WHO ARE WE? – Click to read our Mission Statement.
The mission of Black Hills Clean Water Alliance is to protect our valuable resources – especially water – for future generations, by preventing destructive mining in the Black Hills. The Alliance is a diverse collection of citizens concerned about the health, environmental, and economic impacts that mining projects and their contribution to the climate crisis are having on our communities, people, economy, and natural resources.
The Black Hills are unique culturally, ecologically, geologically, and economically – a tree-covered island in the midst of vast plains and the sacred center of Lakota treaty lands. They are headwaters for surface and ground water in the northern Great Plains, bringing life to communities, wildlife, ranches, landscapes, and people. It is our responsibility to protect the water that gives life.
Our organization and its allies have worked together since 2009 to prevent new uranium mining in the Black Hills. Several years ago, we decided to work to prevent new large-scale gold mining in the Hills, and most recently, we have worked to block lithium and graphite mining. Any of these projects would contaminate the limited water in our area. Join us to protect the beautiful and life-giving waters of the Black Hills region!
BREAKING NEWS & UPDATES!
5/8/26 UPDATE:
VICTORY! Unified Action a Success! Sacred Site is Protected from Graphite Mining.
Due to the many actions taken by nine tribal governments, NDN Collective, Earthworks, all of our attorneys, thousands of people who sent public comments, and everyone else involved — we just got word that the US Justice Department has informed our attorneys that Pete Lien & Sons is withdrawing their permit for the graphite mining project at Pe’ Sla!! That means the current project is dead!!
For more information about this Graphite Project click HERE.
5/4/26 UPDATE:
Hearing Update: Temporary Restraining Order GRANTED!
Next: A hearing on a permanent injunction is tentatively scheduled for May 22 & 23. More information to come.
For more information about this Graphite Project click HERE.
4/26/26 UPDATE:
GRAPHITE DRILLING BEGINS AT LIEN PROJECT AT PE’ SLA
Exploratory drilling began this past week at the Rochford Mineral Exploration Project in the central Black Hills. This is an effort to mine graphite at Pe’ Sla, which is a significant cultural and ceremonial landscape that has been used by indigenous people for many generations – and that…
Keep reading4/15/26 UPDATE: IMPORTANT COMMENT DEADLINE!
DEWEY-BURDOCK URANIUM PROJECT
YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT NEEDED BY MAY 14
There is a new opportunity for you to do something to oppose plans to mine radioactive uranium in Custer and Fall River Counties. Public comments on part of the proposed Dewey-Burdock mine are due to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) by May 14, 2026. Information linked below.
Important Notice in the Matter of Craven Canyon:
The SD Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Board of Minerals & Environment’s hearing in the matter of CNEC Uranium Exploration Permit Application in Craven Canyon has been scheduled for Monday, May 18 through Friday, May 22 at the Mueller Civic Center, 801 South 6th Street, Hot Springs, SD. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:00 A.M. Mountain Daylight Time or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard. All intervenors and the public are urged to attend. More information coming soon.
More information about this project: https://bhcleanwateralliance.org/chord-project/
Legal notice: https://danr.sd.gov/Environment/MineralsMining/Exploration/docs/41326NoticeofHearingtoParties.pdf
Contested Case documents: https://danr.sd.gov/public/ccdocs.aspx?CCID=CCID123
Black Hills Clean Water Alliance 