Mineral drilling project threatens sacred site in Black Hills
Drinking water and cultural ceremonies at risk, say Black Hills Clean Water Alliance
On Feb. 27, The Black Hills National Forest approved a graphite exploratory drilling project at Pe’ Sla, a sacred site in the heart of the Black Hills. Pete Lien and Sons Rochford Mineral Exploratory Drilling Project puts drinking water at risk and may disrupt cultural ceremonies, says the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance.
The drilling company plans to drill 18 three-inch diameter holes up to 1,000-feet deep to search for graphite south of Rochford, South Dakota, and near the 2,022-acres of Pe’ Sla trust land. The approved project will take less than a year to complete and could affect 98 acres of the Black Hills, according to the project decision memo on the U.S. Forest Service website. The drilling site is also located within the Rapid Creek Watershed, which, according to the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, provides drinking water to Rapid City, South Dakota, Ellsworth Air Force Base and tribal communities along the Cheyenne River.
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