Objection Deadline Golden Crest Exploratory Drilling Project

Objection Deadline Golden Crest Exploratory Drilling Project is Friday, January 26th, 2024, 45 days after it was published in RCJ newspaper on Dec 12th, 2023.  To have legal standing to object (formally) you must have commented during scoping or draft EA review.

Clean Water Alliance and other groups will be doing alerts on this objection process – in fact CWA has already sent one out.,

Forest Service says:

“Access to each drill site will be along National Forest Service Roads (NFSRs) and trails branching off NFSR 134 (Tinton Road). No new road or trail construction is proposed. Water used for drilling will be sourced from an approved municipal or privately owned water supply in the Lead/Deadwood area. Equipment and supplies will be stored at a staging area approximately 1 acre in size. The total surface disturbance for the entire project will be approximately 2 acres.

The proposed project duration is 5 calendar years, which includes 27 months of active drilling.  All sites will be reclaimed following drilling activities.

The EA and draft DN/FONSI for the Golden Crest Exploration Drilling Project are available upon request at the Northern Hills Ranger District office, 2014 North Main Street, Spearfish, SD  57783. These documents are also available at the Black Hills National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=62590.

Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Chris Stores, Natural Resources Planner, at 605-443-3081 or by e-mail at chris.stores@usda.gov.

The Golden Crest Exploration Drilling Project is an activity implementing a land management plan. This activity is subject to pre-decisional objection under subparts A and B of 36 CFR Part 218….

Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted written comments, regarding the proposed project unless the issue is based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunity…..”

==========

How to submit objections. The Forest Service says:

“Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=62590. An automated response should confirm your electronic objection has been received.

Objections can be faxed to the Objection Reviewing Officer at 605-673-9350. The fax coversheet must include a subject line with “OBJECTION: Golden Crest Exploration Drilling Project” and should specify the number of pages being submitted.

Written objections may be submitted via regular mail to: Black Hills National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Attn: Objection Review Officer, 1019 North 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730.

Objections sent by private carrier or hand delivery must be addressed to: Black Hills National Forest Supervisor’s Office, Attn: Objection Review Officer, 1019 North 5th Street, Custer, SD 57730. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery. Any objections sent by US mail or private carrier must be postmarked by the final day of the objection period to be eligible for consideration.”