Today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland signed Public Land Order 7956, which finalized protections for 20,510 acres of land and water in the Pactola Reservoir – Upper Rapid Creek area from drilling and mining for 20 years.  

This Order, which created a mineral claims withdrawal, is a result of the actions and voices of hundreds of tribal members and Black Hills residents who filed public comments opposing the Jenny Gulch gold project and supporting the withdrawal.  Just over 1900 people filed written comments on this withdrawal earlier this year, and 98% of those comments supported the withdrawal and protection for water, cultural resources, and land.

Currently, about 20% of the entire Black Hills is under active mining claims.

We send a hearty Thank You to everyone who has worked to make this withdrawal a reality!

Read more on this issue at https://www.buffalosfire.com/black-hills-gold-mining-ban-protects-land-water-sioux-nation-church