<
https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/drilling-has-begun-at-our-sacred-site-pe-sla-setting-a-dangerous-precedent-for-indigenous-lands-across-the-country-it-must-be-stopped-opinion>
"Drilling has begun at Pe' Sla, a sacred site in South Dakota, following the
U.S. Forest Service's decision to permit exploratory sites — despite the land
falling under federal protection. Authorizing mining activity in this sacred
place is a direct attack on protected Indigenous lands and the fundamental
right to religious freedom. It also threatens ecosystems and waterways, and
could cause permanent environmental degradation.
At least two drill pads are now operating on tribal lands within the 2-mile
(3.2 kilometers) buffer zone promised to be protected by the Forest Service and
tribes. This should ring alarm bells everywhere, because it means that even
lands protected by the U.S. government are not safe from the threat of
destruction.
This project began in February when the Forest Service quietly issued a permit
allowing exploratory drilling for graphite at Pe' Sla — a place in the He Sapa
(Black Hills) of South Dakota that holds profound spiritual, cultural and
ecological significance for the Oceti Sakowin (often called Great Sioux
Nation).
That's why on April 2, NDN Collective, Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, and
Earthworks sued the Forest Service, citing violations of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and threats to lands long recognized for their
religious and cultural importance.
The permit to drill for graphite at Pe' Sla must be rescinded and drilling
stopped immediately. Not only does drilling pose serious environmental risks,
it sets a dangerous precedent for Indigenous lands across the country.
The two drill pads currently in operation are just the start. The proposed
project by Pete Lien & Sons includes 18 drill pads, each reaching depths of up
to 1,000 feet (300 meters). Operations like this typically require vegetation
and topsoil removal, the creation of toxic drilling mud pits, and the
disruption of fragile ecosystems. The site sits within the Rapid Creek
watershed, a vital source of surface and groundwater for communities including
Rapid City, Ellsworth Air Force Base, and tribal and rural populations
downstream."
Via Kenny Chaffin.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
