Uranium Mining
uranium exploration threatens craven canyon
comment or intervene by may 14th
“Clean” Nuclear Energy Corp. (CNEC), a subsidiary of Basin Uranium, has applied to the State of South Dakota to explore for radioactive uranium in Fall River County, north of Edgemont in an area near the rim of Craven Canyon. This project, called “Chord” is part of a larger plan to drill on both state and federal lands in the Craven Canyon area.
What’s so special about Craven Canyon? Craven Canyon and surrounding areas contain rock art and other artifacts that are up to seven thousand years old, and are of inestimable cultural, archeological, and scientific value. A small mineral claims withdrawal (+/-160 acres) protects some sites, but many more artifacts and sites of interest have been found in unprotected areas in and around the Canyon.
CNEC’s project on state lands would involve 50 drill platforms near the rim of the canyon, with drilling depths up to 700 feet. Each hole could take up to two weeks to drill, and the activities would be seen and heard within the Canyon, where ceremony and study continue to this day.
mining company ignores will of voters; plans drilling anyway
You may be thinking, “didn’t Fall River County declare uranium mining a nuisance?”
YES. In April 2022, the Canadian mining company Pegasus Resources announced it was working to develop an exploration project on these same Craven Canyon-area mineral claims, but “became concerned with an increased anti-mining sentiment in Fall County, specifically toward uranium exploration and development.”
That fall, the voters of Fall River County passed an ordinance declaring uranium mining a nuisance. This clear message from area residents caused Pegasus Resources to cancel its project. Basin Uranium (also Canadian) and their subsidiary CNEC took over those claims and intends to move forward, ignoring the will of the people.
SUBMIT A COMMENT–SAY NO TO DRILLING NEAR CRAVEN CANYON
Comments are due to the SD Board of Minerals & Environment (BM&E) by May 14th.
You can comment online using the web form HERE, or mail your comment to: Minerals, Mining, and Superfund Program, 523 East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, South Dakota 57501-3182
Tell them who you are, where you’re from, and why you care about protecting the Craven Canyon area. Make sure to include any concerns you have that are directly related to reasons the Board may deny the permit (see below).
By law, the Board of Minerals MUST grant the permit UNLESS:
- The application is incomplete or fees & sureties are unpaid; or
- The adverse effects of the proposed uranium exploration operation on the historic, archaeologic, geologic, scientific, or recreational aspects of affected or surrounding land outweigh the benefits of the proposed uranium exploration operation; or
- The proposed uranium exploration operation will result in the loss or reduction of long-range productivity of watershed lands, public and domestic water wells, aquifer recharge areas, or significant agricultural areas; or
- The proposed uranium exploration operation will adversely affect threatened or endangered wildlife indigenous to the area.
participate in the hearing - become an intervenor
Do you have a personal connection to Craven Canyon or the surrounding area? Are you interested in participating in the permit hearings–to ask questions, present evidence, and/or bring witnesses? If so, you may wish to go beyond submitting a comment and become an “intervenor.”
Intervenors can fully participate in the hearings and help to educate the Board about critical issues they may not be aware of. You will need to make time to attend the hearing, and you may also need to travel (hearings are typically held in Pierre). While organizations and government entities must be represented by an attorney, individuals can represent themselves.
To intervene in a state proceeding, you must submit a letter (“petition”) stating your interest in participating in the hearing.
What to include in your letter (“petition”) to intervene:
- Your name and address (an email address is useful but not required);
- State that you want to intervene;
- Why you are concerned about uranium exploration in the Craven Canyon area;
- What action you would like the Board of Minerals & Environment to take (presumably to DENY the exploration permit)
- Any facts or information you may have related to the permitting of uranium exploration in the area (issues you may want to bring evidence on or ask questions about during the hearing);
- Your signature and the date
BE BRIEF. You don’t have to argue your case in this letter; just state your interest in participating and one or two issues you want the Board to consider. At least one of those issues should be related to the reasons the Board may lawfully deny the permit (see above).
Send your letter to: Minerals, Mining, and Superfund Program, 523 East Capitol Avenue, Pierre, South Dakota 57501-3182
Send a copy to the applicant: Resident Agent: Clean Nuclear Energy Corp. CT Corporation System, 319 S Coteau St, Pierre, SD 57501
Petitions (letters) of intervention are DUE May 14th.
Retain a copy of the letter for your records.
Need more information or help with your comment or petition letter? Contact DRA Organizer Rebecca Terk at: rebeccat@dakotarural.org
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