Pete Lien and Sons propose to drill near Pe’ Sla

RAPID CITY – Pete Lien and Sons (PLS) from Rapid City want to drill for graphite near Pe’ Sla, a high mountain prairie that is a sacred site of the Lakota people. The project proposed, called the Rochford Mineral Exploratory Drilling Project involves 18 drill pads to allow the company to drill up to 1,000 feet. “They can drill straight down into the earth, and they can drill at an angle,” said Lilias Jarding the executive director of the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance (BHCWA). “They can do both.”

The drill core locations visible on the map are immediately next to Pe’ Sla. Jarding says that because the maps provided by the company are vague, it’s difficult to determine if the drill pads are within the boundary of Pe’ Sla. Engineering Firm HDR, Inc recommends a Categorial Exclusions (CE), meaning the project has no significant impact. But Jarding says that exploration may contaminate water in the upper Rapid Creek watershed, particularly with some proposed drill pads located very close to streams. Furthermore, there is also the potential for contamination or cross-contamination of underground water sources.

The 30-day comment period has already been under way since it opened on April 9. Comments will be accepted until May 9. “It’s important for people to look for that information online on our website, comment and then ask family, friends and groups to comment. We have less than 25 days left and that’s not very long.”

Because the public comment period is so shortened, Jarding asked people to request an extension for the comment period at the same time as they give their comments about the project. “That way people will have to contact them only once and will be able to get both of those points across – your comments on the project and that you want an extension for comment.”

Duane Twobulls, lead organizer for BHCWA explained the importance of this site. “The Black Hills are a sacred site and Pe’ Sla is the sacred site within the sacred site. On our migratory pathways of our ancestors, our relatives would go up there with prayers and ceremony to honor the solstices and the equinoxes that were on our journey. So, Pe’ Sla, in our ancient way, the way that it is, it has no trees, it is a big vast meadow of green. Right there is how they say the Black Hills is the heartbeat of Mother Earth. Whenever you are able to see a satellite view, you can see that Pe’ Sla is like a vein, or an artery, that kind of moves with the trees and the wind. They say when the wind is blowing, and you can see a satellite view, it looks like the whole Black Hills region is the heart that’s beating.”

The Mystic Ranger District had accepted the Rochford Mineral Exploratory Drilling project in June of last year. Through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, some changes were made that included an increase in the maximum depth of 700 feet to 1,000 feet, access from existing roads was reduced from 9,500 feet to 5,060 feet and some drill pads were relocated.

The current project overview said that there will be no mining involved, only exploration drilling to evaluate if there is graphite present. The mineral claims are on Forest Service lands near S. Rochford Road and there are two main claim areas – north and south.

Water will be sourced from municipal sources. There might be larger water tanks placed at staging areas which would allow a smaller vehicle to shuttle water to the drill sites. Sumps will be constructed next to the drills and lined with oil-impermeable materials. They say water will be recycled as much as possible. Drill sites will be reclaimed after completion.

Graphite is considered a critical mineral which is used in lubricants, brake linings, pencils, electrodes and anodes as well as lithium-ion batteries like the kind in you cell phone.

Pe’ Sla had been protected by the 1868 Sioux Nation Treaty, but it was later seized and sold for non-Indian homesteads.

The four Sioux tribes (Rosebud, Shakopee Mdewakanton, Crow Creek, and Standing Rock) collaborated to reacquire the land in 2012 and return it to its rightful status as a sacred site. The land is protected as trust land within the BHNF.

The tribes worked diligently to accommodate state and local interests – including a law enforcement compact, right of way agreement, provisions for cooperation to prevent invasive species, fight fires, secure ambulance service and obtain general liability insurance.

Pete Lien and Sons on their website say, “enduring stewardship of the environment is an essential part of the company’s social responsibilities”. Jarding noted the poor air quality on the west end of town where the PLS large gravel pit is located.

The District Ranger said if PLS wants to mine after they explore, a separate environmental analysis would be required.

 

Updates on other projects.

The Mineral Mountain Resources Project, which was the original Rochford Project, was bought out by Badlands Resources and has now been renamed the Bella Project. “This is a gold project, and it surrounds the town of Rochford. You may be hearing about the Bella Project as time goes on. And now the Rochford Project is the graphite project. It’s easy to lose track.”

Through her researching, Jarding also found another project by a company called Lion Rock Resources. “They want to explore privately owned land near Tinton in the Northern Black Hills on the Wyoming border. The two sections they want to drill in are right on the Wyoming border. They want to have 78 drill pads.” Because it’s on private land there is no forest service process and state law requires that the company or individual need only notify the state that they are going to drill. There is no permit process, no public participation and no hearing. The state processes their application and gives them permission to drill. “Seventy-eight drill pads in two square miles is a lot.”

She said her organization would assist people if concerned residents wanted to write letters to the state, but she said there is no process. “We have tried to change that at the legislature but so far have had no luck.”

Rebecca Terk from the Clean Water Alliance (CWA) said they haven’t seen any movement on the state and federal process for Craven Canyon. “We’re looking at various avenues to protect that area.” Terk said there had been a proposed mineral withdrawal, much larger than the one that exists that would have protected the areas that are currently under threat. “That was killed in 2015 by a regional forester without the knowledge of the local folks who had worked on the project.” Terk renewing that effort is unlikely under the current administration.  

“However, the time frame is open right now to apply for exceptional, critical and unique state or CQ status from the state. So, we are looking at the potential for applying for that. There are pieces of this area that are protected but there is a much larger area that is unprotected.

(Contact Marnie Cook cookm8715@gmail.com)

The post Pete Lien and Sons propose to drill near Pe’ Sla first appeared on Native Sun News Today.

Visit Original Source