A bill has been introduced in the South Dakota Legislature that would provide important protections for water, cultural sites, land, and communities. It is House Bill 1273, which would revise mining statutes to provide more protection from projects to mine limestone, lithium, sand, gravel, and other materials. The text of the bill is here — https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/26781/300824. 

To view the PDF click HERE.

As you will see, the bill looks long. But most of the bill is about deleting the current law that regulates limestone, lithium, sand, gravel, etc.  A lot of people in the Legislature — and the state – support reducing regulations.    

Basically, what the bill does is to remove the section of the laws that treats mining for sand, gravel, lithium, limestone, etc. differently from other mining. It makes sure that all mining gets similar treatment, including:

• Public notice of planned mining proposals,
• The opportunity for public comment and hearings,
• Pre-permit environmental review and reclamation plan,
• Protection of cultural resources, communities, and special places, and

There would not be just a one-page application, and public notice would be required BEFORE a permit was considered.

HB 1273 keeps the differences between small-scale mines and large-scale mines (over ten acres), with more protection from large-scale mines.

Please plan to contact a lot of legislators quickly.

A hearing will be held SOON before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Everyone needs to email them saying you support House Bill 1273. Do not just copy the wording shown here. Use your own words. Here are their emails – you can just copy and paste these into the “TO” line in your email –

Spencer.Gosch@sdlegislature.gov, Tim.Goodwin@sdlegislature.gov, Jana.Hunt@sdlegislature.gov, Travis.Ismay@sdlegislature.gov, Trish.Ladner@sdlegislature.gov, Liz.May@sdlegislature.gov, Kaley.Nolz@sdlegislature.gov, Marty.Overweg@sdlegislature.gov, Drew.Peterson@sdlegislature.gov, Kathy.Rice@sdlegislature.gov, John.Shubeck@sdlegislature.gov, Kevin.VanDiepen@sdlegislature.gov, Kadyn.Wittman@sdlegislature.gov 

Include in the CC field – Staffer: Lance.Nixon@sdlegislature.gov

It is also important that you call or email your own district’s state legislators and let them know you support the bill — Find My Legislators | South Dakota Legislature. Your district has two House members and one Senator.  Tell them that you live in their district.