Public comments on a quartz mining proposal in the Ouachita National Forest still have to be submitted by Friday's deadline to be provided legal standing, despite the partial shutdown of the federal government, according to U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman's office.
The proposal has drawn opposition from both Visit Hot Springs and the Friends of the Ouachita Trail. Most of the concerns stem from the proposed permit area being separated from the Ouachita National Recreation Trail by only a 150-foot buffer.
The public comment period opened Dec. 19 on the environmental assessment for the Barber Quartz Prospecting Permit. Under the permit, the U.S. Forest Service would allow "quartz prospecting, exploration and mining" on a 21-acre tract of the Ouachita National Forest in Yell County under a 10-year quartz preference rights lease.
In a Jan. 17 email to the newspaper, Westerman's office said projects such as this are fairly common on Forest Service property, since its lands are managed for multiple uses.
"Environmental assessments are designed in part to ensure one use, like mining, does not overwhelmingly impact other use, like hiking or hunting. Given that the impact for this project is removed from the trail, and visually blocked by a buffer area, this project should fall under the doctrine of multiple use," congressional aides said, noting the Forest Service estimates a minimal impact to the trail due to the 150-foot buffer described.
Even with the government shutdown, the congressional aides said comments on the environmental assessment still need to be submitted before Friday's deadline to be provided legal standing. Following the closure of the comment period, each submission will be given full and complete review by the Forest Service, they said.
"I've long supported sustainable mining in the 4th District, provided it benefits local communities and stewards natural resources well," Westerman said Tuesday in an email. "I look forward to the results of the Quartz Mine's environmental review, and hope to see it progress in the upcoming year."
In a letter to Tim Oosterhous, district ranger for the Mena Oden Ranger District, Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison said VHS -- which is a member of FoOT -- does not believe this is an appropriate use of forest resources and should not be allowed.
"The Ouachita National Recreational Trail is an amazing asset to our state and to the Ouachita National Forest," he said in the letter. "It is hard to understand how a proposal could even be considered that would put an open pit quartz mine right next to this treasure."
A Forest Service spokesman could not be reached for comment due to the government shutdown, or to provide contact information for Barber Quartz.
Bo Lea, president of FoOT, told The Sentinel-Record Jan. 15 that the Ouachita National Recreation Trail is a 223.5-mile premiere hiking and biking trail, and FoOT's concern was that project's environmental assessment made "no mention of the Ouachita Trail except for one map that shows a 150-foot buffer between the trail and the mining area. That's only 50 yards."
FoOT, he said, "does not have an adversarial role with the Forest Service. We work great with them and have nothing against them. We just simply don't think this is a good idea. I guess you could say it's an 'agree to disagree' situation."
In FoOT's letter, Lea said several members did a field survey of the proposed site, which affirmed the negative impact on the Ouachita National Recreation Trail.
"With 1.3 million acres in the Ouachita National Forest, you would hope there would be other options," Lea said.
Lea said in the letter that it has been disappointing and disheartening how the permit application has been handled in regard to the trail, noting points made by FoOT District Captain David Saugey that the trail should have been included in the "issues" section of the EA, as well as addressed in the "Quality of Human Environment" and the "Unique Characteristics of the Geographic Area." The letter also states FoOT should have been one of the groups consulted for original input.
Lea said another concern FoOT has is how the mine will affect the broad appeal of the trail from a tourism standpoint.
"This particular section of the trail is considered an epic trail by the International Mountain Bicycling Association," he said. "We're fortunate to have three, what they call, epic trails in this part of the country -- the Womble Trail, the Vista Trail and the Ouachita Trail. Those trails are very important when it comes to promoting mountain biking in this area."
Local on 01/23/2019