Betty the Beaver needs our help to protect her, and others’, watershed. Join us for our 2024 Comment Challenge to help generate 2,024 Comments supporting the Pactola Reservoir-Rapid Creek Watershed Withdrawal proposal by the US Forest Service.

“The USFS requested 20,574 acres of NFS lands be withdrawn (closed) to all forms of entry, appropriation, and disposal under the mining laws, mineral and geothermal leasing laws, and public land laws, subject to valid existing rights for a 20 year term.”

Act fast! Submit your in-support-of comment by the deadline of Monday, October 28, 2024 at 11:59 PM MDT! Tell your family and friends, co-workers, and share with your list-serves and on your social media networks.

Check out Betty’s informational video of why we need EVERYONE, FROM ANYWHERE, to submit their comment for this Withdrawal. She’ll show you how much a gold mine can grow in just 20 years, and what is at stake if we don’t take action now.

Are you up for this 2024 Comment Challenge?  We are!  So far, with the help from our friends and family, or partnering organizations, over 1,400 comments have been submitted, which is great.  Now we need to reach our 🎯 goal of 2,024 submitted by October. 28th @ 11:59 pm MDT.  That’s only 4.5 days away so submit your comment today and share this Call to Action to protect our most precious resource – WATER.

Please be sure to say anywhere in your comment, “I support this Withdrawal.”  We wouldn’t want vague comments to be tossed out.  We included more info and suggestions of what to say in the slide.  

The main talking points are:

• Clearly state that you support this Withdrawal proposal.
• Speak from your heart and tell them why you support this Withdrawal.  
• Ask them to expedite this proposal to the Department of Interior.

It’s also important that you use your own words (Do Not Copy and Paste).  

Ready to submit your comment now?  Go to https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=63876

Written comments may be submitted by mail or hand delivered to Shawn Cochran, Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest at 1019 N. 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, excluding federal holidays. Comments sent by email will not be accepted.

Want to know what others are saying?  Check out the FS Reading Room for this project. https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//ReadingRoom?Project=63876

Need more information? Go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=63876

Thank You.