Last year, many of you commented on the proposed mineral claims withdrawal that could protect an area around Pactola Reservoir. A mineral withdrawal can stop exploration drilling and mining in a specific area by "withdrawing" the mining claims in that area, so they're no longer in effect. While the US Forest Service and the US Bureau … Continue reading UPDATE: PROPOSED PACTOLA MINERAL CLAIMS WITHDRAWAL
Happy New Year! We had a great 2023 and look forward to 2024 as we continue working to protect the Black Hills from mining. Please check out Buffalo’s Fire reporting highlights some of our 2023 milestones! Thanks to all of you who made this possible. Keep up the good work! Please share this blog post on your … Continue reading Happy New Year! Buffalo’s Fire offers some of our 2023 Milestones
On December 12, the Northern Hills Ranger District of Black Hills National Forest notified the public that they plan to issue the exploration permit that Solitario Resources (formerly Solitario Zinc) requested in 2022. This would be for the Golden Crest gold exploration project, which sits on nearly 30,000 acres on the west rim of Spearfish … Continue reading “They are back at it!”
Originally Delivered at the Mni Kin Wakan Water Summit, Rapid City, SD The colonization of the Black Hills and the attempted genocide of its peoples is inextricably tied to mining. Mining was the catalyst for the military violence and land grabs that have forced us and the land to our present condition, wherein the United … Continue reading Surviving the Ecological Impacts of a Mining Industry that is Eager to Ravage Hesapa.
CUSTER – It was a beautiful, sunny, Saturday morning in Custer, South Dakota as Black Hills Clean Water Alliance staff members and volunteers came together for the 100th anniversary of Custer Gold Discovery Days held on July 21-23. Although we are not into gold mining, we are into spreading the message of protecting our water, land … Continue reading ‘Protect Our Water’ float wins first place at Custer Gold Discovery Days
SAPA, THE PAHASAPA MOUNTAIN SNAIL, IS HAPPY AND SO ARE WE! Thanks to everyone's hard work and help from our local organizations, and those national groups, such as Sierra Club and Earthworks, there were about 11,000 comments filed on the proposed mineral claims withdrawal around Pactola Reservoir and Rapid Creek! We are waiting for the final number. About … Continue reading CONGRATULATIONS! Close to 11,000 Comments Were Filed – About 85% are FOR the Withdrawal.
