STOP THE CROSS HOLLOW QUARRY

The Cross Hollows Preservation Association is a non-profit unincorporated association which was formed out of strong and abundant public interest in protecting a critical local site. 

In December 2019, the Benton County Planning Board approved a permit for Covington Enterprises to operate a Limestone Quarry in the Cross Hollow area of Benton County, just outside the Rogers and Lowell city limits.

Why is this a problem?

-The Cross Hollow area (and quarry site) is of extreme historical and cultural significance.  Its relationship to the Trail of Tears, Civil War, and Butterfield Overland Mail Route have earned the adjoining road and its surrounding area listing on the National Historic Register. Cross Hollow is known as one of the best-preserved historical areas in the state.  

-The quarry will put thousands of school children and hundreds of local families at risk due to silica dust inhalation (causes cancer, lung disease, and tuberculosis), increased dump truck traffic (80-120 trucks daily), and pollution to the local environment.  There are 7 schools and hundreds of residences within a 2-mile radius of the quarry site. 

-The quarry and its operations threaten the water supply of the entire area- Beaver Lake is less than a mile away and is connected to the quarry by the Monte Ne Branch. Local citizens who rely on wells as their only water source are also greatly concerned about having the quantity and quality of their water affected. 

-The quarry site is in a an area of fragile Karst topography. Limestone mining in Karst topography is known to have many unpredictable and unfavorable side effects, such as the creation of sink holes, draining of the local water table, destruction of fragile ecosystems, and the disruption of rare and endangered wildlife.

-The entire area surrounding the quarry is residential and agricultural in nature.  Some of the local families have been on their land for over a century. The Benton County Planning Regulations define a heavy industrial land use such as a limestone quarry as incompatible with residential and agricultural areas. The ordinance clearly states that such inquiries should be denied for the sake of preserving the integrity and value of the land and protecting the health and prosperity of the citizens of the county. 

The Benton County Planning Board did not uphold the goals and regulations it was established to enforce when it approved the quarry permit.  We've hired an excellent and highly reputable environmental lawyer from Little Rock, Richard Mays, and local lawyer Joey McGehee of Matthews Law Firm in Rogers, and they are confident in our likelihood of prevailing.  They've already filed an appeal and several additional lawsuits to stop the quarry efforts. 

The lawyers are doing excellent work at a discounted rate, but this will be an ongoing effort that will require ongoing support by our community if we are to prevail.  

Most of the surrounding residents are middle-class families, retirees on fixed incomes, and farmers. These families are sacrificing their hard-earned finances and limited resources to fight million-dollar corporations to protect their land, air, and water. They have given what they are able to without hesitation- but cannot compete with the bottomless pockets of the landowner and his business partners, especially in this time of financial uncertainty. We desperately need YOU to step up and make a difference which will have a lasting impact for generations to come. 

We understand that limestone is a necessary commodity- we are not opposed to a quarry in principle, we are opposed to a quarry in this specific location because of the potential for catastrophic damage to an area unsuitable for heavy industrial development. We also believe in a person's right to use their property for personal gain- so long as those efforts do not infringe upon the rights of others in the process. 

Please consider making a donation to help support our efforts to stop the Covington Limestone Quarry. 

A one-time donation in any amount is both helpful and appreciated but recurring donations stand to have the greatest impact in preserving the Cross Hollow area. Even a small monthly contribution can help to sustain the ongoing legal expenses. Recurring donations will immediately be ceased once the case is closed- and of course, you can cancel or change your donation at any time. 

Thank you for helping us to preserve the culture, history, environment, ecosystem, beauty, and integrity of the Cross Hollow area, and the health of all Northwest Arkansas children and families. We thank you, our children thank you, and future generations will thank you for protecting an entire community from one man's quest for profit.