Statement on Proposed Quartz Mining in the Ouachita National Forest

We all share a responsibility to approach decisions that affect our land, our water, and our communities with honesty, fairness, and a commitment to the common good. The proposed expansion of quartz mining within the Ouachita National Forest raises serious concerns that cannot be ignored.

The Environmental Assessment itself makes clear that this project carries a high risk of increased sediment runoff into critical watersheds. These waters support drinking water systems serving tens of thousands of Arkansans, including those who depend on Lake Ouachita and Lake Winona. When a proposal acknowledges likely increases in water treatment costs, greater chemical usage, and added strain on public infrastructure, we must ask whether the full long-term consequences have been adequately confronted.

Fairness requires that we consider who bears the burden. While the benefits of mineral extraction may be limited and short-term, the risks—higher utility costs, environmental degradation, and diminished recreational value—are long-lasting and widely shared. In some cases, those costs fall most heavily on working families and local communities least able to absorb them. That is not a balanced or equitable outcome.

Good stewardship demands more than minimal compliance. It requires foresight and restraint. The Ouachita National Forest exists not for a single purpose, but to provide clean water, wildlife habitat, economic opportunity through recreation, and the preservation of natural heritage. In a state whose official nickname is “The Natural State,” it is not a large demand to expect that its natural beauty and resources be preserved as part of our responsibility to future generations. Introducing industrial activity that is expected to elevate environmental risk—particularly near vital water sources—undermines that broader purpose.

Finally, we must consider whether this decision truly serves the long-term interests of Arkansas communities. Once landscapes are altered and watersheds are impacted, restoration is uncertain and often incomplete. Short-term gain should not come at the expense of permanent harm to resources that belong to all Arkansans.

For these reasons, this proposal, as currently presented, should not move forward. A better path is one that prioritizes the protection of our water, the preservation of our natural resources, and the long-term well-being of the people who depend on them—now and for generations to come.

With respect for all Arkansans,

Joshua Irby

Draft Environmental Assessment for the mining nominations can be viewed at the following link: https://arktimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Mining-Nominations-Draft-EA-1.pdf

Paid for by Joshua Irby