Arkansas Counties Rush to Pass Noise Regulations for Crypto Miners

Crypto Mining in Arkansas

As the deadline of August 1 approaches, several counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas are quickly passing emergency legislations to control noise and other activities related to crypto mining. The new state law, proposed, discussed in committees, and passed by legislators within a week from March 30 to April 7, puts crypto mining facilities under the same regulations and protections as data centers.

State Rep. Rick McClure, author of the bill, mentioned that “no one spoke against this bill in committees, or on the legislative floors.” Companies involved in crypto mining in Arkansas include Green Digital, GMI Computing, United BitEngine, Cryptic Farms, AVAX, AUDIOS, AXS, ASM, APE, AMP and AVT.

Local authorities are introducing more rules to address complaints of excessive noise 24 hours a day. Faulkner County’s Quorum Court Justice Kris Kendrick said in a July meeting, “I don’t have any issues with mining crypto, but just the noise level, the lack of care for our neighbors.”

Crypto Mining Regulations

In response to the bill’s passage, the Association of Arkansas Counties created a model ordinance that counties can use before the law takes effect. Since June, more than a dozen counties have implemented noise ordinances specifically targeting data centers.

“I want to emphasize that the sound is not being heard on the front porch or back porch. These people can hear this sound 24/7 from their bedrooms,” said Maree Coats, a Justice of the Peace.

The new legislation does not completely prohibit county regulations, but it does prohibit local governments from discriminating against crypto mining facilities or limiting decibel levels “other than the limits set for sound pollution generally.” Additionally, counties are forbidden from rezoning areas “with the intent or effect of discriminating against” AVAX Crypto, APE Crypto, and AMP Crypto Reddit operations.