Where: Rapid City, SD

What: Exploratory Drilling by Powertech, a Canadian Uranium mining company near Edgemont, SD. Powertech began drilling uranium exploratory wells in the Dewey Burdock area northwest of Edgemont a few weeks despite the approval of their permit being appealed in court. Powertech has sought SD state and federal NRC permits to mine Uranium using In Situ Recovery (ISR) from the Lakota and Fall River aquifers. In Situ Recovery was formerly known as In Situ Leach (ISL) mining. Powertech has applied for an NRC License to mine Uranium. See http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/adjudicatory/hearing-license-applications.html

Who: Two environmental organizations, Defenders of the Black Hills and ACTion for the Environment are appealing the decision made by the South Dakota Board of Mining and Environment. The Judge denied the stay stating there was not enough environmental information to show harm to the plaintiffs. The permit that is being appealed allows Powertech to drill 155 more exploratory wells at depths of 500-600 feet in the southwestern Black Hills.

Why: Among the concerns of the environmental groups are the possibility of overflow from the mud pits with the sudden rain showers that occur in the Black Hills. One of the aquifers empties directly into the Cheyenne River and is used by many ranchers to water their livestock. Among the deeper aquifers of concern is the Madison which provides water for many western South Dakota communities.