Prairie Hills Audubon Society

12/1/23 Deadline to apply for position on the Black Hills Forest Service Advisory Board
2023-12-01 04:00 - 16:30 (America/Denver)
Friday, December 1st if the deadline to submit application to serve on the Forest Service Advisory Board.
We are not sure if the time-of-day of the deadline is COB or just before midnight and/or received or post marked. We will find out and update this notice.
Notice
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1145643.pdf
Details
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/workingtogether/advisorycommittees/?cid=stelprdb5114570
SEEKING MEMBERS FROM THE
FOLLOWING INTEREST GROUPS:
1. Economic development; 2. Developed outdoor recreation, off-highway vehicle users, or commercial
recreation; 3. Energy and mineral development; 4. Commercial timber industry; 5. Permittee (grazing or
other land use within the Black Hills area); 6. Nationally recognized environmental organizations; 7. Regionally
or locally recognized environmental organizations; 8. Dispersed recreation; 9. Archeology or history; 10.
Nationally or regionally recognized sportsmen’s groups, such as anglers or hunters; 11. South Dakota
State-elected offices; 12. Wyoming State-elected offices; 13. South Dakota or Wyoming county-or local-
elected officials; 14. Tribal government elected or-appointed officials; 15. State of South Dakota natural
resource agency official; and 16. State of Wyoming natural resource agency official.

PHAS's November Members meeting - Topic: Raccoons
2023-11-29 18:00 - 21:00
Wednesday, November 29th, 2023 , 6 pm MT -is the date of Prairie Hills Audubon Society’s November meeting by Zoom, which will be on raccoons and also towards the end of the meeting, some other meso-carnivores.

We will talk about the raccoon’s range, habitat, behaviors, life cycle and beneficial uses and conflicts with humans. We will talk about their management in SD and in other states. We will also talk about lives and/or management of other meso-carnivores in SD and other states.
Raccoons in SD are one of 5 target animals of the SD Nest Predator Bounty Program along with opossum, stripped skunk, red fox and badgers, but more than 6 times as many raccoons are killed each year compared to the other 4 predators – 42,300 killed in 2023 through that bounty program and 142,000 were killed between 2019-2022.

The alleged reason for this killing is to benefit pheasants and other ground nesting birds. We and many others don’t believe the bounty program will help ground nesting birds as its’ impacts are too diffused. For more info on the Nest Predator Bounty Program (NPBP) visit https://phas-wsd.org/sd-nest-predator-bounty-program/

SD allows hound hunting of raccoons for in-state persons and SDGFP is considering allowing out-of-state persons to hunt them also, in part so non-residents can participate in raccoon hound hunting competitions.

Raccoons can be killed in SD at any time without a license, if they are doing damage to property or livestock/poultry. Also resident land occupiers on their own property and residents under 18 can kill them without a license during the raccoon hunting season (which is year-round for residents). They are considered to be covered under predator/varmint hunting rules (although they are not listed as a predator/varmint) and can be taken with a predator/varmint license, furbearer license and many other hunting licenses.

Speakers will b:
Katherine McGill Owner/Operator, 411 Raccoon Solutions Inc/ 411 Wildlife Org, Florida,
Mellissa Smith – Executive Director Friends of the Wisconsin Wolf & Wildlife Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance &
Nancy Hilding, President Prairie Hills Audubon Society

Zoom details:

Nancy Hilding is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting -.November 29th, 2023 6 pm MT

Topic: PHAS November members meeting
Time: November 29th, 2023 6 pm MT

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85433920233?pwd=[REDACTED]

Meeting ID: 854 3392 0233
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Deadline of the extended comment period Cutty Sark Lode Gold/Silver Exploration Mining, BHNF
2023-11-27 23:50 - 23:59
The Black Hills National Forest extended the comment period on Cutty Sark mine, by 15 days to Nov 23, which was Thanksgiving, so when deadlines fall on Holidays/Weekends you go to the next working day, so deadline is likely, Monday,Nov. 27th. Go to the calendar day for the original 11/2/23 deadline for details
https://phas-wsd.org/event/comment-deadline-on-cutty-sark-lode-gold-silver-exploration-project/

BHNF Forest Service Advisory Board Meeting - to be POSTPONED
2023-11-15 13:00 - 16:30
Advisory Board Meeting
Forest Service Office – Mystic Ranger District Office
8221Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City, SD 57702
Was going to be at 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – November 15th, 2023 but it will be postponed, maybe to Dec. 6th, 2023
For agenda, when close to the date visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/workingtogether/advisorycommittees/?cid=stelprdb5114550

"Gathering Mushrooms & Willow" - a crankie
2023-11-11 17:15 - 18:30
“Gathering Mushrooms & Willow” – A crankie, a theater box with spools, moves an illustrated painted scroll from scene to scene as stories unfold with music (flute, sax, violin & song) & narrative. All ages $5 donation.
At Aby’s 406, 5th St. Rapid City, SD

Norbeck Society November meeting on prescribed fire
2023-11-09 18:00 - 21:00
Norbeck Society November meeting on prescribed fire – “What does it take to implement a prescribed fire?”
Norbeck Society meets on Thursday, November 9th 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time for an evening Zoom with Chris Stover, Forest Fuels Specialist, Supervisor’s Office, Black Hills National Forest.
Chris’s career in Fire and Fuels is relatively unique in that he has worked in Fuels the vast majority of his time with the Forest Service and on the same Forest his entire career.
Although his career with the Forest Service began in 2003 as a timber marker, in 2004 he gained a position as an Assistant Engine Captain and in 2007 he started as a Fuels Technician. From 2012 to March of 2021, he served as an Assistant Fire Management Officer-Fuels…all on the Mystic District.
Since March 2021 he has worked in the Supervisor’s Office as the Forest Fuels Specialist.
The main presentation will follow a brief update.
Public Meeting ~ everyone is welcome!
For more information: info@norbecksociety.com. Norbeck Society normally meets the second Thursday, but not always, such as not in the summer.

Prairie Hills Audubon Society November Board Meeting
2023-11-08 18:00 - 19:30
Prairie Hills Audubon Society (PHAS) November board meeting will be Wednesday November 8th at 6 pm MT.
PHAS board meetings are by Zoom and are open to members, but we don’t publish the Zoom details on-line.
If you are a member >> call or e-mail PHAS president Nancy Hilding to get the Zoom details – phas.wsd@rapidnet.com, 605-787-6466 (LandLine)

Comment deadline on Cutty Sark Lode Gold Silver Exploration Project
2023-11-02 23:30 - 23:59
Cutty Sark Lode Gold Silver Exploration Project would be on a claim about .68 miles north of Mystic SD, in the Castle Creek drainage. This project is about a half mile west of the intersection of Castle Creek and Rapid Creek about a mile & a third north west of the Canyon City Research Natural Area – it is in section 33 (see map above). It is probably within a two thirds of a mile of Rapid Creek and within a half mile of Castle Creek.
Project will collect surface samples with hand tools. It will eventually involve going into an old shaft and drilling for ore with a pneumatic shipping hammer, with air compressor on surface run by gasoline. All overburden/waste material will be left underground in previous workings. Ore brought to surface will be taken off site for crushing/sluicing – no waste dumps necessary at this time. Water will not be continuously removed from any water body, nor will waste water be continuously generated.
It will involve using a closed road. There will be a base camp on Forest land to the north and travel between camp and site, will be with an ATV.
Go to Black Hills National Forest Project web page for details and to download scoping letter, map and plan of operations. https://usfs-public.app.box.com/v/PinyonPublic/folder/158204074641

Link for the scoping letter https://usfs-public.app.box.com/v/PinyonPublic/file/1337817611762 https://usfs-public.app.box.com/v/PinyonPublic/file/1337817611762

SD Game, Fish and Parks Commission November 2023 meeting
2023-11-02 13:00 - 16:00
SD Game, Fish and Parks Commission November 2023 meeting will not be held in Rapid City, but has been changed to Madison at the Prairie Shores Resort and Events, Madison, SD. It will be Thursday Nov 2nd. They will not meet on Friday as originally planned. It will be hybrid. Written comments should be submitted by October 29th, Sunday before midnight MT to be added to this months public record. For more information watch this site close to the meeting date and to download materials relative to the meeting: https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/
Agenda
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Commission_Agenda_-_November_2,_2023_Public_Copy_(1).pdf
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Livestream link
Zoom Meeting Link | To join via conference call, dial 1.669.900.9128 | Meeting ID: 939 1291 5359 | Passcode: [REDACTED]
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Once the meeting is over and enough time has past, at least an audio version is available in the SDGFP Commission Archives. They say they are eventually going to put Zoom recording links there also.
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An item under consideration is whether to get rid of the one-day-only fishing license or not. They decided to table the issue for a while…here is a discussion of this issue – https://gfp.sd.gov/news/detail/1588/
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Written comments can be submitted at https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/. To be included in the public record of the next meeting, comments must include your complete name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of seventy–two hours before the meeting (not including the day of the meeting) (Usually Sunday night before midnight CT or MT depending on time zone of physical meeting) If you miss that deadline it goes to record of the next meeting.
You can testify at GFP meetings which are held in person and by Zoom, generally at 2 pm on the Thursday of the meeting, in time zone of the meeting.
Unless you want to communicate directly with each Commissioner (those will not be in the public record)– https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/members/ (no deadline). You can see phones and home address at this link. Here are likely e-mails for them.
“Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us” <Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us>, “Jon.Locken@state.sd.us” <Jon.Locken@state.sd.us>, “Travis.Bies@state.sd.us” <Travis.Bies@state.sd.us>, “Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us” <Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us>, “Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us” <Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us> or Julia.Bartling@state.sd.us, “charles.spring@state.sd.us” <charles.spring@state.sd.us> ,
The two new commissioners e-mails likely are:
Jim.White@state.sd.us or James.White@state.sd.us, Bruce.Cull@state.sd.us

National Audubon Society National Leadership Conference - Estes Park
2023-11-02 12:00 - 2023-11-05 09:30
National Audubon Society National Chapter meeting in Estes Park, Colorado,
Audubon Leadership Conference, November 2-5, 2023
YMCA of the Rockies, Estes Park, Colorado, USA
It starts at noon on Thursday and ends Sunday Morning at 9:30 am
Event Home page
https://web.cvent.com/event/a4a5611a-1a4c-4c5c-83a2-ead1340869bd/summary?emci=929f483d-ec48-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&emdi=06bc6151-fa48-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&ceid=403117
Agenda
https://web.cvent.com/event/a4a5611a-1a4c-4c5c-83a2-ead1340869bd/websitePage:c9dc1695-74de-4794-a42e-587ef4d79238?emci=929f483d-ec48-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&emdi=06bc6151-fa48-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&ceid=403117
Scholarship page
https://web.cvent.com/event/a4a5611a-1a4c-4c5c-83a2-ead1340869bd/websitePage:39b45d1d-fa14-4d59-aee8-1b246ebb59c9?emci=929f483d-ec48-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&emdi=06bc6151-fa48-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&ceid=403117
Registration will open August 9, 2023.

PHAS October member's hybrid meeting on protecting French Creek water quality
2023-10-30 18:00 - 20:40
PHAS October member’s hybrid meeting on protecting French Creek water quality

Prairie Hills Audubon Society’s October Monthly Meeting
Monday October 30th, 2023, 6 pm
Hybrid meeting – Outdoor Campus West in Rapid City and Zoom
Topic – Protecting French Creek from Sewage Pollution
Presenter – Todd Konechne
Discussion
Custer City is upgrading its’ sewage treatment system, with plans to dump the effluent from that into French Creek instead of Flynn Creek. Local folks have been upset by the threat to the water quality of French Creek. They got a referendum passed in Custer County declaring such dumping a nuisance. Come and learn about the concerns & activities of home owners who are fighting to protect their nearby creek. Visit their web site – http://www.preservefrenchcreek.com

Join Zoom Meeting:
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Meeting ID: 854 3392 0233
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Deadline for written comments to SD Game, Fish and Parks Commission for November meeting
2023-10-29 22:30 - 22:59
10/29 is the deadline for written comments to SD Game, Fish and Parks Commission to be received by GFP. In order to be included in the public record and to be considered by the Commission. Comments must include a full name and city of residence and be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CDT on Sunday October 29. Web portal link to submit comments: https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/ If they are late, they go to the record of the December meeting.
The next GFP Commission meeting will be held in Madison November 2-3. Go to that calendar date for more info. on the meeting.
The Commission is considering removing the one-day-only fishing license, they tabled the issue at October meeting and continued it till November. To see rule change proposals in their entirety, visit gfp.sd.gov/commission/information.

There is no deadline if you wish to communicate directly with each Commissioner (but such comments will not be in the public record)– https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/members/ (no deadline). You can see phones and home address at this link. Here are likely e-mails for them.
“Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us” <Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us>, “Jon.Locken@state.sd.us” <Jon.Locken@state.sd.us>, “Travis.Bies@state.sd.us” <Travis.Bies@state.sd.us>, “Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us” <Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us>, “Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us” <Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us> or Julia.Bartling@state.sd.us, “charles.spring@state.sd.us” <charles.spring@state.sd.us> ,
The two new commissioners e-mails likely are:
Jim.White@state.sd.us or James.White@state.sd.us, Bruce.Cull@state.sd.us

Comment Deadline - Triple G Placer mining proposal - Rapid Creek/Johnson Siding,
2023-10-26 23:30 - 23:59
October 26th is the Comment Deadline – Triple G Placer mining proposal
It is a placer mine proposal, one mile southwest of Johnson Siding. It may be within a half mile east of Placerville Camp. Hand tools will be used and a battery powered recirculating sluice. Water will be brought from off site, but the sluice water will be dumped on site, which is 150 feet from the creek. We assume Rapid Creek is “the creek”. Closed roads will be opened for traffic from camp to mining site.

Here is a link to the Triple G project to view map and scoping letter: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=53352.

For more info: Jonathan Manning (Engineer) at – Custer SO (605-673-9292) or Mystic Ranger District – 605-343-1567. Ranger Jim Gubbels is on vacation – acting Ranger is Ben Schumacher (recreation at Mystic).
Send comments to “comments-rocky-mountain-black-hills-mystic@usda.gov” <comments-rocky-mountain-black-hills-mystic@usda.gov>

Comment Deadline - Updated EA on GFP's Shooting Range at Elk Vale Rd
2023-10-26 11:30 - 11:59
Draft Update to the Final Environmental Assessment SD Shooting Sports Complex was released by USFWS in late September 2023
Comments are due to USFWS Oct 26th at noon. Send to: Adrianna Araya, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, adrianna_araya@fws.gov or via mail to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Attn: Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration, P.O. Box 25486, Denver, CO, 80225.
The USFWS plans to award lots of money to SD Game, Fish & Parks to help fund the proposed shooting range (a federal action). SDGFP had to change the design to overcome objections/concerns by Meade County Commissioners. As the original EA only had one action alternative and provided no other action alternative, to address the locals concerns about section line relocation, the USFWS needed to do a supplemental EA. SDGFP is actually writing the EAs USFWS is supervising.
PHAS has yet to read this, but when we do, we will put up some discussion comments and maybe have a conservation committee meeting about this. We are concerned about the management of storm water (possibly contaminated with lead) running off the range to surface waters. How storm water management and the monitoring of downstream waters, would happen, was never clear in the last EA or GFP presentations on the range since then.
Link to Press Release 2023
https://fws.gov/press-release/2023-09/us-fish-and-wildlife-service-seeks-public-comments-draft-update-final
Main web page 2023
https://www.fws.gov/project/south-dakota-shooting-sports-complex-project
Link to Updated Final Environmental Assessment 2023 as PDF
https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Draft%20Update%20to%20the%20Final%20EA_SD%20Shooting%20Sports%20Complex%209.26.23.pdf
Link to two updated Appendix 2023 as PDF
https://www.fws.gov/media/2023septupdated-appendices-cpdf
https://www.fws.gov/media/2023septupdated-appendices-d-hpdf
OLD STUFF
Final EA from 2022
https://www.fws.gov/media/2022julyrapid-city-shooting-range-final-ea
Appendix from 2022
https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Rapid%20City_Shooting%20Range%20Complex_Final_EA_Appendices.pdf
Updated FONSI from 2022
https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Rapid%20City_Shooting%20Range%20Complex_updated_FONSI_0.pdf

"Owl-o-Ween", at Black Hills Raptor Center
2023-10-21 12:00 - 17:00
October 21, 2023, 12-5 pm. For guided tours of the facility you need reservations available at the top of each hour (noon to 4 pm) , RSVP to https://www.blackhillsraptorcenter.org/owl-o-ween-celebration/ (Once on-line, you can click on a chosen time frame)
Black Hills Raptor Center, 15256 East Hwy 44, Rapid City
Enjoy family fun, tour the facility, and meet the avian ambassadors! Black Hills Raptor Center (BHRC) annual event is a place where costumes are encouraged, families relax and enjoy the outdoors, and the birds we care for are the winners. Your walking tour will include activities, trunk-or-treat stations, and the avian ambassadors. Rumor has it there will be a special spooky guest bird!
Admission is a free will donation, or a roll of paper towels. This is a supply that BHRC uses in a large number of every year. BHRC merchandise will be for sale. You can find out about the third building on site, which has been started.
BHRC is a Teal Pumpkin Site, so if the people in your family have food allergies, there will be many options for other types of collectible fun.

Dakota Rural Action Annual Meeting, Hot Springs
2023-10-20 10:00 - 2023-10-21 15:00
October 20th and 21st, Dakota Rural Action will hold its 2023 Annual Meeting in Hot Springs at the Red River Rock Resort. This year the Annual Meeting is free for members to attend. Friday 10 am-4 pm, 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm, Sat 10 am -3 pm
For more info:
https://www.dakotarural.org/2023-annual-meeting/

Board of Minerals & environment Meeting
2023-10-19 09:00 - 16:00
Tentative BME meeting schedule for the remainder of 2023:

October 19, 2023
November 16, 2023
Please check the Boards and Commissions portal a week to 10 days prior to the scheduled meeting to confirm & get exact start & end times. Here is the link for the BME:

Black Hills National Forest - Forest Service Advisory Board Meeting
2023-10-18 13:00 - 16:30
Advisory Board Meeting
Forest Service Office – Mystic Ranger District Office
8221Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City, SD 57702
Likely at 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – October 18th, 2023
We are told that a lady from the Regional office will be there to release the final environmental assessments. This is the step needed before scoping on the Forest Plan Revision starts.
For agenda, when close to the date visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/workingtogether/advisorycommittees/?cid=stelprdb5114550
Agenda
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1145426.pdf

Field Trip on Forestry Basics
2023-10-16 09:00 - 12:00
Field Trip on Forestry Basics
Monday, Oct 16th, 2023, 9 am
A car caravan will be organized in a dirt parking area along highway 385, just south of the entrance to Crazy Horse Monument & north of Custer, SD.

Dave Mertz, a retired forester from the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF), will drive around the forest with us. Dave is a former Natural Resource Staff Officer for BHNF – a major leadership position at the BHNF.

The purpose is to learn about forestry. We will make about 4-5 brief stops to see stands selected to highlight various forest management techniques, terminology & the management choices made by the BHNF. Attendees can ask a retired BHNF  forester questions about timber management by the BHNF and discuss issues with group. Please bring water and snacks.

This event is co-sponsored by PHAS & the Norbeck Society. This will be the third year we have such a field trip in October.

We also refer folks to the Norbeck Society web page on timber issues, to learn about the issues – this web page explains issues in a simple, easy to understand way. The Black Hills National Forest is cutting trees at a rate that is not sustainable. This is a violation of law.
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d8ce039c0ab56657254042d/t/64963a42963cea10ced1ec16/1687566940885/Timber_NS.pdf

Here are some group letters to the Forest service, asking for changes in management that explain issues, in much greater detail and complexity

June 16th, 2021 letter to BHNF Supervisor
https://www.scribd.com/document/512534528/Black-Hills-NF-Must-Supplement-BHRl-Cease-MPBR-FINAL-2021-06-16?secret_password=[REDACTED]

May 17, 2021 letter to Regional Forester https://www.scribd.com/document/512536547/Letter-to-R2-RF-Re-Black-Hills-NF-Meeting-Followup-2021-05-17-FINAL?secret_password=[REDACTED]

May 12, 2021 letter’s attachment
https://www.scribd.com/document/512536561/Timber-Sale-Analysis-Spring-2021-FINAL-2021-05-12?secret_password=[REDACTED]

February 16th, 2021 letter to Regional Forester
https://www.scribd.com/document/499857016/2021-02-16-BHNF-Regional-Office-Meet-Request-Re-BHNF-Sustained-Yield

Norbeck Society Zoom meeting on Milkweed Hybridization
2023-10-12 18:00 - 20:30
Thursday, October 12, 6:00 p.m. – Norbeck Presents an evening Zoom with National Science Foundation grant recipient Dr. Carrie Olson-Manning, Associate Professor of Biology & Computer Science, Augustana University: “The Science of Milkweed Hybridization: What happens to genomes and biochemical networks when species hybridize?”
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88173621695?pwd=[REDACTED]

Norbeck Society Annual Meeting & Picnic
2023-10-08 11:00 - 17:00
Sunday, October 8, 11:00 a.m. Annual Picnic at Steamboat Rock Picnic Area, Nemo Road (18 miles northwest of Rapid City or 3.4 miles southeast of Nemo). There will be a potluck and the annual report. There is plenty of room to park along the closed gate. Potluck picnic – bring a dish to share and bring a chair. There’ll be a report on happenings and achievements of the past year and time to enjoy each other’s company in a beautiful Black Hills setting.

Spruce comment deadline is extended
2023-10-06 23:30 - 23:59
Comment deadline on Spruce project was extended until Friday, October 06, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. MT. This is because the webpage for the project (including the commenting portal) was not working for part of Friday, all of Saturday and Sunday and part of Monday, when comments were due on Monday the 25th. This was a nation wide issue for Forest Service for some of their web pagess.

Toni Strauss, Deputy Forest Supervisor of the Black Hills National Forest and the Responsible Official for the Spruce Vegetation Management Project (Spruce Project), has decided to offer a four-day, additional period to comment on the draft environmental assessment (EA) for the project due to a temporary outage of the Forest Service’s project website.

The Black Hills National Forest is proposing management activities on approximately 3,614 acres in mixed conifer stands. Proposed treatments include approximately 493 acres of overstory removal with reserves, 831 acres of shelterwood, 888 acres of commercial thinning, 720 acres of group selection, and 682 acres of precommercial thinning restoration. Associated road activities being proposed include approximately 41 miles of temporary road construction/closure, 22 miles of road reconstruction, and a couple hundred miles of road maintenance
The Spruce Project draft EA and supporting documents are available on the project webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=61599.
You can read comments already submitted here both during scoping and on the draft EA (the project was larger at scoping).: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//ReadingRoom?Project=61599
PHAS has submitted comments as has the Norbeck Society.
The following options are available for submitting comments:

Email comments to: matthew.daily@usda.gov
Hardcopy comments can be mailed, or hand delivered (Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. mountain time, excluding holidays):

Toni Strauss, Deputy Forest Supervisor
Black Hills National Forest
Attn: Matthew Daily (Spruce Project)
1019 N. 5th Street
Custer, SD 57730
(605) 673-9200

Fax comments to (605) 673-9350. Cover page needs to include “Comments for Spruce Project, Attn: Matthew Daily.”

Thank you for taking time to review the proposed Spruce Project and submitting comments. Additional information can be obtained from: Matthew Daily, Natural Resources Staff Officer, (605) 673-9313, matthew.daily@usda.gov.

SD Game, Fish and Parks Commission October 2023 Meeting
2023-10-05 13:00 - 2023-10-06 12:00
SD Game, Fish and Parks Commission October Meeting was in Deadwood and occurred on Thursday 5th and Friday the 6th of October 2023. It will be hybrid and Zoom links will be available. More details will be posted later, but as it gets close to the meeting – for details watch: https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/
Written comments are due before midnight on the Sunday night before the meeting.
You can testify in person or by Zoom, at 2 pm MT.
Go to past event calendar alerts on Commission meetings for more notes on general Commission meeting procedure.
The finalization for Mountain Lion season (public hearing and Commission vote on proposal) that was planned for October, did not occur in October. The Commission killed the rule proposal from public petition at September meeting.
Visit PHAS Mountain Lion alert or our alert in events calendar for the July & September Commission meeting for details.
We still ask people write or testify in opposition to hound hunting of cougars and raccoons, as the Commission seems to want to allow hounding hunting in the Black Hills Fire Protection District by a different & future action. There was a petition for rule making presented and considered on allowing hound hunting of raccoons for out-of-state hunters. This petition was denied – it seemed that the vocal Commissioners wanted a rule to allow out-of-state hound hunters, but were not happy with how the petitioner designed the rule to permit this.
Year-round hunting of raccoons by hounds, boot hunt or traps is currently allowed in SD by residents. Non-residents can only kill for a few months in the winter (Dec-March) when fur pelts thick, and can’t use hounds. SDCL https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/41-6-23 Administrative rules – https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/41:08:01:08.02
SDGFP’s raccoon web page at SDGFP https://gfp.sd.gov/raccoon/
SDCL on hounds can’t be used for big game, except Mt Lions as allowed by the Commission:, SDCL 41-8-15, https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/41-8-15
Mountain lion hunting restrictions https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/41:06:61:06
See our alert on NPBP. Nest predator bounty program (NPBP) applies to raccoons, which are species most frequently killed by NPBP bounty hunters. https://phas-wsd.org/sd-nest-predator-bounty-program/
REPORT ON ACTIONS
The Commission modified the licenses offered through the Hunt for Habitat raffle package (Custer State Park Bison, Any Deer and Any Deer/Elk). The any antelope licenses were removed from the previous three license packages, and two any deer licenses were added to provide an opportunity for two additional license options, with a total of nine licenses issued..
The Commission tabled action on this topic of getting rid of one day fishing license until the November meeting to allow for additional public comment opportunity.
The Commission killed petition for rule making to allow out-of-state hound hunters of raccoons, but this was not opposition to the general concept, but objection to how the proposed rule was written.
You can go to the archives to listen to audio of past Commission meetings – https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/archives/
If you have a Macintosh, you may need to download free audio files translation software for Macs, to open PC audio files.
Agenda of Oct 5th-6th
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/October_2023_Commission_Agenda_ .pdf
Hound hunting of raccoons by non-residents petition:
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Petition_203_-_Nonresident_Raccoon_Hunting_with_Hounds.pdf
Finalization – Free admittance at Parks some days, Hunt for Habitat rules
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/FINAL_Mothers_Fathers_Day_PEL_Exemption_Repeal.pdf
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/FIN_2023_Hunt_for_Habitat.pdf
To find public comment web page
https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/
https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/
Written comments can be submitted at https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/. To be included in the public record of the next meeting, comments must include your complete name and city of residence and meet the submission deadline of seventy–two hours before the meeting (not including the day of the meeting) (Usually Sunday night before midnight CT or MT depending on time zone of physical meeting) If you miss that deadline it goes to record of the next meeting. Go to our November Calendar for alerts on November Commission meeting – https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-game-fish-and-parks-commission-november-2023-meeting/
You can testify at GFP meetings which are held in person and by Zoom, generally at 2 pm on the Thursday of the meeting, in time zone of the meeting.
Unless you want to communicate directly with each Commissioner (those comments will not be in the public record)– https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/members/ (no deadline). You can see phones and home address at this link. Here are likely e-mails for them.
“Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us” <Stephanie.Rissler@state.sd.us>, “Jon.Locken@state.sd.us” <Jon.Locken@state.sd.us>, “Travis.Bies@state.sd.us” <Travis.Bies@state.sd.us>, “Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us” <Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us>, “Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us” <Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us> or Julia.Bartling@state.sd.us, “charles.spring@state.sd.us” <charles.spring@state.sd.us> ,
The two new commissioners e-mails likely are:
Jim.White@state.sd.us or James.White@state.sd.us, Bruce.Cull@state.sd.us

SD Water Management Board Meeting
2023-10-04 09:00 - 2023-10-05 17:30
Below are the Water Management Board meetings tentatively scheduled for the remainder of 2023.
October 4-5, 2023
December 6-7, 2023
Please check the Boards and Commissions Portal a week to 10 days prior to the scheduled meeting date to confirm. Here is the link to the portal:
https://boardsandcommissions.sd.gov/Meetings.aspx?BoardID=106

Deadline to Send Written Comments to SDGFP Commission
2023-10-01 23:30 - 23:59
Just before midnight MT is the legal deadline to send written comments to the SDGFP. Even though it is illegal when meeting occurs in MT location, SDGFP’s Artificial Intelligence may cut off the comment period at midnight CT. If they don’t include your comment sent before midnight 11:59 MT, it is illegal and you can complain. Comments received by the deadline are included in the Commission book & public record for October (5th-6th) 2023. Comments received afterwards go to the November public record.
Comments can be directly sent to each commissioner at their e-mails, 365 day of the year, or you can postal mail or call them directly, but such comments don’t go in the public record. Go to our alerts on Commission meetings both future and past for issues associated with Commission. On Thursday they will be considering a petition for rule making on hound hunting of raccoons. If accepted it will move forward to rule making with a finalization hearing likely at the December meeting.
PHAS will object to this.
Agenda of Oct 5th-6th
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/October_2023_Commission_Agenda_ .pdf
Hound hunting of raccoons petition:
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Petition_203_-_Nonresident_Raccoon_Hunting_with_Hounds.pdf
Finalization – Free admittance at Parks some days, Hunt for Habitat rules
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/FINAL_Mothers_Fathers_Day_PEL_Exemption_Repeal.pdf
https://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/FIN_2023_Hunt_for_Habitat.pdf
To find public comment web page
https://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/
https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/

The Drive Electric EV Car Event - Rapid City
2023-09-30 14:00 - 18:00
The City of Rapid City’s Standing Committee on Sustainability is honored to sponsor The Drive Electric EV Car Event that will be held again this year in Rapid City in conjunction with the Cruiser Car Show to be held at Main Street Square from 2-6 pm on Saturday, September 30, 2023. The EVs will be on the 6th Street side.

Several different makes and models of Electric Vehicles will be on display. Owners of the vehicles and members of the Sustainability Committee will be on hand to distribute information and answer questions.

“National Drive Electric Week is presented by Plug In America, The Electric Vehicle Association, The Sierra Club, EVHybridNoire, and Drive Electric USA” For a complete list of National Drive Electric Week events, visit:DriveElectricWeek.org

Deadline to Comment on Biden Administration's Proposed Changes to NEPA
2023-09-29 21:30 - 21:59
Biden’s White House’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued a proposed rule-making on 31 July 2023 to implement Congress’s changes to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) recently enacted in the Fiscal Responsibility Act & also to complete Phase 2 of its’ rewrite of Trump’s rewrite of NEPA. The proposed rule is open for public comment through Friday, 29 September 2023.
If you scroll down to the bottom on the alert, a simple pre-fab comment letter is available there.
To learn about in more depth – summaries of changes proposed.- visit these links.
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/the-white-house-continues-to-advance-6435510/
https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/2023/08/nepa-phase2-proposal/
A red line version of proposed rule change:
https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/laws-regulations/CEQ-Regulations-Redline-for-Proposed-Rule.pdf
Nancy (nhilding@rapidnet.com, 605-787-6466) can also send a link to a sign-on letter for groups, organized by Earth Justice – any groups wanting to sign on must do so by COB on Thursday 9/28/23.

The CEQ will hold virtual public meetings on the proposal on Saturday, 26 August; Wednesday, 30 August; Monday, 11 September; and Thursday, 21 September.“
For more on the Fiscal Responsibility Act’s impact on NEPA, please see alert on the topic found here. – https://www.klgates.com/Debt-Ceiling-Legislation-Serves-as-a-Vehicle-for-Substantive-Changes-to-NEPA-6-5-2023
See Press Release, Biden-⁠Harris Administration Proposes Reforms to Modernize Environmental Reviews, Accelerate America’s Clean Energy Future, and Strengthen Public Input, Visit the White House at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/news-updates/2023/07/28/biden-harris-administration-proposes-reforms-to-modernize-environmental-reviews-accelerate-americas-clean-energy-future-and-strengthen-public-input/ (July 28, 2023).
Or visit – 88 Fed Reg. 49924 (July 31, 2023).
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/07/31/2023-15405/national-environmental-policy-act-implementing-regulations-revisions-phase-2
CEQ will look to Executive Orders 12898 and 14096 to guide its application of environmental justice.

==============================

HOW TO COMMENT:
The deadline is received in Washington DC just before midnight EST (11:59 pm EST).
You may submit comments, identified by docket number CEQ–2023–0003, by any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202–456–6546.
• Mail: Council on Environmental Quality, 730 Jackson Place NW, Washington, DC 20503.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, “Council on Environmental Quality,” and docket number, CEQ–2023–0003, for this rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Please do not submit electronically any information you consider private, Confidential Business Information (CBI), or other information, the disclosure of which is restricted by statute.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov.
========
For more info: Amy B. Coyle, Deputy General Counsel, 202–395–5750, Amy.B.Coyle@ceq.eop.gov

===============================================
SIMPLE COMMENTS
===================================================
Quote from Food & Water Watch alert:

“The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), one of America’s most important environmental laws, empowers affected communities and the public to raise concerns about the environmental impacts of proposed projects involving federal activity.
But in 2020, the Trump administration drastically limited NEPA’s effectiveness to fast-track dirty projects, limit review of climate change impacts, and keep communities in the dark. The Biden administration has worked to reverse many of these dangerous rollbacks, and is currently accepting public comment on new proposed regulations.
To continue to reverse Trump’s damage, we need the White House’s Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) to strengthen and quickly finalize the proposed regulations, which will help ensure frontline communities have a way to fight polluting projects that threaten our air, water, and climate.
Submit your comment on Regulations.gov before the deadline on September 29. Tell the Council on Environmental Quality: It’s time to fully restore NEPA rules!
Submitting a comment to Regulations.gov is easy.

Click any link in this email to be taken to the regulations.gov page.
Provide your information.
Click “Submit Comment.”

Here is some sample comment language to get you started:
I urge the Council on Environmental Quality to strengthen and quickly finalize the new proposed National Environmental Policy Act regulations to help ensure frontline communities have a way to fight polluting projects that threaten our air, water, and climate. “

Sierra Club Hybrid Meeting on Mining Threats to Rapid Creek Watershed
2023-09-28 18:30 - 20:40
Black Hills Group of Sierra Club is hosting a program on protecting the Rapid Creek watershed from mining and exploration — Thursday , Oct 28th beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Outdoor Campus – West in Rapid City. Suzanne Martley (an environmental attorney) will lead the discussion.
This is a hybrid meeting ….Suzanne will be online by 6:15 p.m. to let folks into the chat.
──────────
Suzanne Martley is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89229868938?pwd=[REDACTED] ID: 892 2986 8938
Passcode: [REDACTED]
—
One tap mobile
+12532050468,,89229868938#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US
+12532158782,,89229868938#,,,,*[REDACTED]# US (Tacoma)
—
Dial by your location
• +1 253 205 0468 US
• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
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Meeting ID: 892 2986 8938
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Find your local number:https://us02web.zoom.us/u/ken56p6O5J
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Comment deadline on Spruce Draft Environmental Assessment, BHNF
2023-09-25 23:50 - 23:59
Comment Period on Spruce Draft Environmental Assessment, BHNF originally ended on Monday, Sept 25th. The Forest Service later (on 10/2/23) granted a 4 day extension till Friday October 6th. Go to Oct. 6th calendar day alert for info on that. Comments are e-mailed to Matthew Daily for later (10/6/23) deadline Matthew.Daily@usda.gov.
https://phas-wsd.org/event/spruce-comment-deadline-is-extended/
Link to view documents > – https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=61599
There are a bunch of documents to unload – The Draft EA & 11 specialist reports.
First below is an alert from the Norbeck Society and then a quote from the BHNF.
Please note, Forest Service comment deadlines that would fall on weekends or Holidays (due to counting days from announcement) move to the next working day, so the deadline is the 25th, not the 23rd. It actually says the 25th in the public notice. If sending by e-mail, do so a bit before midnight, which is the deadline.
On Friday afternoon of the 22nd, Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th, the FS portal for Spruce was not working. It was fixed on late afternoon of Monday 25th (3:11 pm or earlier),.. This e-mail is Matt Daily’s – Matthew.Daily@usda.gov – if you want to complain about impact of the web site not working on you or if you want to send comments directly to him.
PHAS sent a letter requesting an extension. If they give that, it will be for 30 days. You can download documents once again and Nancy Hilding (nhilding@rapidnet.com) has a copy of the documents, if anyone wants them e-mailed by her directly.
Also, the Reading Room is still available and contains comments submitted up to the time that the project webpage failed (Friday afternoon).: US Forest Service NEPA Project Public Reading Room (usda.gov)
Quote from the Norbeck Society’s Alert:
“Important Comment Opportunity – Spruce Project comments due Sept. 23 [25th]
Black Hills Projects lead to Timber Harvests on our already overcut forest – please take a moment to submit your comments!
The Black Hills National Forest proposes management activities on approximately 3,614 acres in mixed conifer stands.
The modified proposed action includes:

@493 acres overstory removal with reserves
831 ac. shelterwood
888 ac. commercial thinning
720 ac. group selection
682 ac. precommercial thinning restoration

Associated road activities being proposed include:

@41 miles temporary road construction and closure
22 miles of road reconstruction, and road maintenance

Black Hills National Forest is requesting your comments on the Spruce Project (click here).This comes after an initial scoping comment period in March 2022 when around 170 people (overwhelmingly in opposition to the project) wrote comments. This public attention made a big difference: the project was reduced from about 20,000 acres of spruce logging to 3600 acres. While to their credit, Forest Service scaled the project down significantly, there is still substantial reason to be concerned and in opposition to the project for these reasons:

The Spruce Project potentially authorizes more unsustainable logging simply to appease the timber industry, without care for the needs of the forest.
According to the Forest Plan, the Forest Service is supposed to provide diverse habitats (and tree sizes and densities) to provide for a variety of life. However, in the majority of proposed cuts, the spruce project removes the few remaining dense stands that are essential for plant and wildlife habitats. These are currently islands of ecological integrity that we can’t afford to lose. The Spruce project leads to contiguous disturbed, cut-over forest.
The Spruce Project proposes that Spruce should be cut out of these areas in order to plant pines for future harvests. However, Forest Service has already recently over-committed to replanting trees to the tune of thousands of acres with no hope of actual achievement (Alvin, Simon, and Theodore Projects: 3500 acres, Artemis Project: 2000 acres, Moskee Burn Project: 250 acres, Fish Fire Project: 600 acres, for a total of about 6350 acres. This is in addition to the ongoing Jasper Fire (2000) replanting. Basically, planting of pine in these areas will not happen for a long time because of a deficit of seedlings, infrastructure, and personnel.
Historically and recently, industry does not want spruce because it is an inferior wood product. If the Spruce project goes forward, and if planting takes place in 50 years, a pine product may be available for harvest in about the year 2175. Meanwhile, we have lost these intact forests that are the wells of biodiversity we hope can move back into the already-cut areas around them over time.
Spruce forests do not suffer from Mountain pine beetle outbreaks, and mixed Spruce-Pine forests have been determined to be more resistant to Mountain pine beetle. Many mixed pine and spruce stand have been logged and the (undesirable-to-industry) spruce was left behind. So, Pine was removed from Spruce and now they want to remove Spruce from Pine?? This is nonsensical. Example from 2018 southwest of Black Fox:
Damage to soils and water tables can take a century or more to recover from logging. Logging disturbance is of a magnitude greater than historical disturbances on the forest. The Black Hills have been recently logged at an unprecedented rate.
Add the reasons you want to keep your Spruce and mixed Spruce forests!

Below is a direct quote from the BHNF:
“Release Date: Aug 28, 2023
Contact(s): Media Contact: Scott Jacobson, 605-440-1409
Custer, S.D., Aug. 28, 2023 – The Black Hills National Forest is announcing the availability of the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Spruce Vegetation Management Project and is seeking public comment on the proposed project.
The project is located on National Forest System lands south of Spearfish Canyon, east of the Wyoming/South Dakota border, north of the Crazy Horse Memorial and west of Interstate 90.
The project includes management activities on approximately 3,614 acres in mixed conifer stands. The modified proposed action includes approximately 493 acres of overstory removal with reserves, 831 acres of shelterwood, 888 acres of commercial thinning, 720 acres of group selection, and 682 acres of precommercial thinning restoration.
The purpose of the project is to re-establish ponderosa pine and aspen in mixed conifer stands currently dominated by spruce; increase structural heterogeneity in spruce stands lacking age and size class diversity; provide site-specific fuels reduction to protect infrastructure at risk and create defensible space; and provide economic support to local communities.
Comments are encouraged to be specific, within the scope of the project, have a direct relationship to the proposed project activities, and include supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider (36 CFR 218). The 30-day comment period for this project started with the publication of the legal notice in the Rapid City Journal on Aug. 24, 2023. The comment period will end on Sep. 25, 2023.
Comments can be submitted electronically through the project webpage at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=61599. Written comments may be submitted to: Matt Daily, Black Hills National Forest, 1019 N. 5th Street Custer, SD 57730; or can be dropped off in person (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding holidays).
For more information on the Black Hills National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills, follow the Forest on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackhillsnf or Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlackHillsNF.”

BLM's Proposed On-Shore Oil/Gas Leasing Rule Reform Comment Deadline
2023-09-22 21:30 - 22:00
Under direction of the Biden administration BLM is planning to do long overdue changes to its’ oil and gas leasing rules. Bonding rates and rules haven’t been updated in 60 years and are insufficient to cover the costs to clean up spills and abandoned wells. New bonding proposals in proposed rule will better protect taxpayers from footing the bill of clean-up and restoration costs when oil and gas companies leave hazardous messes behind.
The Comment deadline is Friday Sept 22nd, We assume on-line the comment portal will shut down at midnight in DC. Go to this link to submit formal comment or scroll down to link for the Audubon pre-fab on-line letter portal. Federal link to comment:
https://www.regulations.gov/document/BLM-2023-0005-0001

Quote from the BLM:
“The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to revise the BLM’s oil and gas leasing regulations. Among other things, the proposed rule would reflect provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act pertaining to royalty rates, rentals, and minimum bids, and would update the bonding requirements for leasing, development, and production. The proposed rule would also improve the BLM’s leasing process to ensure proper stewardship of public lands and resources and would revise some operating requirements.”
National Audubon Society, Earth Justice, NRDC and the Wilderness Society support the changes. If you read their writings you could create some comments complimenting the rule changes:
Here is an Earth Justice Press release: https://earthjustice.org/press/2023/environmental-groups-react-to-new-blm-rules-for-oil-and-gas-leasing-on-federal-lands
Here is a link to a pre-fab on-line comment letter provided by the National Audubon Society:
https://act.audubon.org/a/oil-and-gas-leasing?contactdata=Rt1gLGIc3MqRqmMKtr3pa+vIjoiwLINXMV19A89vDpx4TsLz6elo3RCG7hkN4Ko+SKEMWfQMYp2skcYAM7PcOg==&ms=policy-adv-email-ea-x-advocacy_20230915_(dc)_20230915-alert-onshore_oil_and_gas_leasing_-_resend&utm_source=ea&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=advocacy_20230915_(dc)_20230915-alert-onshore_oil_and_gas_leasing_-_resend&emci=8a2f893a-5a52-ee11-9937-00224832e811&emdi=38c476fa-d853-ee11-9937-00224832e811&ceid=1923709
There are several group sign-on comment letters being written, at least by Earth Justice, Western Environmental Law Center and WORC. Nancy Hilding is trying to get a copy of those. (605-787-6466 or phas.wsd@rapidnet.com)
