In West River mining news, Black Hills residents concerned about clean water won a victory this month. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources originally planned to review Powertech's applications to waste billions of gallons of water on its proposed in situ uranium mine in Fall River County last week. The DENR received numerous citizen requests to delay the hearings and allow more time to research this ill-conceived plan. (DENR posts 34 e-mails requesting this delay; this document also lists about 300 parties filing as intervenors, though some may be Powertech proponents.) DENR acceded to these requests, postponing its Powertech hearing until October.
Activism works... if not to outright stop dangerous mining plans, then at least to buy time to raise awareness, mobilize more citizens to fight to keep the Black Hills clean... or for Powertech to finally run out of dupes—er, investors—to shore up its shaky finances and relieve us of their threat.
Thank you for Madville's continued sunlight on this topic, Cory: let's kill this project.
Published moments ago from the minutes of the Hot Springs City Council: "Councilwoman Holmes will do additional research on Power Tech and write a response by the March 26 hearing to DENR."
http://rapidcityjournal.com/hotspringsstar/public_notices/hot-springs-city-council/article_fe42d28e-9557-11e2-8eb9-001a4bcf887a.html
Power Tech: brought to you by some of the same southern Black Hills folks who wanted to turn the place into New York City's dump.
Also need to focus on Black Hills Power's latest wonderama knocking a huge hole through the Black Hills, a recreation area, and what remains of sage grouse habitat. These folks drawing (power) lines on maps apparently lack a conscience and common sense. Pass the dividend checks, please. The environmental impact statement is just warming up. Let's hope the throw-weight of the sovereign nations puts this turd in its rightful outhouse.
Sleaze knows its way around Pierre:
http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/mann-oh-mann-rapid-city-lobbyist-larry-mann-takes-on/article_2e3a171d-88b9-5b32-a1d0-0ade95db2bcd.html
And the dredges of the hills Lar. When the Black Hills loses out on reclamation bond protection, LM cares no more about our grandchildren than my dog who's tired of getting his ear pulled does.
today's oxymoron: natural resources.