The US Forest Service has issued a draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in support of the proposed Pactola Reservoir – Rapid Creek Watershed mineral claims withdrawal that was proposed in March, 2023.  This is the proposed 20,574-acre mineral withdrawal around Pactola Reservoir and along Upper Rapid Creek – the water supply for Rapid City and Ellsworth Air Force Base.  It was proposed to protect natural and cultural resources in the area – and downstream.

Submit your in-support-of comment by the extended comment period of Monday, October 28, 2024!

1700 people commented in 2023.  Now we need you to do it again – and to spread the word to your organizations, friends, and families and ask them to comment, too!  

This is one of the relatively few times when we get to comment IN FAVOR of a Forest Service action, so let’s go all out!

YES!   Just Say YES!  Say you support the proposed Pactola Reservoir – Rapid Creek Watershed Withdrawal and want to have the area protected from mining exploration drilling and from mining for 20 years.

Say YES, you support the Forest Service’s decision!

Here’s How.  Go to this link https://shorturl.at/pI4zr or scan this QR Code and make a comment on the Forest Service’s website.  Do not just copy what this blog post says or what someone else says.  Use your own words. 

• Say who you are (a small business employee, someone who enjoys recreation in the Pactola area, a grandparent, or whatever).
• Say why you care about the Black Hills and specifically about the Pactola area.
• Say YES, that you support the Forest Service’s proposal to protect the Pactola area with a mineral withdrawal. 
• Do it by the October 28 deadline!

Then forward this information to your organizations, friends, and family!  We need a LOT of people to write comments.

To see the document the Forest Service wrote in support of this project, a draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63876

NEED MORE INFORMATION? The Forest Service is hosting a Virtual Public Meeting on Wednesday, September 25 at 6:00 PM MDT. Details in the Notice of Availability and Opportunity to Comment Letter PDF below.

Q&A ON PROPOSED MINERAL WITHDRAWAL