Update 1/13/24 – Call to Action! 

2024 Legislature ACTIONS!

IMMEDIATE ACTION.  House Bill 1071 in the SD State Legislature would give one person — the Governor — the power to make it easier and less safe to mine and mill uranium in South Dakota.  Our research indicates that this bill, contrary to earlier information, is likely not about nuclear power plants.

HB 1071 would let the Governor make agreements with the federal government to extend state authority over uranium mining and milling. An agreement under this bill would eliminate the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for uranium mining and milling.  This would shut tribal governments out of the permitting process by eliminating requirements for tribal consultation.  The public’s ability to oppose uranium projects would also shrink.

There will be a hearing on this bill early on Wednesday, the 17th.  

Committee Agenda  https://mylrc.sdlegislature.gov/api/Documents/259540.pdf#page=1

All lobbyists and interested parties are encouraged to sumit pre-recorded testimony, requests for online testimony, comments, and any accompanying materials to HouseStateAffairs@SDlegislature.gov.  To receive the meeting zoom link, send a request to the email provide 24 hours in advance of the meeting.

Contact the members of the House State Affairs Committee THIS WEEKEND and tell them that you oppose House Bill 1071.  Use your own words.  Some points you might make include:

• It cost Wyoming at least $1.4 million to take over regulating uranium mining and milling.  With recent inflation, it would cost more.  Taxpayers should not be stuck with this expense.
• This bill would take power from the Legislature.
• Uranium mining and milling have contaminated water in the state already.  We should not encourage more contamination.
• This type of agreement shuts out tribal governments and much of the public.
• The State proved unable to regulate a gold mine in the past, and authority was returned to the federal government.  Regulating uranium is more complicated because of the high radioactivity.

Send your comments to members of the House State Affairs Committee at the following:

Hugh.Bartels@sdlegislature.gov
,Rocky.Blare@sdlegislature.gov
,Gary.Cammack@sdlegislature.gov,
Kirk.Chaffee@sdlegislature.gov
,Roger.Chase@sdlegislature.gov,
Becky.Drury@sdlegislature.gov,
Jon.Hansen@sdlegislature.gov
,Erin.Healy@sdlegislature.gov
,Oren.Lesmeister@sdlegislature.gov
,Will.Mortenson@sdlegislature.gov
,Taylor.Rehfeldt@sdlegislature.gov
,Rebecca.Reimer@sdlegislature.gov
,James.Wangsness@sdlegislature.gov

A copy of the bill can be found at 2024 House Bill 1071 | South Dakota Legislature (sdlegislature.gov)  If you want to go to Pierre to the hearing on Wednesday, contact edbhcwa@gmail.com.  We will be carpooling.

ACT NOW!