stop mining in the black hills

[Guest guest]

THE BLACK HILLS NEED YOUR VOICE!

This Is Your Chance to Protect Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara Mountain from Mining

COMMENTS NEEDED BY MARCH 8, 2006

 

Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara Mountain are Irreplaceable.

 

Located in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota, Jewel Cave is the third

longest cave in the world—an astonishing 135 miles and 10 feet long. It is

also critical habitat for wintering bats. Although protected as a National

Monument, the cave itself extends far beyond the Monument boundaries, actually

extending beneath lands managed by the Black Hills National Forest. Inyan Kara,

which is located in the northwestern Black Hills of Wyoming, is one of three

roadless areas remaining on the Black Hills National Forest. Long held sacred

by indigenous peoples like the Lakota, the 1,278 acre Inyan Kara has remained

relatively untouched, despite development pressure in the Black Hills.

 

Unfortunately, Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara are not protected from mining.

Although mineral potential is low, the Black Hills National Forest does not

prohibit mining in Inyan Kara or on top of Jewel Cave. The third longest cave

in the world and an important sacred site are now at risk.

 

Fortunately, the Black Hills National Forest is proposing to protect Jewel Cave

and Inyan Kara from mining. The proposal calls for prohibiting hard rock mining

on 4,696 acres to protect Jewel Cave and 1,278 acres to protect Inyan Kara. But

your voice is needed to make sure the Black Hills National Forest fully protects

these irreplaceable areas. Please take one minute to write a letter by March 8,

2006 to the Black Hills National Forest. A sample letter is provided below.

 

Ask the Forest Supervisor to:

• Fully protect Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara from hard rock mining;

• Withdraw from mineral entry the full 4,696 acres of the Black Hills

National Forest above Jewel Cave and the full 1,278 acres of Inyan Kara; and

• Please Select Alternative 2 as documented in the Environmental Assessment

for the Inyan Kara and Jewel Cave Area Mineral Withdrawals.

 

 

Write your letters to:

• Craig Bobzien, Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest, 1019 N.

5th St., Custer, SD 57730, mailroom_r2_black_hills

 

Also, please send a copy of your letter to the Bureau of Land Management, who

will also decide whether to protect Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara from mining. Send

a copy to:

• Bob Bennett, Wyoming State Director, Bureau of Land Management, PO Box

1828 , Cheyenne, WY 82003; and

• Howard Lemm, Montana/Dakotas Acting State Director, Bureau of Land

Management, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59101

 

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear Supervisor Bobzien:

 

Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara are irreplaceable. I urge you to withdraw from

mineral entry the proposed 4,696 acres of the Black Hills National Forest above

Jewel Cave and the proposed 1,278 acres of Inyan Kara. Please select

Alternative 2, the proposed action, as set forth in the Environmental Assessment

regarding the Inyan Kara and Jewel Cave Area Mineral Withdrawals.

 

Sincerely,

 

[Your Name and Address]

 

cc:

Bob Bennett, Wyoming State Director, Bureau of Land Management

Howard Lemm, Montana/Dakotas Acting State Director, Bureau of Land Management

 

 

Thank you for lending your voice to protect this special place!

 

 

BCA

Biodiversity Conservation Alliance

PO Box 1512, Laramie, WY 82073

307-742-7978, fax 307-742-7989

www.voiceforthewild.org

 

 

 

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