DRA News - Dakota Rural Action

Nov
02

POWERTECH SEEKING BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF GROUNDWATER – COMMENT OR INTERVENE BY NOV 9

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 is now re-applying under more restrictive state rules about who can challenge them. BUT! People can still comment and/or petition to intervene!…

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…

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…

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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

4 hours ago

South Dakota voters have spoken again on preserving our rights at the ballot box!Amendment L was defeated yesterday 58% - 42%. This is the third time voters have rejected the legislature's attempts to water down our power to access the ballot, so hopefully they'll move on. You can read the SD Searchlight's story here: southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/11/03/threshold-for-south-dakota-constitutional-amendments-should... ...

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Dakota Rural Action

1 day ago

👋Remember to cast your vote today! Polls are open until 7 pm local time. Be sure to have your photo ID with you. ❓Not sure where to find your polling place? You can find it on the SD Secretary of State's website: vip.sdsos.gov/VIPLogin.a #ElectionDayo#sodakvotesv#SouthDakotaa#southdakotaelectionstions ...

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Dakota Rural Action

2 days ago

More reporting on South Dakota's worsening water situation. Thanks to South Dakota News Watch, Inc. for their coverage. Sharing an excerpt, but it's really worthwhile to read the full piece. "For the past several years in South Dakota, the combined effects of rising population, long-range drought and increased residential, commercial and agricultural water use are causing water shortages across the state."Scientific readings show that many underground aquifers are drier than normal or seeing reduced water pressure caused by lower volumes."But the naked eye can also see the outcomes."Water level drawdowns in West River areas are visible at Angostura, Bell Fourche and Pactola reservoirs and along the run of Spring Creek though the central Black Hills, which has run dry in spots where water flowed freely for generations. As previously reported by News Watch, wells are running low or dry at rural ranches and homesteads in the western half of the state."In East River areas, the signs of a pending shortage are showing up at rural water systems that cannot take on new residential, commercial or agricultural customers because the aquifers they rely on are drying up or are fully committed due to existing water rights contracts."Read further: www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota-aquifers-water-supplies/#groundwater #aquifer #southdakota #UraniumMining #WaterIsLife ...

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Dakota Rural Action

3 days 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

4 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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POWERTECH SEEKING BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF GROUNDWATER – COMMENT OR INTERVENE BY NOV 9

Uranium mining company seeks to withdraw billions of gallons of groundwater

Dakota Rural Action Hosts Corporate Accountability Author at Annual Meeting

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