On December 12, the Northern Hills Ranger District of Black Hills National Forest notified the public that they plan to issue the exploration permit that Solitario Resources (formerly Solitario Zinc) requested in 2022. This would be for the Golden Crest gold exploration project, which sits on nearly 30,000 acres on the west rim of Spearfish Canyon. It would involve up to 25 drill sites and up to 125 drill holes. The Forest Service issued a “Finding of No Significant Impact” (FONSI) and issued a draft decision for the project.

Now is our opportunity to object to this plan by contacting the Forest Service (see details below). We have until January 26, 2024, at 11:59 pm to object.

Not only does this project pose a serious risk to water quality in Lawrence County – including Spearfish Creek — it would also disrupt wildlife, add to our worsening air quality issues, and directly interrupt the recreation and tourism industry in our area. One of the drill sites sits directly on one of the most popular mountain bike trails in the Black Hills, and multiple sites are within one quarter-mile of well-known hiking trails.

The issues raised during the previous public comment periods, and those that the Forest Service have deemed have “no significant impact,” include:


• Impacts on water, particularly surface water, are minimized in the final Environmental Assessment.
• Cultural site protection is totally inadequate. The Forest Service says it will let Solitario Resources protect one site with 4” of gravel, when heavy equipment will be moved over the area.
• The section with “Environmental Justice” in its title does not contain any information at all about environmental justice.
• Safeguards for protected species are minimal, as the potential impacts of the project are minimized.
• Tribal consultation is totally inadequate, as it consisted of just sending letters to potentially impacted tribes and hoping they arrived.

The QR code takes you directly to the comment page for this project on the Forest Service website. Or you can go directly to the website at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=62590 (Please note: The Forest Service should be updating this link as of Wednesday, December 13 with the “Official On-line Comment Form” and other information of how to comment/objection.)

Anyone can write an objection. But if you commented in August-September of 2022 or May-June of 2023, you have specific legal rights to continue in the objection process in the future, if you object now! If you remember what you said in earlier comments, repeat why you said you didn’t want this ill-advised project. You can find the June comments here

Comments/Objections are due by January 26, 2024, at 11:59 pm. After you submit your comment/objection, take to your socials to share this message. Text your friends who commented in August-September 2022 or May-June of 2023, and let them know they have another opportunity.

Thank you for your continued and inspired commitment to protect He Sapa!