“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
WHAT CAN I DO?
Everyone is needed in the fight to stop unwise and destructive mining in the Black Hills. This means you! Here are some ways you can help: Stay up to date – Like and follow our Facebook page at “Black Hills Clean Water Alliance.” When there is an opportunity for action, take it! When it sends…
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PREVIOUS ACTIONS TAKEN.
This is one Beautiful Float!
See our Festival of Lights Float video introducing Mni, the White Bison, and Tallulah, the White Horse. Since the 2020 Festival of Lights was cancelled this year we held a stationary float display on Saturday, Dec. 19 and it was Amazing! We had a great time with lots of people stopping by gaze up this beautiful float. This float was sponsored us, Black Hills Clean Water Alliance and our allies. thank you to those who were able to stop by and support our cause – Protecting Water in the HeSapa, the Black Hills.
Wednesday, Jan 15th at 4:30 PM. Corner of 5th and Omaha, Rapid City, SD.
Thursday, January 16, 2020, when the Forest Service will have a “scoping” meeting about the gold exploration proposed by F3 Gold to be held at the Black Hills National Forest Service Ranger Station, 8221 South Mt. Rushmore Rd, Rapid City, SD from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
Wednesday, February 5, public comments are due on the proposed gold exploration project. Your comments can be sent via email or in a letter and mailed to the address above.
ASLB Rules Against Oglala Sioux Tribe!
12/12/2019 -TODAY WE LEARNED: The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB), an administrative law branch of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), ruled today in a case involving the proposed Dewey-Burdock uranium mine in the southwest Black Hills. The ASLB ruled for Powertech Uranium and the NRC staff and against the Oglala Sioux Tribe, which has fought long and hard to protect cultural resources at the proposed mine site.
CALL TO ACTION – Please join us on Friday, 12/13 at 4:30 PM at the corner of 5th/Omaha in Rapid City. Please make a sign now, and we’ll be ready to stand up for the water.
This could leave important cultural resources unprotected, if the uranium company was to receive the 10 permits it would need to begin its project. Currently, the NRC license is the only permit the company has, and this decision is likely to be appealed. So the company is now a long way from being able to begin mining. But this does mean we must redouble our efforts to stop this mine. If you have not talked to the people and organizations around you about this issue in awhile, please do now. Let them know that every voice counts in protecting the water and opposing uranium mining in the Black Hills.
EPA Public Comment Due on Toxic Injection permit
The EPA has issued revised draft permits for mining water wells and disposal wells for the proposed uranium mine on the southwest edge of the Black Hills (Powertech’s Dewey-Burdock project) with the public comment deadline scheduled for Oct. 10, 2019.
ACTIONS NEEDED BEGINNING TODAY!
1. Request a 90 Day Extension,
2. Attend the upcoming Public Hearing to be held in Hot Springs, SD, and
3. Make your voice be heard that WATER IS LIFE!
Forest Service put on Notice by concerned citizens.
UPDATE: HB 1153 – “Defer to the 41st Legislative Day” which also kills the bill, since there are only 40 legislative days those years.
House Bill 1153 was introduced in the South Dakota Legislature. The bill would bring state law in alignment with federal law, specifically section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Section 106 requires consultation with tribes and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers as part of the review process when mining is proposed in an area. Including tribes and THPOs will help protect cultural and environmental resources when mining is proposed. (posted 2/1/2019)
A hearty thank you to everyone for taking action to protect water and voicing your opposition to destructive mining in the Black Hills. It is important that we continue voicing our concerns on these issue. Mni Wiconi – Water Is Life.
Toxic mining was stopped in the Black Hills before. We can do it again!
The current uranium mining threat is Azarga/Powertech Uranium who needs the EPA’s approval for a Class III and Class V Injection Well Draft Area Permits to drill in the groundwater aquifers in the Southern Black Hills. Approval of these permits would allow them to begin their mining operation in the Dewey-Burdock area. These permits would allow the company to mine uranium in one groundwater aquifer (the Inyan Kara) and to dispose of the wastes using wells drilled into another aquifer (the Minnelusa). The EPA’s public comment period ended on June 19th, however action is still needed. Water is life. Here’s what can you do:
- Know the issue. Know that you can help save our water, our lives.
- See what your neighbors and the media are saying.
- Contact members of your State Legislature. Let them know your concerns.
- Contact your Congressional Representatives and ask them to take action.
- Contact Washington DC: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s members and the head of the Council on Environmental Quality in the White House.
- Lobby the Legislature via the LRC Website.
- Write letters to the editor of our local newspapers, so the public knows about this issue.
- Talk to your family, coworkers and neighbors.
- Follow us on Facebook!!
- Volunteer your time — every person’s effort counts!
- Further educate yourself – visit our Resource Links page!
- Donate funds to our organization to cover printing and other basic expenses.
- We have almost 200 old uranium mines and prospects in the southern Black Hills. Watch for opportunities to comment on this issue.
- VOICE YOUR CONCERNS DURING GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS.
Let’s Stop Radioactive & Destructive Mining in the Black Hills, once and for all. Thank you.
If you are interested in volunteering your time or money or other resources to stop uranium mining, please contact Black Hills Clean Water Alliance
Black Hills Clean Water Alliance 