Hearing opens on proposed uranium drilling in Black Hills
Opponents raised concerns about water contamination, cultural sites and environmental impacts during the first day of a state hearing on exploratory uranium drilling near Craven Canyon
Dozens of people gathered Monday in Hot Springs, South Dakota, to oppose a proposed uranium drilling project in the southern Black Hills during the opening day of a weeklong permit hearing, according to a South Dakota Searchlight article. Opponents raised concerns about possible groundwater contamination, impacts on tourism and agriculture and damage to Craven Canyon, an area near the proposed drilling sites that contains ancient Native American petroglyphs.
According to the article, Clean Nuclear Energy Corporation and its parent company, Nexus Uranium, applied in March 2024 to drill exploratory holes for uranium on state-owned land near Edgemont. The South Dakota Board of Minerals and Environment is considering whether the project could negatively affect historical or archaeological sites or nearby aquifers. The hearing is scheduled to continue through Friday.
- 1.Meghan O’Brien. South Dakota Searchlight, .
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