DRA News - Dakota Rural Action

Oct
29

Uranium mining company seeks to withdraw billions of gallons of groundwater

Public has short window for comment Powertech, USA is seeking rights to over 2.3 billion gallons of groundwater per year for its Dewey-Burdock Uranium Mine Project in Fall River and Custer Counties, South Dakota. Powertech originally sought these permits over a decade ago, but recently rescinded its prior applications in order to re-apply under more restrictive state rules about who…

Oct
15

Dakota Rural Action Hosts Corporate Accountability Author at Annual Meeting

The public is invited to join Dakota Rural Action (DRA) on Friday, Nov. 6 at 5:30 pm at Drifters Bar & Grille in Ft. Pierre for dinner and a keynote…

Sep
28

DRA Releases 2026-2027 SD Local Foods Directory

Dakota Rural Action (DRA) has released the 2026-2027 Local Foods Directory, connecting South Dakota consumers with food producers around the state. The free publication highlighting producers who grow and sell…

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Dakota Rural Action

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We organize and build community power in promoting and protecting natural resources & resilient food and energy systems for future generations in South Dakota.

Dakota Rural Action

18 hours ago

⚠️Action Alert - Protect Water in the Black Hills!❗Powertech is seeking rights to over 2.3 billion gallons of groundwater per year for its Dewey-Burdock Uranium Mine Project in Fall River and Custer Counties. Does the project sound familiar? Powertech originally sought these permits over a decade ago, but recently reapplied for permits under newer state rules that restrict who is able to challenge the project.This amount of water is equal to that of a 70,000-person community, nearly the size of Rapid City. The Black Hills already have restrictions on watering lawns, and the water resources are at near all time lows. Now imagine another Rapid City dropping into the Black Hills?! This is an outrageous giveaway of our state’s resources. 📌Even worse, the company would mix chemicals with water to extract the uranium - and then re-inject the majority of the requested 2.3 billion gallons per year back into the Inyan Kara reservoir, which means that they will control (and deliberately contaminate) a vast amount of water in the most arid region of the state. And there is no end date on this permit! This raises the question of what might that contaminated water be used for since it will be unusable for drinking, livestock, or irrigation. Perhaps cooling systems for data centers or small modular (nuclear) reactors (SMRs)? ❗But wait - there’s more! Powertech is also requesting over 82 million gallons a year from two deep wells in the Madison aquifer, for both industrial and domestic/livestock use, meaning that the company would be free to sell the water back to residents, or even other entities, for a profit.These permits also bring up a question of local control. In 2022, Fall River County voters passed an ordinance declaring uranium mining a nuisance in that county. Disregarding the will of the people, the chief engineer notes on his permit approval recommendations that, “In addition to obtaining water right permits, “Powertech (USA) Inc. is subject to compliance with all other State of South Dakota and federal government regulations relating to water use and in-situ mining,” completely disregarding the locally-enacted prohibition.🚨Take Action Now - The deadline to comment is Nov. 9th! ❗Highest priority: Submit public comments for each permit. 📌Inyan Kara Water Right Permit Application #2914-2danr.sd.gov/public/wrctpn.aspx?intervene=11/09/2026&number=2914-2&applicant=Powertech%20(USA),%20...📌Madison Water Right Permit Application #2915-2danr.sd.gov/public/wrctpn.aspx?intervene=11/09/2026&number=2915-2&applicant=Powertech%20(USA),%20...❗If you want to do more: Contact Governor Rhoden! Tell him that South Dakota isn’t giving away our water to corporations! You can email the Governor’s office at governorrhoden@state.sd.us. As always, be specific and respectful in your comments. Thank you for your action! ...

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Dakota Rural Action

2 days ago

📣Join our team!We are seeking the next member of our team! We are looking to hire a motivated person to jump in with our chapter and issue based community organizing in Western South Dakota, with priority in the Black Hills region. 🔗If you think you might be a good fit, check out the full job listing at: www.dakotarural.org/who-we-are/employment/ ...

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Dakota Rural Action

5 days ago

It's important for our rural communities. Rural hospitals and clinics operate on razor-thin margins. If Expansion ends, rural providers could once again face growing amounts of unpaid care, putting additional pressure on facilities that many communities depend on.Farmers, ranchers, self-employed workers, seasonal employees, and many rural South Dakotans rely on Medicaid Expansion when affordable private insurance is out of reach. Amendment I creates uncertainty around a program that thousands of working families count on.Federal Medicaid dollars support more than healthcare. They help sustain local hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and healthcare jobs. Losing that investment would have ripple effects throughout rural communities.Vote NO on Amendment I on Nov. 3rd. *Statistics provided by KFF factsheet on Medicaid, May 2025 ...

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Dakota Rural Action

7 days ago

⚠Last call! If you've been thinking about attending our Annual Meeting Nov. 6-7 in Pierre, the deadline is this Wednesday, Oct. 28th. We hope to see you there!❓If you have questions about why our food system, and markets for farmers & ranchers are so broken, listen to Austin Frerick, our Annual Meeting keynote speaker. 👀https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYZBM_mVytc&t=1sEveryone knows the food system is broken, but for different reasons. Austin ties it all together while also giving us reasons to be hopeful. His message, while very realistic about where we are today, is not bleak - he gives us reason to hope for better days, better food, better markets to come. 👉Join us on Friday, Nov. 6 at Drifters in Ft. Pierre. Register: bit.ly/39thAnnMtg ...

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Dakota Rural Action

1 week ago

⚠️There is still time to submit comments about Black Hills Energy's proposed rate increase. ❓Did you know that BHE wants to raise electricity ⚡ rates for their South Dakota customers by 25% - tell the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to reject this request!💲In BHE’s filings to the PUC, the company said that this increase will add about $25 per month to residential bills (about $300 per year). On top of rising grocery prices, gas prices, and healthcare costs, many South Dakotans are already struggling.📌BHE has to get approval from the SD PUC to increase their rates, and YOU can weigh in on this process.⏰Submit your comment today! It doesn’t take long, and your comment becomes part of the public record. The PUC needs to hear from as many of BHE’s 75,000 South Dakota customers as possible.You must email or write them according to these guidelines 👇🏼📝Comments must include: Black Hills Energy’s name, the docket number EL26-003, your full name, mailing address, e-mail address, and phone number. These comments should be emailed to puc@state.sd.us or mailed or hand-delivered to PUC, 500 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, SD 57501.#electricity #ratepayers #electricbills #utilityrates ...

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Uranium mining company seeks to withdraw billions of gallons of groundwater

Dakota Rural Action Hosts Corporate Accountability Author at Annual Meeting

DRA Releases 2026-2027 SD Local Foods Directory

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