Last year, we helped mobilize support around a planned gold mine’s imminent threat to Jenny Gulch, the Pactola Reservoir, and the Rapid Creek watershed in South Dakota. Today, it’s time to act once again. The U.S. Forest Service is taking public comments on a proposed mineral withdrawal, and there’s a real and imperative opportunity for us to save one of the most beautiful and special places in Lakota Country.

Please click here to tell the U.S. Forest Service you support the Pactola area mineral withdrawal! We encourage you to say you also support expanding the area covered by the withdrawal to include all federal lands in the Black Hills. Tell the Forest Service that these sacred lands, which nourish so many Native and non-Native communities downstream with clean water, should be preserved and pristine forever.

Take Action!

The Pactola Reservoir provides fresh water and a beautiful place for South Dakotans to experience natural wonders. Please act now to ensure this area of the sacred He Sapa isn’t polluted by mining.

The deadline for all public feedback is June 20, so this is as urgent as it gets! As you know, we usually like to provide you with easy-to-send, pre-filled form emails. However, because the Forest Service has its own form and values individually crafted messages, please use your own words on this one. Here are some effective talking points when sending your message:

1. Most importantly, say you want the Forest Service to say YES to the Pactola Reservoir-Rapid Creek Watershed Withdrawal.
2. Ask the Forest Service to do an Environmental Assessment (EA).
3. Ask for a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) when the EA has been completed. This may seem counterintuitive, but there will, in fact, be no significant impact to the land once the miners are forced to withdraw!
4. Choose and give at least one primary reason for your support of the mineral withdrawal. Focus on water quality and cultural values, such as keeping the water free of toxic pollutants, respecting the sacred lands of the Lakota People, and preserving the site for recreation.

Here are two other important notes to keep in mind. First, we are NOT asking for a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Instead we want an EA, which is a much faster process. If, when we messaged you before about Jenny Gulch, you already submitted a comment and asked for an EIS, you can and should make another comment and ask for an EA and FONSI now. Earlier comments written about Jenny Gulch don’t count in the new mineral withdrawal process.

Numbers, however, do count. If you’d like to expand your commentary with additional detail, you can visit the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance (BHCWA) website to learn more. In solidarity with our friends at the BHCWA and every person in South Dakota who values clean water, sacred lands, and beautiful expressions of the natural world, I humbly ask that you act right now to protect the Rapid Creek watershed.

Wopila tanka — thank you for your attention and action!
Chase Iron Eyes
Co-Director and Lead Counsel
The Lakota People’s Law Project