04/14/2026
Thank you Branndon for bringing this to our attention! Take 5 minutes today and tell them this is absolutely not ok. Every time they allow something like this it opens the door for more lost public land and damage to our resources.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EdNW8hzsg/
The Forest Service is proposing to permit quartz prospecting and mining within the Ouachita Forest, totaling approximately 337 acres of public lands. The public comment period is now open. FoOT is preparing a comment, but we wanted to make you all aware in case you would like to comment individually.
Comments must be written and may be submitted to the District Ranger at
P.O. Box 189, Jessieville, AR 71949
By fax at 501-984-6253
By email at [email protected]
A link to the draft environmental assessment is below. It lists the following issues:
• 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.
https://usfs-public.app.box.com/v/PinyonPublic/file/2184352650328
