Uranium exploration proposal near Craven Canyon draws tribal and environmental concerns
A postponed permit hearing follows concerns from more than 40 opponents, while the broader Chord project has drawn nearly 1,000 comments
A proposal to drill exploratory holes for uranium near Craven Canyon in the southern Black Hills has drawn opposition ahead of a state permit hearing, according to South Dakota Searchlight. Clean Nuclear Energy Corporation and its parent company, Nexus Uranium, applied in March 2024 to drill on state land in Fall River County as part of the Chord project. The hearing, originally scheduled to begin April 13 in Hot Springs, has been postponed, according to an April 7 notice.
According to reporting by South Dakota Searchlight, opponents say the project threatens an area near ancient Native American rock art and could affect water resources and culturally significant sites. More than 40 people and organizations raised concerns about the drilling. The U.S. Forest Service has also received nearly 1,000 public comments on the broader project, including opposition from six tribal nations. Nexus Uranium CEO Jeremy Poirier said the company’s project would not affect Craven Canyon.
- 1.Meghan O’Brien, .
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