Let your district members of the South Dakota House and Senate know your concerns and how important protecting water in the Black Hills is for the health and wellness of people, wildlife, outdoor recreation, hunting and fishing, and the state’s tourism dollars.
2/18/26 NOTICE: The Public is invited to support.
The Board of Minerals and Environment (BM&E) will hold its public meeting on Thursday, Feb 19, at 10:00 am (CT). On the agenda is the Chord uranium exploration project proposed near Craven Canyon on State land. Intervenors will make requests to the board concerning the Order on Pre-Hearing Motions.
Please plan to attend in person or by phone and show your support!
Attend in Person at: Matthew Training Center, 523 East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD
Or attend via telephone by dialing 1 605-679-7263 and entering Conference ID 289 109 013#. When listening in, remember to press *6 to mute your phone, as any sounds from your end can be heard clearly during the board meeting.
The full board packet and the link for live streaming are available on the South Dakota Boards and Commissions Portal at: https://boardsandcommissions.sd.gov/Meetings.aspx?BoardID=67
2/18/26 UPDATE
HOW DID BLACK HILLS LEGISLATORS VOTE?
SD House Bill 1287, which would have provided better regulation for large-scale mining of limestone, lithium, sand, gravel, and a few other materials that use blasting, failed in the full House of Representatives Tuesday. The vote was 37 Nays to 29 Yeas.
Only two House members from the Black Hills failed to protect our area by voting AGAINST the bill — Rep. Derby from District 34 and Rep. Duffy from District 32. ALL other House members from the Black Hills understood the importance of this bill and voted FOR it (except Rep. Mulally, who was excused).
Those who voted in support of the bill include:
- District 29 — Rep. Jorgenson and Rep. Rice (both deserve big thanks)
- District 30 — Rep. Ladner and Rep. Goodwin
- District 31 — Rep. Odenbach and Rep. Fitzgerald
- District 32 — Rep. Uhre-Balk (deserves a special thanks)
- District 33 — Rep. Massie and Rep. Jensen
- District 34 — Rep. Baxter
- District 35 — Rep. Randolph
If these are your legislators, please send them an email thanking them for supporting HB 1287. Go to 2026 Legislators | South Dakota Legislature for their email addresses.
Unfortunately, as a result of this vote and the vote against HB 1273 last week, a company can still mine limestone, lithium, sand, gravel, and other materials after just submitting a one-page application and $100 fee. No public notice is required before mining is approved. No public hearings or environmental studies are needed.
This means all of us need to keep watch around our communities and when we’re in other areas of the Hills for activities that could be mining-related. Ask questions. Be nosey. Watch traffic. Take pictures. Protect the Black Hills!
And if you live in District 32 or District 34, you can impact who is in the Legislature next year by supporting candidates who are against unregulated mining. Or maybe by running yourself.
2/14/26 URGENT UPDATE
HOUSE BILL 1287 HEADED TO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
YOUR EMAILS NEEDED ASAP
Two of the bills we were supporting in the state Legislature died in committees, but there is still one bill that we support that is under consideration, House Bill 1287. We all need to send emails before Tuesday, February 17, which is when we think the bill will be voted on by the entire House of Representatives.
House Bill 1287 would increase protection from mining of lithium, limestone, sand, gravel, and a few other things — if they were mined using blasting. This would accomplish something we’ve been working on for 3 years now, and your support is needed right away! You can find the bill here — 2026 House Bill 1287 | South Dakota Legislature
If sand, lithium, limestone, gravel, etc. were mined using blasting, then the bill would require that the company wanting to do the mining provide a lot more information during the permitting process. There would be more public notice, and the public could participate in the permitting process, rather than a permit being automatically given to the mining company. This is all movement in a better direction!
Please send your emails supporting House Bill 1287 before 5:00 PM MT on Monday, February 16. Here are the emails for all the members of the House of Representatives — you can copy and paste these addresses into the “To” section of your email —
Click Here for the List of House of Representatives to copy and paste.
Comma separated emails for the SD House of Representatives. Highlight all these emails, copy, and paste into the “To” section of your email.
Bobbi.Andera@sdlegislature.gov, Amber.Arlint@sdlegislature.gov, Julie.Auch@sdlegislature.gov, Aaron.Aylward@sdlegislature.gov, Jessica.Bahmuller@sdlegislature.gov, Jeff.Bathke@sdlegislature.gov, Heather.Baxter@sdlegislature.gov, Tim.Czmowski@sdlegislature.gov, Roger.DeGroot@sdlegislature.gov, Mike.Derby@sdlegislature.gov, Steve.Duffy@sdlegislature.gov, Eric.Emery@sdlegislature.gov, Mary.Fitzgerald@sdlegislature.gov, Nick.Fosness@sdlegislature.gov, Josephine.Garcia@sdlegislature.gov, Tim.Goodwin@sdlegislature.gov, Spencer.Gosch@sdlegislature.gov, Lana.Greenfield@sdlegislature.gov, Jim.Halverson@sdlegislature.gov, Jon.Hansen@sdlegislature.gov, Erin.Healy@sdlegislature.gov, Mellissa.Heermann@sdlegislature.gov, Les.Heinemann@sdlegislature.gov, John.Hughes@sdlegislature.gov, Jana.Hunt@sdlegislature.gov, Travis.Ismay@sdlegislature.gov, Greg.Jamison@sdlegislature.gov, Phil.Jensen@sdlegislature.gov, Dylan.Jordan@sdlegislature.gov, Terri.Jorgenson@sdlegislature.gov, Chris.Kassin@sdlegislature.gov, Tony.Kayser@sdlegislature.gov, Jack.Kolbeck@sdlegislature.gov, David.Kull@sdlegislature.gov, Trish.Ladner@sdlegislature.gov, Karla.Lems@sdlegislature.gov, Logan.Manhart@sdlegislature.gov, Curt.Massie@sdlegislature.gov, Liz.May@sdlegislature.gov, Scott.Moore@sdlegislature.gov, Will.Mortenson@sdlegislature.gov, Erik.Muckey@sdlegislature.gov, Tina.Mulally@sdlegislature.gov, Brian.Mulder@sdlegislature.gov, Kaley.Nolz@sdlegislature.gov, Al.Novstrup@sdlegislature.gov, Scott.Odenbach@sdlegislature.gov, Marty.Overweg@sdlegislature.gov, Drew.Peterson@sdlegislature.gov, Peri.Pourier@sdlegislature.gov, Tony.Randolph@sdlegislature.gov, Taylor.Rehfeldt@sdlegislature.gov, Rebecca.Reimer@sdlegislature.gov, Tim.Reisch@sdlegislature.gov, Kathy.Rice@sdlegislature.gov, Matt.Roby@sdlegislature.gov, Kent.Roe@sdlegislature.gov, Brandei.Schaefbauer@sdlegislature.gov, Tesa.Schwans@sdlegislature.gov, William.Shorma@sdlegislature.gov, John.Shubeck@sdlegislature.gov, John.Sjaarda@sdlegislature.gov, Bethany.Soye@sdlegislature.gov, Mike.Stevens@sdlegislature.gov, Nicole.Uhre-Balk@sdlegislature.gov, Kevin.VanDiepen@sdlegislature.gov, Tim.Walburg@sdlegislature.gov, keri.Weems@sdlegislature.gov, Mike.Weisgram@sdlegislature.gov, Kadyn.Wittman@sdlegislature.gov
Give your name and community, and say why you are concerned about lithium, limestone, sand, and/or gravel mining. Note that this bill does not apply to gold or uranium or mining in general, so focus on limestone, lithium, sand, and gravel. Ask them to vote for House Bill 1287 at least once! Always stay respectful. And thank them for their vote.
Thanks for taking a few minutes and doing this right away. Simple to do — Very important to the future of the Black Hills!
2/12/26 URGENT UPDATE
Failed to Pass on Thursday. HOUSE BILL 1273
Please plan to contact a lot of legislators very quickly. We expect a hearing to be held on Thursday, February 12, at 6:45 am MT before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. Everyone needs to email the Committee members saying that you support House Bill 1273 before 5:00 pm on Wednesday. Do not just copy the wording shown here. Use your own words.
Focus on your community’s experience with lithium, limestone, or other mining that HB 1273 would impact. This is not the time to talk about broad mining issues or gold mining or uranium mining – which are not impacted by this bill.
Here are committee members’ emails – you can just copy and paste these into the “TO” line in your email –
Click HERE to get this committee’s email adresses to quickly email them in one swoop.
->Copy and Paste these email addresses below to included in your email TO field:
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.
Click HERE for more on what HB 1273 does:
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.
There would not be just a one-page application, and public notice would be required BEFORE a permit was considered.
JOIN THE SUPPORT FOR HOUSE BILL 1273 AND COME TO PIERRE
We expect the hearing on HB 1273 before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee to take place on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 6:45 am Mountain Time (7:45 Central Time). It will be in Room 414 of the Capitol Building at 500 East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, SD.
We need as many people as possible to attend and show their support for the bill. Please let us know that you plan to attend by emailing edbhcwa@gmail.com, and by noon on Wednesday, February 11, and we will let you know how to get a free t-shirt with a relevant quote about water!
If you can attend, but need gas money, let us know right away at edbhcwa@gmail.com. We will provide gas money at the hearing, but only if someone has let us know that they need gas money by 5:00 pm (MT.) Tuesday, February 10. Gas money will only be provided for vehicles that transport two or more people who attend the hearing, and only from locations in West River South Dakota.
Hope to see you there! Bring a friend. Bring a family member. Let’s show the Committee that we want our water and communities protected!
THE DATE OF THE HEARING WILL NOT BE “FIRM” UNTIL TUESDAY AFTERNOON! PLEASE WATCH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENSURE THAT YOU KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY UPDATES.
IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND IN PERSON, PROVIDE OFFICIAL WRITTEN COMMENTS FOR THE COMMITTEE HEARING! THESE ARE DUE BY THE END OF THE DAY ON TUESDAY, FEBRURARY 10. Read the “NEW RULES FOR TESTIFYING” BELOW.
NEW RULES FOR TESTIFYING TO STATE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES – Click here to read these updated rules.
Here are some new rules for testifying to South Dakota State Legislature committees. This applies whether you are testifying in person, by zoom, or by email. You are expected to notify the Legislature 24 hours before the committee hearing on the specific bill.
This does not apply if you are calling or emailing an individual legislator — just if you want to testify to a full committee on a specific bill.
We will have a very short time for our testimony and have recruited key people to give in-person testimony. Please do not sign up to do in-person or Zoom testimony. You are likely to be unable to talk at that time.
Instead, you can send official written testimony that will be part of the formal record for the Committee’s hearing on HB 1273. The website for providing written testimony will be posted at some point on Tuesday – probably in the early afternoon. It will be due by the end of the day on Tuesday under this year’s new legislative rules. WATCH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE LINK. You can write your testimony now and upload it on Tuesday.
THANKS FOR ALL YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT HOUSE BILL 1273!
Black Hills Clean Water Alliance 