into High, Medium, or Low. In this case, since mine sites are likely to remain open/active concurrently, the Proposed Action (combined) resulted in a High-risk rating for two of the four sub-watersheds analyzed. Mining activities may impact ongoing and future vegetation management activities. Mining may impact scenic integrity.
“The primary in soil mapping unit for these nominations is #119, Littlefir-Carnasaw-Clebit complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes. OQC-293P has soil mapping units #55 and 118. No compaction issues, but moderate risks for erosion and soil displacement. There is a severe risk for rutting and a small area with a frequent flooding risk. OQC-294 has a small area with soil mapping unit #118. It also has no compaction issues, moderate risk for soil erosion, soil displacement, and a severe risk for rutting. OQC-295P also has soil mapping units #55 and 118. It has no compaction issues, moderate erosion and soil displacement risks. There is a severe risk of rutting and an area with frequent flooding. Utilizing the Universal Soil Loss Equation the allowable soil loss for this area is 13.00 tons per acre. Using the worst case of clearcutting the entire 100 acres results in a soil loss of 10.87 tons per acre.”
USFS explained that once mining was complete, the land would be recontoured with previously displaced topsoil and native plants would be used to revegetate, with attempts at reforestation. The forest service said guidelines are in place to protect nearby endangered and threatened wildlife, as well as local water sources like Lake Winona, Lake Ouachita, and the Saline River. And yet, in this case, the proposed action received a “high risk” rating. And there is the potential for short-term job opportunities in the area. However, we urge you all to consider is this risk worth the loss of land, habitat, and clean drinking water?
KEEP ARKANSAS THE NATURAL STATE.
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QUOTES (updated April 18)
(From locals on the issue):
“Just spoke to Ron Coleman, Mining For Quartz. They said the business and the local economy will not benefit from this opening; they themselves are locked out. The first thing said is that they are after the silica.
Out of the 300 acres with 8 different sites one site is separated from mining. It is my strong belief that there will be a processing center in which they will crush the Quartz to produce silica to cut cost in transports to out of state processing centers. When this happens our lungs, our lakes, our water or air will be filled with this dust!” - K. White, Jessieville Local
“Our delicate ecosystem, our wildlife, and all citizens depend on this canopy for our national air purifier and producer of oxygen and people and animals alike depend on the water systems to remain as they are, untouched by mining sedimentation risk. To endanger or threaten the lifeline in which everything this forest provides is going against the pure essence and reason our national forest commission was made. To forget this is unforgivable. To open it up to commercial mining will destroy the ecosystem, endanger wildlife, and affect the water ways and water supplies to communities. This in itself is an unforgivable crime, all in the name of greedy promises of money. Not once will they take responsibility for the death and destruction they leave behind when the water gone and the earth is raped! Will Jessieville Forestry’s legacy be the one who opened the door to AR destruction, or will it be the lone protector? Once you open up, greed will become great! They will demand more & more! We are begging that you stand up and speak for all Arkansas citizens and for all the wildlife and the trees that have no voice! Please stand up while you have the power & authority to say NO to those pressuring you to say YES. Be a hero not a traitor!”
“Once they start in our national forests they will not stop!!”
--
SOURCES
Assessment: https://arktimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Mining-Nominations-Draft-EA-1.pdf
USDA Forestry Service:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/ouachita
--
MORE WAYS TO VOICE YOUR OPINION:
In person: Ouachita National Forest: Office - Jessieville Winona Fourche Ranger District | Office Hours: Visitor center open Monday- Friday 8:00AM
Written comments can be mailed to District Ranger Mike Welker at P.O. Box 189, Jessieville, AR, 71949.
Faxed to 501-984-6253
Verbal comments/phone: 501-984-5313 or in person during office hours.
Direct comments can be emailed to SM.FS.r8oujwfrdcom@usda.gov or michael.welker@usda.gov
Contact state representatives
Arkansas Senators: https://senate.arkansas.gov/senators/
State Capitol Building
500 Woodlane Street, Suite 320
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1090
In Session: 501-682-2902
Out of Session: 501-682-6107
Arkansas Governor: https://governor.arkansas.gov/interact/contact-the-governor/
Arkansas State Legislators: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Legislators/List
Arkansas House of Representatives: https://www.arkansashouse.org/
133
The Issue
What:
Over 300 acres of national forest land in Arkansas could soon become the site of quartz mining, and the public has until early May to comment for or against. There were eight areas in the national forest identified as possible quartz mining sites, totaling 337 acres. Six of the eight tracts would be permitted for quartz prospecting, while the other two would be for more immediate mining and commercial sale. USFS presented an alternative plan that would only include around 207 acres, with six tracts for prospecting and one for competitive sale.
Who:
USFS / Mining Companies TBD
Where:
The project would be in the portion of the Ouachita National Forest within Garland and Saline counties and would include removing trees and quartz mining activities.
When:
Public comment began on April 5 and will end May 5, 2026. According to USFS, the objection period has an estimated start time of July 2026, an estimated decision deadline of August 2026, and an estimated implementation time of September 2026. Only those who submit comments on time can file an objection on the project later into the approval process, if it moves forward.
Why:
This area was identified as possible quartz mining sites, potential placement for data centers. This petition is AGAINST both options due to the insufficiency of justifying irreversible environmental damage solely on “market demand for quartz”
--
EXPLANATION
Per the (linked) articles and studies done thus far, there is an “825% sedimentation risk to Lake Winona and the drinking water supply of 500,000 people.” Lake Winona is owned by Central Arkansas Water, the utility serving the region. We urge them to formally oppose the proposal and intervene in the process — a utility with 500,000 ratepayers at stake has significant standing and political leverage. The draft notes that lower-income communities could be disproportionately impacted by increased water costs caused by this issue.
Ozark Society Vice President Carolyn Shearman is specifically raising concerns about the Lake Winona tract and advocating that the Forest Service not permit any new mining. Coordinated organizational opposition carries more weight than individual comments alone.
This is not a political issue, half a million people’s drinking water is at risk.
"In the event of development of a full production mine, the site would likely consist of an open pit style mine that utilizes heavy equipment to dig trenches and pits, dump trucks to transport spoils and recovered minerals, and reclaimed areas," the assessment said.
The assessment included a number of issues that may exist with the project: During mining operations, the acres of timber that can be logged commercially will be reduced. Mining activities resulting in topsoil removal and stock piling may compromise soil productivity. Three of the nominations are within the ½-mile buffer of Lake Ouachita and the surface drinking water buffer. One nomination is within the surface drinking water buffer. The Aquatic Cumulative Effects (ACE) model estimates cumulative risk from the proposed action(s) to water quality and beneficial uses by calculating increases in sediment. The model categorizes risk into High, Medium, or Low. In this case, since mine sites are likely to remain open/active concurrently, the Proposed Action (combined) resulted in a High-risk rating for two of the four sub-watersheds analyzed. Mining activities may impact ongoing and future vegetation management activities. Mining may impact scenic integrity.
“The primary in soil mapping unit for these nominations is #119, Littlefir-Carnasaw-Clebit complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes. OQC-293P has soil mapping units #55 and 118. No compaction issues, but moderate risks for erosion and soil displacement. There is a severe risk for rutting and a small area with a frequent flooding risk. OQC-294 has a small area with soil mapping unit #118. It also has no compaction issues, moderate risk for soil erosion, soil displacement, and a severe risk for rutting. OQC-295P also has soil mapping units #55 and 118. It has no compaction issues, moderate erosion and soil displacement risks. There is a severe risk of rutting and an area with frequent flooding. Utilizing the Universal Soil Loss Equation the allowable soil loss for this area is 13.00 tons per acre. Using the worst case of clearcutting the entire 100 acres results in a soil loss of 10.87 tons per acre.”
USFS explained that once mining was complete, the land would be recontoured with previously displaced topsoil and native plants would be used to revegetate, with attempts at reforestation. The forest service said guidelines are in place to protect nearby endangered and threatened wildlife, as well as local water sources like Lake Winona, Lake Ouachita, and the Saline River. And yet, in this case, the proposed action received a “high risk” rating. And there is the potential for short-term job opportunities in the area. However, we urge you all to consider is this risk worth the loss of land, habitat, and clean drinking water?
KEEP ARKANSAS THE NATURAL STATE.
--
QUOTES (updated April 18)
(From locals on the issue):
“Just spoke to Ron Coleman, Mining For Quartz. They said the business and the local economy will not benefit from this opening; they themselves are locked out. The first thing said is that they are after the silica.
Out of the 300 acres with 8 different sites one site is separated from mining. It is my strong belief that there will be a processing center in which they will crush the Quartz to produce silica to cut cost in transports to out of state processing centers. When this happens our lungs, our lakes, our water or air will be filled with this dust!” - K. White, Jessieville Local
“Our delicate ecosystem, our wildlife, and all citizens depend on this canopy for our national air purifier and producer of oxygen and people and animals alike depend on the water systems to remain as they are, untouched by mining sedimentation risk. To endanger or threaten the lifeline in which everything this forest provides is going against the pure essence and reason our national forest commission was made. To forget this is unforgivable. To open it up to commercial mining will destroy the ecosystem, endanger wildlife, and affect the water ways and water supplies to communities. This in itself is an unforgivable crime, all in the name of greedy promises of money. Not once will they take responsibility for the death and destruction they leave behind when the water gone and the earth is raped! Will Jessieville Forestry’s legacy be the one who opened the door to AR destruction, or will it be the lone protector? Once you open up, greed will become great! They will demand more & more! We are begging that you stand up and speak for all Arkansas citizens and for all the wildlife and the trees that have no voice! Please stand up while you have the power & authority to say NO to those pressuring you to say YES. Be a hero not a traitor!”
“Once they start in our national forests they will not stop!!”
--
SOURCES
Assessment: https://arktimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Mining-Nominations-Draft-EA-1.pdf
USDA Forestry Service:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/r08/ouachita
--
MORE WAYS TO VOICE YOUR OPINION:
In person: Ouachita National Forest: Office - Jessieville Winona Fourche Ranger District | Office Hours: Visitor center open Monday- Friday 8:00AM
Written comments can be mailed to District Ranger Mike Welker at P.O. Box 189, Jessieville, AR, 71949.
Faxed to 501-984-6253
Verbal comments/phone: 501-984-5313 or in person during office hours.
Direct comments can be emailed to SM.FS.r8oujwfrdcom@usda.gov or michael.welker@usda.gov
Contact state representatives
Arkansas Senators: https://senate.arkansas.gov/senators/
State Capitol Building
500 Woodlane Street, Suite 320
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1090
In Session: 501-682-2902
Out of Session: 501-682-6107
Arkansas Governor: https://governor.arkansas.gov/interact/contact-the-governor/
Arkansas State Legislators: https://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/Legislators/List
Arkansas House of Representatives: https://www.arkansashouse.org/
133
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Petition created on April 18, 2026