ALERT: Northern Hills Forest Service Announces Solitario Zinc’s Golden Crest Exploration Drilling Project – Public Comment Requested by Sept. 2nd.

The Northern Hills District of the US Forest Service has issued a notice that public comment is wanted on a proposed gold exploration project by Solitario Zinc called the Golden Crest Exploration Drilling Project. Solitario Zinc has asked to drill on the National Forest Systems land (NFS) for up to 25 sites on the west side of Spearfish Canyon, a national scenic byway. Potential drill sites are near Iron Creek, Little Spearfish Creek, and in the Tinton Road and Timber Gulch areas.

PLAN TO ATTEND: There will be a public information session – Open House – on Wednesday, August 17, at Black Hills State University’s Joy Center, 1351 St. Joe St, Spearfish, SD beginning at 5:00 pm – 7:00 PM (MNT).

We will post more information soon about how you can comment on this proposed project. Public comments to the Forest Service are requested by Sept. 2, 2022. The project documents are at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=62590

In the meantime, please sign and share our petition “Hands Off Spearfish Canyon” to protect this natural wonder and national scenic byway from being impacted by exploration and/or mining. Sign at https://www.change.org/spearfishcanyon