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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230720T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230720T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230424T210818Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230802T205022Z
UID:6914-1689854400-1689868800@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:SD Game\, Fish and Parks Commission meeting for July
DESCRIPTION:SD Game\, Fish and Parks Commission meeting for July Thursday 20th – Friday 21st\, 2023. Ran  from 1 pm to 5 pm Thursday  Central Time \nThis occurred in person in Chamberlain and by Zoom.  Deadline for public’s written comments to be included in the public record of this meeting (rather than the next)  was just before midnight central time on Sunday\, July 16th. \nUPDATE ON MEETING (it already happened) \nThey considered proposals on fishing\, mountain lion season\, turkeys and elks. They considered two petitions to increase hound hunting of lions and moved one forward to finalization in October (10/5-6/23). They did not move the mountain lion proposal presented by staff forward for finalization as no changes to the existing rule were proposed (don’t need to finalize).. But they will review again & maybe rewrite it some in September (9/7-9/8/23). \nThey moved forward the fishing proposals to finalizations in September (9/7-8/23).  I am not sure\, but I think they moved the Turkey/Antelope draw proposal forward to finalization. \n\n\nLinks to web site on June 20th meeting – at this link you can download a copy of the mt lion\, fishing & antelope/turkey draw proposals and the two petitions to add hound hunting\n\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/\n\nLink to Agenda PDF\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/2023July_Agenda_(Public_Copy).pdf \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHere is a link to download and or watch the 4 hour Commission meeting. This is a Zoom recording on the Zoom cloud so I have no idea how long the link will be valid. \nNest Predator Bounty program was discussed at around 12:20 MT for about 5 minutes. Mt Lions were discussed during the public open forum (1 pm – 1:33 pm MT) and also 2 petitions (1:34 pm – 2:26) and the staff presentation on Mountain lion population statistics. The staff presentation on mountain lions was at 2:26-2:44 MT. \n\n\nhttps://state-sd.zoom.us/rec/share/eMd2Ep8RmYsiYeV2zhJnHdpe0Dpd6C7_XeUe3PM_mIO_cjSNUIrg6ElwRUiYpis.KslawVWAYKOM_UEi\n\n Passcode: E&Me+n.2\n\nNancy Hilding (nhilding@rapidnet.com) has a copy of the GFP powerpoint for mt lions & Nest Predator Bounty Program  as a PDFs\, if you want it.\n\n\nLink to SD GFP Biennial Mt Lion Status Report \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/userdocs/docs/mountain_lion_status_report_2023.pdf \n=================== \n      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 it is the 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.  Unless you want to send directly to each Commissioner (no deadline)  –  https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/members/ \nYou 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. \n     We have some talking points posted to the Sept. Commission meeting alert. We  hope to add more talking points after an internal strategy meeting on August 2nd.\n\n        However if you go to our Mountain Lion Alert page –   https://phas-wsd.org/cougar-alert/ – and scroll down to our alert on 2021 mountain lion season proposal\, 2021 talking points apply  as talking points now\, as the staff has proposed the status quo (i.e. no change – keep the season adopted in 2021 ).\nHowever they are also considering a petition to add more hound hunting in the Black Hills.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-game-fish-and-parks-commission-meeting-for-july/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230720T215500
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230720T215900
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230613T214730Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230613T214951Z
UID:7975-1689890100-1689890340@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Deadline to Comment on National Forest Rule making
DESCRIPTION:The Forest Service (Agency)\, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)\, published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register on April 21\, 2023 initiating a 60-day comment period. The advance notice invited public comment on the following topic and additional questions: \n“Given that climate change and related stressors are resulting in increasing impacts with rapid and variable rates of change on national forests and grasslands\, how should the Forest Service adapt current policies to protect\, conserve\, and manage the national forests and grasslands for climate resilience\, so that the Agency can provide for ecological integrity and support social and economic sustainability over time?” \nIn response to feedback from prospective commenters stating that they would benefit from additional time to adequately consider and respond to the advance notice\, USDA’s Forest Service has determined that an extension of the comment period by an additional 30 days\, from June 20\, 2023 to July 20\, 2023\, is appropriate.  PHAS is not sure of the time-of-day the comments are due\, so we suggest use EST – DC time to be safe.. \nHere is the link to Federal Register with the questions the Forest Service is asking all of us to answer – \nhttps://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/21/2023-08429/organization-functions-and-procedures-functions-and-procedures-forest-service-functions \nFor Commenting: \nPreferred: Federal eRulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov . Mail: Director\, Policy Office\, 201 14th Street SW\, Mailstop 1108\, Washington\, DC 20250–1124. \nAll comments received will be posted to www.regulations.gov\, including any personal information provided. The public may inspect comments received at www.regulations.gov . Do not submit any information you consider to be private\, confidential business information\, or other information\, of which the disclosure is restricted by statute. \nThe Forest Service is planning public engagement sessions. For additional information related to the advanced notice of the questions asked and the public engagements visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/sc/policy-initiatives  \nhttps://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/06/08/2023-12267/organization-functions-and-procedures-functions-and-procedures-forest-service-functions
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/deadline-to-comment-on-national-forest-rule-making/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230722T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230722T220000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230816T202152Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230816T202223Z
UID:8482-1690027200-1690063200@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Bat Festival at Mato Tipila/Devil's Tower\,
DESCRIPTION:Bat Festival at Mato Tipila/Devil’s Tower \n“DEVILS TOWER\, WY – On Saturday\, July 22nd\, the National Park Service and Devils Tower Natural History Association will host the Annual Bat Festival in the Picnic area of the Monument from 12 to 10 pm. This festival will include presentations and fun educational activities all about the amazing nighttime resident of Devils Tower/Bear Lodge – The Bat! \nThere will be an interactive inflatable cave\, demonstrations on building bat roosts\, information booths\, costume contests\, crafts\, games\, activities for kids\, movie screenings\, and special guest presenters. There will also be a unique bat activity book to complete for a special bat pin. In addition\, park staff will offer Bat listening walks during the evening hours. These walks include using special detectors to listen to echolocation calls as bats fly overhead. \nThe Bear Lodge/Devils Tower is home to 11 bat species. One of them\, the northern long-eared bat\, is currently listed as endangered and faces extinction due to the range-wide impacts of white-nose syndrome\, a deadly disease among bats across the continent. “Here at Devils Tower\, we hope that the festival gives visitors a fun and unique opportunity to learn about bats\, why they are important to the ecosystem\, and the challenges they are facing in today’s world\,” says Caralie Brewer\, a Biological Science Technician and Bat Management Lead. Since the discovery of white-nose syndrome at the Tower\, we would like to continue to educate the public on this disease\, bats\, and why they are essential to the Monument\, the community\, and agriculture. \nThe Bear Lodge Bat Festival is a partnered event with support from Devils Tower Natural History Association. For your preparation and safety for this outdoor festival\, please bring a flashlight and layers in case of dynamic weather.”
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/bat-festival-at-mato-tipila-devils-tower/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230804T045000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230804T170000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230616T235121Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240527T190818Z
UID:8058-1691124600-1691168400@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Comments due  > increase cougar harvest limits - western Wyoming
DESCRIPTION:Changes to Wyoming’s cougar hunting  are proposed:\n      Wyoming is supposed to change its’ mountain lion hunting seasons every 3 years\, which it last did in 2022\, however 1 year later it is proposing changes\, which are off cycle.\n       Wyoming is now proposing a significant increase in hunting\, in four hunting units on the western edge Wyoming — with the goal of increasing the mountain lion harvest limit by 50%  . (Units 29\, 26\, 17 and 14). High mule deer fatalities over winter is the reason they are proposing this\, believing reducing predators helps prey populations grow.  Wyoming normally only changes season rules every three years (last time 2022).\n    The legislature this year passed a law requiring the Department to create a mountain lion pursuit season (dogs pursue lions without the hunter killing the lions). See SF0178 – “Mountain Lion Pursuit seasons”  – link to bill: https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2023/SF0178\,\n        Thus they also propose to allow hound hunting pursuit of lions by residents\, without permission to kill treed lion\, for purpose of dog training.  This would occur after the harvest limit is reached but before the season’s chronological end point. Some units allow hunting year round – thus those units never reach a harvest limit. Due to high/overly ambitious harvest limits set\, many hunting units never reach their harvest limit. – in 2023 only 8 of 32\n(25%) met their harvest limit before the chronological end point. 3 units had unlimited harvest\, with year long seasons.\n       The Black Hills will not be affected by the rule change on increased harvest\, except that dispersers to the Hills might be reduced.   The Big Horn Mts already have an unlimited harvest.  But the Black Hills will be affected by the pursuit without killing.  To learn about this issue from Wyoming Game & Fish visit:\nhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/Get-Involved/Public-Meetings\nTo view Statement of Reasons:\nhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Get%20Involved/2023%20September%20Regulations/Stmt-of-Reasons-Sept-2023-CH-42-4.pdf\nTo view rule change proposal:\nhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Get%20Involved/2023%20September%20Regulations/CH-42-Draft-06-13-2023-4.pdf\n===========\nCommission hearing is in Gillette in September 12-13th. We are not sure of exact start & end time-of-day of the Commission meeting or its’ location in Gillette.  You can testify remotely by Zoom\, if you request such 4 or 5 days in advance. The form for requesting such will be found in the agenda once it is published- check out this link as it gets closer to 9/12/23:. https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Get-Involved/Public-Meetings\nOther public meetings were held in June & July\, in Wyoming\, by the Department\, on the rule changes proposed by WG&F Depart.  …the closest to Black Hills was likely in Sheridan or Casper – https://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Get%20Involved/2023%20September%20Regulations/Public-Meeting-Dates-Sept-2023-Regs.pdf\n=============\nCommenting\nFor most details on this proposal and how to comment visit https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Get-Involved/Public-Meetings and look for  section on > Chapter 42\, Mountain Lion Hunting Seasons.\n     Comments are due August 4\, 5 pm MT.  You can comment on line\, with a limit of 8\,000 words. You can send in more than one comment letter if you run out of space.  https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Get-Involved/Public-Meetings\nYou can send written comments by mail but they must arrive by 5 pm on Friday 8/4/23 .\nWyoming Game and Fish Department\nWildlife Division\nATTN: Regulations\n3030 Energy Lane\nCasper WY 82604\n—–\n–For questions > WGF phone # in Cheyenne -(307) 777-4600 or Casper – 307-473-3400 (maybe ext 1?) –  Arron Kerr 307-233-6413 (aaron.kerr@wyo.gov) at Casper office is in charge of commenting. Casper Fax 307-473-3433\,\n It has been reported to us that sometimes\, temporarily\, the on-line comment portal does not work and when asked about that\, the Department response was –  it was probably overloaded at that moment.  A lady in Casper suggested if on-line portal should not be working\, to send comments postmarked 8/4/23\, with a note that the on-line portal was not working or use the Fax. \n——\nSome additional media coverage: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/article/state-seeks-to-kill-50-more-lions-in-hard-hit-deer-range/ar-AA1cBMe5?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=ccacf7dc72b54731b60c9d4d22c4f1e8&ei=13\n===============\nSimple Talking points\nJust object to the 50% increase to the 4 units (Units 29\, 26\, 17 and 14) and object to them allowing chasing of lions for purpose of training dogs.\n\nMore Complex Talking points\nWe suggest folks object to both proposals. Here are many points you could select from.\nWe may add more talking points before Sept 12th.\n However these objections might be a start:\n\nObjecting to hound hunting:\n~ Lion pursuit with hounds is cruelty to lions and dogs\n~ Lion pursuit with hounds will result in more trespassing\n~ Lion pursuit with hounds will create disturbance to people\, livestock and wildlife (including mule deer). Disturbance of wildlife can stress them.\n~Lion pursuit with hounds will stress lions and especially in heavy snow or extreme heat\, especially for mothers with young.\n~ Disturbance from snow mobiles and OHV noise should be factored in as cumulative disturbance.\n\nAssuming they allow pursuit hunting – you can suggest additional regulations:\n~ Participating hunters must have GPS/stimulation collars (e-collars) used on hounds.\nVisit: https://www.sportingdogpro.com/dog-training-collars/hound-hunting\n~ Pursuit hunters should be required to report the number of pursuit hunts they engaged in and the locations of such within 72 hours.\n~ The  proposed rule only has them reporting lions who received possible mortal injuries.  Instead – require hound hunters to report any fights between dogs and cats and whether a dog or cat was wounded and if a cat was wounded where did it happen. The reports on fights between lions/dogs should be public information.\n~ It should require hunters to report any kitten\, lactating mother or group of lions traveling together that were treed or chased and at what location.\n~ In the summer\, with no snow on the ground\, hunters may not be able to find tracks to identify family groups of lions\, which they are not supposed to chase.  Cougars are more likely to give birth in the summer with August being the most with most births.  Outdoor human recreators are more likely to be out on public lands in then summer.  Therefor there should be a time limit that excludes chase during then summer months.\n~ The rule should prohibit lion pursuit by hounds in areas with too deep snow\, when it is too hot or on prairie where there are no trees or tall rock outcroppings for lions to climb.\n~ The rule should stop pursuit several hours before sunset especially in winter cold or summer heat\, so as to allow disturbed wildlife to find and return to shelter. Not all wildlife are nocturnal.\n~ When on public land\, GF should require consent of public land manager and some areas or times of the year on public lands should be off limits – for example public land areas set aside could be those with high human recreational use or for wildlife protection emphasis where key wildlife would be disturbed by hounds.  Thus the rules should require hunters to consult with public land managers to see if chasing is approved across all of the public land and at all times.\n~ Pursuit by hounds  should not be allowed in Areas 29\, 26\, 17 and 14\, as the hounds disturbs and stresses mule deer\, which population the Department wants to recover.\n~ The rule should prohibit people who don’t train hounds from being part of the pursuit.\nThis should not be public entertainment and less people is less disturbance.\n\nIncreased harvest limits – Units 29\, 26\, 17 and 14 \n      ~ On protecting mule deer in Units 29\, 26\, 17 and 14 –  Older male lions chase away the younger males. Killing by humans of large and older males may result in more “teenage” younger males replacing them.  Older males may hunt more elk and less mule deer while younger ones may avoid elk & take more deer. Wyoming has enough elk\, which are feed over winter by the State.\n       There are scientific papers that contest the theory that killing mountain lions helps their prey populations (such as mule deer) increase.\n      ~ There needs to be a termination date for the 50% increase in the harvest limit.  How long does the Department feel reduction of lions is  needed to recover mule deer and when will more data be available?\n\nFailures to act –\nFailure to propose alternative changes to the rules\n~Failure of rule change proposal to reduce the – way too high harvest limits-  in the Black Hills\, specifically Units 1\, 32 and 30.  Unit 1 (Black Hills National Forest) met its’ harvest limit on 11/20/22. Unit 32 (on edges of west the Bear Lodge ) had only 16 kills out of 24 kills allowed and Unit 30 (west of Elk Mountain)\, only had 1 kill out of 12 kills allowed.\n~Failure of rule change proposal to create a harvest limit in Unit 24 (Prairie to west of the Black Hills) which currently has an unlimited harvest limit. This area has some uplifted hills near the Montana border where hunters once killed an 8 year old female. Also Unit 15  (Big Horns) and 27  (near Casper) have yearlong\, unlimited harvest. For some unknown reason the Dept. closed Unit 24  on 6/1/23\, contrary to its’ year long season.\n~Failure of rule change proposal to add a harvest limit to Unit 15  (Southern Bighorns & southern area) – which has a yearlong season with an unlimited harvest limit and has had excessive amount of lions killed here in recent years.\n~Many hunting units have harvest limits that are never met –  16 of 32 hunting units did not have their harvest limits met when they closed in April due date limit. This indicates that Wyoming\, Game and Fish may have set unrealistic harvest limits – some of these areas need the harvest limits reduced. 7 units were still open on June 1st. 3 areas have unlimited harvest year round\, but for some reason Unit 24 was closed in June 2023.\n~ Only 8 of 32 units\, that had harvest limits\, had their area close due to meeting harvest limit before the date limit passed.  Thus in 2022 a quarter of the units could have allowed pursuit lion chasing under the proposed rule.  Pursuit hunting will disturb wildlife including ungulates. If these areas have objectives of killing predators to maximize prey population\, pursuit hunting should not be allowed.\n=============\n\nFor more reference:\n\n\n\n\nWYOMING MOUNTAIN LION MORTALITY REPORT HARVEST YEARS: 2019‒2021\n1 September\, 2019 – 31 March\, 2022 – link to this  document > \nhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Wildlife/Large%20Carnivore/HY19-21LionReport_FINAL.pdf \nSee map of  Wyoming’s wolf hunting regions: \nhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-in-Wyoming/More-Wildlife/Large-Carnivore/Wolves-in-Wyoming/Wolves-and-Wyoming-Laws-and-Regulations \nOur alert on Wyoming’s 2022 setting of their season for next three years\nhttps://phas-wsd.org/event/cougar-and-wolf-alert-wyoming-comment-deadline-wgf-6-3-22/\n\n\n\n\nPHAS’s alert page on Mountain Lions in the region\nhttps://phas-wsd.org/cougar-alert/\n\nMountain Lion Foundation on Wyoming lions:\nhttps://mountainlion.org/us/wyoming/
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comments-due-increase-cougar-harvest-limits-western-wyoming/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230808T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230810T170000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230616T184910Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230616T222632Z
UID:8037-1691481600-1691686800@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:6th America's Grassland Conference - NWF -  Cheyenne Wyoming
DESCRIPTION:6th America’s Grassland Conference – Cheyenne Wyoming\, the Great Plains Conservation Network’s biennial meeting maybe piggy backed to this location/time-frame. \nWe are not sure of exact start and end times of the meetings. \nFor more information on the Conference:   http://nwf.org/grasslandsconference
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/6th-americas-grassland-conference-nwf-cheyenne-wyoming/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230814T233000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230814T235900
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230816T213230Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230816T224158Z
UID:8495-1692055800-1692057540@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Comment Deadline on Shotgun Timber sale
DESCRIPTION:Comment Deadline on BHNF’s  Shotgun Timber sale was Monday\, August 14th\, 2023 \n  \n The USDA Forest Service is conducting an analysis of the Shotgun forest management project. The project is on Bearlodge Ranger District\, Black Hills National Forest\, in three locations in the west-central Bear Lodge Mountains and northwestern Black Hills. The proposed action would conduct timber harvest and thinning on approximately 1\,400 acres to adjust forest structure\, produce merchantable timber\, and reduce hazardous fuels. The Responsible Official for this decision is Bearlodge District Ranger Patrick Champa. A project description/request for comments on the Shotgun project is available upon request at the Bearlodge Ranger District office\, 101 S. 21st St.\, Sundance\, Wyoming. This document is also available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=63908.  \n  \nThe Responsible Official does not anticipate  providing an additional opportunity to submit written comments other  than this scoping period and suggests meeting the scoping deadline to preserve standing to object. \nSubmit comments to the Responsible Official\, District Ranger Patrick Champa\,  by one of the following methods: at the Comment/Object on Project link  at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=63908 ; mail: PO  Box 680\, Sundance\, WY 82729; telephone: 307-283-1361; or facsimile:  307-283-3727 (please include Comments on Shotgun Project in the  subject line) in order to be considered when making the final decision.  \n 
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comment-deadline-on-shotgun-timber-sale/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230815T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230817T170000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230816T200651Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230816T201127Z
UID:8480-1692086400-1692291600@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Mni Ki Wakan Summit - Indigenous Water Decade
DESCRIPTION:MKW – Mni Ki Wakan Summit – Indigenous Water Decade\, – Theme: Indigenous Water Justice\, Global Collaboration & Dismantling Water Colonialism. \nOn August 15-17\, the Mni Ki Wakan Summit will be held in Rapid City\, South Dakota\, United States\, at the Holiday Inn conference space (505 North Fifth St\, Rapid City\, SD 57701). Breakfast\, lunch\, and dinner will be served on August 15-16. Breakfast will be served on August 17. \nThere is no registration fee for community members. MKW recognizes the critical and imperative role Indigenous Peoples and youth hold in protecting their sacred waters.  They ask that ask that groups\, organizations\, and businesses register in appropriate corresponding categories. Registration fees cover costs associated with hosting the MKW Summit\, remaining fees will contribute towards MKW programming and projects. \n\nFor More Information: \nhttps://mnikiwakan.org/2023mkwsummitregistration/?emci=10841d91-1836-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&emdi=e02c9023-a337-ee11-a3f1-00224832eb73&ceid=8015504 \nIndividual Registration: \nhttps://mnikiwakan.org/2023-mkw-summit-individual-registration/ \nAgenda for days # 2-3 – https://mnikiwakan.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023MKWSUMMITAGENDA_DAY2-3.pdf
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/mni-ki-wakan-summit-indigenous-water-decade/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230816T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230816T170000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230816T235952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230816T235952Z
UID:8503-1692172800-1692205200@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:
DESCRIPTION:It’s Rapid City’s  3rd Annual 5k Run/Walk for Clean Water and is being held on \nSaturday\, August 26\, 2023\, at 8:00 am (MT). \nThis special event is held to have some fun and laughs\, meet new people\, get some sunshine\, and enjoy the beautiful\, life-flowing Rapid Creek – Water Is Life.  This event also helps bring awareness about the need to protect our clean water supply for all. \nBring your family and friends at the Old Storybook Island Picnic Shelter\, \n2911 Canyon Lake Drive\, Rapid City\, SD on Saturday\, Aug. 26 at 8:00 AM. \nA morning snack and a light lunch will be provided to all participants. \nFor more info”: https://bhcleanwateralliance.org/5k23/ \nThis event is organized by – BH Clean Water Alliance | P.O. Box 591\, Rapid City\, SD 57709
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/8503/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230817T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230817T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230616T181935Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230616T181935Z
UID:8026-1692262800-1692288000@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Board of Minerals & Environment
DESCRIPTION:Tentative BME meeting schedule for the remainder of 2023: \nAugust 17\, 2023 \nSeptember 21\, 2023 \nOctober 19\, 2023 \nNovember 16\, 2023 \nPlease 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:
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/board-of-minerals-environment/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230821T233000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230821T235900
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230816T205642Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230816T210650Z
UID:8489-1692660600-1692662340@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Deadline to Comment on Triple R Timber Sale
DESCRIPTION:The Mystic District of the Black Hills National Forest has initiated public scoping for the Triple R Vegetation Management Project.\n Comment deadline would be 8/19/23\, but that is on a Saturday\, so it will be Monday  8/21/23. Send to : <comments-rocky-mountain-black-hills-mystic@usda.gov>\n\n Scoping documents can be found at the following web address:\n\nhttps://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=64487
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/deadline-to-comment-on-triple-r-timber-sale/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230831T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230831T210000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230816T171606Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230816T182004Z
UID:8461-1693504800-1693515600@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Prairie Hills Audubon Society Annual Meeting - Hybrid
DESCRIPTION:Prairie Hills Audubon Society Annual Meeting – Hybrid \n  \nThis meeting will start at 6 pm MT on Thursday\, August 31st. \nIt will be hybrid >> by Zoom & face-to-face at the Piedmont American Legion Post 311 – 101 Pine St\, Piedmont\, SD 57769. The Post is located at the corner of Sturgis Rd and Pine St. on the SE side of Piedmont.  Members in good standing\, can vote in person\, by Zoom or by proxy \n\nErik Molvar\, Executive Director of Western Watersheds Project will speak on greater sage grouse & our litigation to protect greater sage grouse on BLM lands\nAfter Erik finishes\, we move to the business meeting. We will hear treasurer’s report & nominating committee report. Members will select a slate of candidates & the number of Board positions for the next year\, from an allowed range of 4 to 12 board members. An election committee will be appointed to supervise election\, which is done subsequently by mail-in ballots. =============================================ZOOM DETAILS =========================================   Nancy Hilding is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.Topic: PHAS annual meeting\nTime: August 31st\, 6 pm MTJoin Zoom Meeting\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/85433920233?pwd=QmxYUDMvMGRrNW9yRmVON3VPU0dRZz09Meeting ID: 854 3392 0233\nPasscode: 534620 \n— \nOne tap mobile\n+16694449171\,\,85433920233#\,\,\,\,*534620# US\n+16699006833\,\,85433920233#\,\,\,\,*534620# US (San Jose) \n— \nDial by your location (as far as we know all #s work in western SD)\n• +1 669 444 9171 US\n• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)\n• +1 719 359 4580 US\n• +1 253 205 0468 US\n• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)\n• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)\n• +1 689 278 1000 US\n• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)\n• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)\n• +1 305 224 1968 US\n• +1 309 205 3325 US\n• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)\n• +1 360 209 5623 US\n• +1 386 347 5053 US\n• +1 507 473 4847 US\n• +1 564 217 2000 US\n• +1 646 931 3860 US \nIf you dial in by phone you need the following data \nMeeting ID: 854 3392 0233\nPasscode: 534620 \nFind your local number (International): https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbb9dO0PBV \n \n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/prairie-hills-audubon-society-annual-meeting-hybrid/
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230902T223000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230902T233000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230831T014914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230901T201940Z
UID:8653-1693693800-1693697400@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Deadline to Comment on DANR's Draft Integrated Report (Surface Water Quality)
DESCRIPTION:Deadline to comment on the Draft Surface Water Quality Integrated Report is Saturday\, \nAs I understand it\, if you have water quality information on a  SD Surface water\, this is your opportunity to send it to DANR so as to be included in the final report. \nDANR public notice page \nhttps://danr.sd.gov/public/default.aspx \nPublic notice:   https://danr.sd.gov/officeofwater/surfacewaterquality/pn/2024IRPublicNoticeletter1.pdf \nPast Integrated reports \nhttps://danr.sd.gov/OfficeOfWater/SurfaceWaterQuality/waterqualitystandards/integratedreports.aspx \nHow to comment on line: \nhttps://danr.sd.gov/public/comment.aspx?d_comment=09/02/2023&name=Department%20of%20Agriculture%20and%20Natural%20Resources&pntype=sw_ir&description=DANR%20is%20soliciting%20water%20quality%20data%20or%20other%20information%20you%20may%20have%20to%20help%20determine%20the%20quality%20of%20South%20Dakotas%20waters.%20Please%20submit%20data%20in%20electronic%20format%20by%20September%202%202023.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/deadline-to-comment-on-danrs-draft-integrated-report-surface-water-quality/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230907T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230908T120000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230424T211218Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230915T211119Z
UID:6917-1694091600-1694174400@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:SD Game\, Fish and Parks Commission Sept 2023 meeting
DESCRIPTION:REPORT AFTER MEETING\nResults of the Commission meeting (now past) \nThe Commission killed the petition from the hound hunters to expand hound hunting to the rest of the Black Hills outside of Custer State Park.  This will temporarily good news\, is not long term good news. A bunch of the Commissioners want to expand hound hunting to the rest of the Black Hills (outside of CSP) they just did not like this proposal and staff was worried it would result in cougar population dropping below their allowed interval of 200-300 lions. \nThe Commissioners indicated (I think) that they want to amend the Mountain Lion Plan to perhaps lower the allowed interval of 200-300 lions. or  make other substantive amendments to the plan. They don’t want to wait for the normal cycle for Plan Revision and want to do it before the 2024 season happens.  They maybe setting up working groups. \nAll PHAS/Hilding petitions were denied. \nWe ask people to increase writings to the Commission in favor of lions in the Black Hills and Prairies of SD.  We ask people to show up at Commission meetings and testify in favor of lions. \nTo watch the Zoom video of the Commission meeting.  The discussion of cougars by Commission  happened after the finalizations/open forum (which would be after at least 1 hour into the recording) \nhttps://state-sd.zoom.us/rec/share/pWGzkeKrIwWmpAqt7pgIYnb0RXhoeHE6qFjdNi8BG3O-bKQbq9AAFEN5HWSfQxWW.fALxwCtYVYlzTIsv\nPasscode: iA9H+?rq\nHere is Friday’s  meeting link –  they discussed the proposed shooting range in this video – at about 2/3s of the way through the meeting:\nhttps://state-sd.zoom.us/rec/share/NNJIUWQtjBuM9Lok9jGBoxLtAn2VL5x0vw1ayXIbDOqTw_vT9x1E3ZMUNg250w62.lA_hk647NtAhvP_0\nPasscode: 9g?W?H!$\n+++++++++++++++++++++++++++\nALERT BEFORE MEETING\nSD Game\, Fish and Parks Commission Sept 2023 meeting\, is Thursday-Friday September 8th and 9th. A hybrid meeting zoom and face-to-face in Watertown.  Deadline for written comments to be submitted in just before midnight CT on Sunday\, Sept. the 3rd\, if you want your comments in the public record of the September meeting\, instead of October meeting.  You will be able to testify orally (by Zoom or in person) for 3 minutes normally at about 2 pm CT during  the “open forum”. \nHere is the link to download documents related to the meeting.This web site also has the Zoom link and the Zoom passcode\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/\nZoom:\nhttps://state-sd.zoom.us/j/93912915359?pwd=K2FVZzdQSXJTY0NwWG5mSWpSazUwdz09#success\nTo join via conference call\, dial 1 669 900 9128 | Meeting ID: 939 1291 5359 | Passcode: 0565645\n\nHere is the link to agenda for the SDGFP Commission meeting Thursday 9/7/23 -9/8/23\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/923_Commission_Agenda_Amended.pdf\n\nHere is the proposal that the hound hunters wanted and the Commission let move forward (final vote on Oct 5th in Deadwood) (pro-hound hunters)\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/PRO_2023_Mountain_Lion_BHdogs.pdf\n\nHere are the petitions by PHAS (pro-cougar)\n\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/lactating_females_protection_.pdf \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/lion_collars_worn_.pdf\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/lion_injuries_3.pdf\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/petition.guides.pdf\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/lion_on_prairie.pdf\nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/lion_fees_rule_change_petition_Final.pdf\n\nPrairie Hills Audubon Society has alerts on Cougars in several places\n\n\nPHAS Cougar alert page\nhttps://phas-wsd.org/cougar-alert/\n\n\nGo to our alert on July meeting – https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-game-fish-and-parks-commission-meeting-for-july/ – for more details on proposals . We have link to recording of the meeting here..  In July they moved forward a rule change petition to allow some mountain lions in the Black Hills proper to be hunted with hounds. \n\n  \nAt the Sept Commission meeting they will finalize (have public hearing and vote on) proposed changes to various fishing rules & antelope and turkey lottery draws.  They will further discuss proposed rules on mountain lion hunting – – staff’s rewrite of petitioner’s petition for rule making to allow hound hunting for lions on the Black Hills proper (not Custer State Park). Go to the July meeting alert on events calendar for more information. \nAt the July meeting\, the staff of SDGFP did not propose to make any changes from current season (2022-23)\, but they said they might reconsider that at the September meeting\, after studying the unintended consequences of  increased hound hunting. They seem to have made at least one change to the petitioners petition (not killing lactating females)\, but put it in the rule tied to that petition. \nSome reasons to oppose any increase of hound hunting of lions in the Black Hills: \n1)  Cruelty to lions and dogs; \n2. Hound hunting is more effective at killing lions than “boot hunting”; \na) If hound hunting allowed\, this means that the current harvest limit in the Black Hills  Unit of 60 lions or 40 females should simultaneously be lowered. GFP staff says the population remains within GFP desired population bracket\, but this is because hunters never get much more than 25 female lions and season ends when its’ time is up.  If hunters actually reached the harvest limit\, the population would crash; \nb)  It also creates unfair competition for lions between boot hunters and hound hunters; \n3. Hound hunting is not “fair chase”; \n4. Hounds increase risk of trespass; \n5. Lion hunting license fees are too small\, especially when hound hunting practically guarantees a kill. There  needs to be two tiers for cost of licenses \,with hound hunters paying more than boot hunters; \n6. Disturbance from hounds to other human users\, livestock and/or wildlife. Especially in deep snow; \n7. If lions are  chased but not captured\, such as kittens which they are not allowed to kill & lactating females\, which hound hunters in CSP can’t kill\, it can add to stress during the winter\, especially with heavy snows. \n8. SDGFP needs a system where hound hunters who are working to flush lions for others\, prove they have registered with federal public land manager as a guide and GFP should require they register with SDGFP as a guide\, \n9). On the prairie unit\, we worry about dogs chasing lions in areas where there are no trees or rock outcroppings for lions to be “treed” upon\, increasing likely hood of fight between lions and dog. \n=== \nWritten 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.\nYou 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. It is requested that you register by e-mail with Liz.Kierl@state.sd.us before the meeting to let her know you want to testify at the open forum or hearing. However they normally ask if anyone not registered to comment wants to comment. \nUnless 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.\n“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> \,\nThe two new commissioners  e-mails likely are (but we are not sure):\nJim.White@state.sd.us or James.White@state.sd.us\, Bruce.Cull@state.sd.us\n 
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-game-fish-and-parks-commission-sept-2023-meeting/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230908T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230908T233000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230907T054617Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230907T060546Z
UID:8690-1694160000-1694215800@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Deadline to register to testify at Wyoming GFP Hearing on 9/13th by Zoom
DESCRIPTION:Friday s the deadline to register with Wyoming Game & Fish to testify at their Commission meeting Sept 12-13.  Go to Sept 12-13th event posting for details on the meeting \nAn hour has been designated for the presentation about the off-schedule mountain lion season proposals in Wyoming on Wednesday September 13th in Gillette WY. The agenda sets the time as 10:35 -11:35 am MT\, but of course this can change. If you scroll through the Agenda pages\, there is a sign up form to ask participate via ZOOM.\n\nTestifying sign up application is in the Agenda\, see last page of agenda\, fill it out and submit before FRIDAY 9/8/23: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/About%20Us/Commission/Agenda-UPDATED.pdf\n\nInstructions on submission say submit by Friday\, but don’t give a time of day to submit by\, so we are not sure if you should do by 5 pm or midnight.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/deadline-to-register-to-testify-at-wyoming-gfp-hearing-by-zoom/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230908T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230909T163000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230816T183656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230816T191807Z
UID:8469-1694161800-1694277000@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Volunteer to help build beaver dam analog w/ BHNF
DESCRIPTION:Volunteer to help build beaver dam analog w/ BHNF \nPrairie Hills Audubon Society has a major campaign to help beaver recover in the Black  Hills and other parts of SD. We support building of beaver dam analogs and hope to find a bunch of members and friends to help with this project and learn about building beaver dam analogs. \n================= \nBlack Hills National Forest\, Northern Hills District’s hydrologist (Anne Dunckel)  is planning a couple of volunteer work days on Silver Creek building beaver dam analogs –  Friday September 8thand Saturday September 9th from 8:30-4:00 pm each day. The Forest Service is inviting you to come join us in the building. If you know others that might be interested please pass along the info. \nWhat is a beaver dam analog? Well it is a small human made attempt at a beaver dam .  Volunteers will be weaving willows around posts\, packing them with sod mats\, and impounding a little bit of water. So be ready to get a little bit muddy and wet. Forest Service will provide some basic PPE\, but please bring your own if you prefer and wear closed toed footwear. All the information is attached and added below. If you are planning on attending please RSVP here: Silver Creek Sign up Form. \nhttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnoVz5UtYswPmGZ_YNCHmCHyrxf0y–HIzcHCdwxmjhnbMaw/viewform \nWhere? Silver Creek is located just east of Rochford Road a little north of the town of Rochford.\nLat Long is: 44.162900\, -103.714895.\nEstimated time from Spearfish and Rapid City are both about 1 hour and 15 minutes. See attached map for directions. The road to the site is a little rough so a car/truck with some clearance is recommended. \nWhen? Friday September 8th  8:30am to 4pm and/or Saturday 9th 8:30am to 4pm. Volunteers are invited on both days and can attend both days or just attend one day. The Forest Service will  appreciate any help people can give. Volunteer check in will begin at 8:30 am and a quick orientation and demonstration will start at 9:00 am each day. If folks need to leave early that is okay\, Forest Service just asks that everyone make it to the volunteer orientation at 9:00 am. \nWhat to bring? \n\nSturdy closed toed footwear. No sandals or open toed footwear will be allowed. Muck boots or waders will work best.\nWear clothes you can get dirty. We will be slinging some mud and will be getting dirty.\nLunch and snacks.\nWater\, some will be available but please bring enough for yourself.\nWork gloves\, we will have plenty of dipped gloves in all sizes\, but if you prefer leather please bring your own.\nOptional: Muck boots\, waders\, hip boots. We will have a few pairs but cannot guarantee availability\nOptional: Shovels\, loppers\, hand pruners. We will have tools available\, but more are always welcome. Please make sure to properly tag and identify your equipment so it doesn’t get lost in the other tools\nA ready and willing attitude to have fun and get dirty\n\nWhat Forest Service will provide: \n\nSafety equipment: Dipped gloves\, eye protection\, and ear plugs\nTools: Shovels\, loppers\, pruners\, buckets\, wheel barrows\, post pounders\nBottled water and possibly some snacks\nAll the beaver dam making materials\n\nDirections \nFrom Rapid City \n\nTake Hwy 44 to Hwy 385.\nAt 385 take a right. Travel 11.8 miles on 385 to the Custer Crossing Rd intersection.\nTurn left on Custer Crossing Rd.\nTravel about 4.8 miles and then turn left on Forest Service Road 203.1C\nTravel about 2.5 miles to a four-way intersection and take a right down Greens Gulch.\nFollow the road down about 0.6 miles until you see the flagged parking area.\n\nFrom Spearfish \n\nTake I-90 to Deadwood\nTake exit 17 and travel to Deadwood\nIn Deadwood continue on Pioneer Way to 85 Bypass towards Central City\nContinue on 14A past Lead.\nAbout 4 miles south of Lead take a left onto North Rochford Road\nTravel about 9.5 miles on North Rochford Road and then take a left onto Custer Crossing Rd.\nTravel about 1.4 miles on Custer Crossing and then take a right onto Forest Service Road 203.1C.\nTravel about 2.5 miles to a four-way intersection and take a right down Greens Gulch.\nFollow the road down about 0.6 miles until you see the flagged parking area.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/volunteer-to-help-build-beaver-dam-analog-w-bhnf/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230912T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230913T170000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230617T002456Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230907T054159Z
UID:8074-1694505600-1694624400@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Wyoming Game & Fish Commission Meeting Gillette
DESCRIPTION:Commission Meeting September 12-13\, 2023 Gillette\, WY\nThe public comment period for Chapters 2\, 28\, and 42 (cougars)  closes at 5:00 PM on August 4\, 2023. https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Get-Involved/Public-Meetings \nCommission meeting at CAM-PLEX (Frontier Hall in Wyoming Center)\, 1635 Reata Drive\, Gillette.  Open session on Tuesday begins at about 1:30 pm and at 8 am on Wednesday. You can testify remotely by Zoom\, if you request such  by 5 days in advance (Friday Sept 8th). \nAn hour has been designated for the presentation about the off-schedule mountain lion season proposals in Wyoming on Wednesday September 13th in Gillette WY. The agenda sets the time as 10:35 -11:35 am\, but of course this can change. If you scroll down there is a sign up form on the 5th page\, fill out to testify via ZOOM  (you do so during the time allocated for mountain lions). \nhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/About%20Us/Commission/Agenda-UPDATED.pdf\nWe are advised that showing up in person is important.  Driving to Gillette from western SD can be a two or three hour drive.  A carpool may be organized. Contact Nancy if interested 605-787-6466\, phas.wsd@rapidnet.com. We may focus on complaining about management of lions in the Wyoming part of the Black Hills and adjacent plains. \nOther public meetings on rule changes were held in June & July\, in Wyoming\, by Department on rule changes proposed by WG&F Depart.  …the closest to Black Hills was likely in Sheridan or Casper – https://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Get%20Involved/2023%20September%20Regulations/Public-Meeting-Dates-Sept-2023-Regs.pdf \nGo to our August 4th  alert for more details  on issues and for our talking points on this  rule-making proposal.  (8/4/23 was the written comment deadline – this is where the bulk of discussion of this issue occurs). https://phas-wsd.org/event/comments-due-increase-cougar-harvest-limits-western-wyoming/ \nThe rule changes if passed\, would be increasing harvest limits by 50% on western edge of Wyoming (south of Jackson)\, in 4 of Wyoming’s 32 hunting units. Units 14\, 17\, 26 & 29 would see the 50% changes. \nIt would  also allow for pursuit of cougars by hounds (without permission to kill the lion) after harvest limits are reached\, until season’s time limit ends.  Some units allow lion hunting year round.    Details can be found at https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Get-Involved/Public-Meetings \nDraft regulations: \nhttps://wgfd.wyo.gov/WGFD/media/content/PDF/Get%20Involved/2023%20September%20Regulations/CH-42-Draft-06-13-2023-4.pdf
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/wyoming-game-fish-commission-meeting-gillette/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230913T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230913T140000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230915T213900Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230916T003058Z
UID:8741-1694608200-1694613600@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Advocate for EPA Climate Pollution Grant before Rapid City Legal and Finance Committee
DESCRIPTION:A $1m EPA Climate Pollution Reduction planning grant has been awarded to Rapid City\, but Mayor Salamun was going to send it to the City Council to have them vote on whether or not to accept the funding and move forward (the City Council already approved it on 4/3/23 so this is a “request to reconsider”) The Mayor was concerned that newly elected Council members  had not had an opportunity to weigh in on this matter. However the Legal and Finance Committee stopped that  effort by the Mayor and thus Rapid City will be accepting the grant. \nThis would have been  a missed opportunity for the Rapid City community to move forward with this grant so any public support for grant would have been greatly appreciated.  The State DANR did not apply for the federal grants. If a state declines the $3 million funding\, those funds would be made available to the 3 most populous metropolitan areas in that state. It seems Rapid City applied in April of 2023. \n(See also story Dakota Free Press) \nThis item was on the agenda for this Wednesday’s (9/13) Legal & Finance Committee meeting at 12:30 pm (who tabled it) and it would have been sent to the next Monday’s (9/18) City Council meeting at 6:30 pm (except tabled by Committee).  As the Legal and Finance Committee tabled it\, it is dead unless “smoked” out at the Council meeting\,  allowing for reconsideration at a later date.. It might be helpful to contact City Council members in support of the grant and reducing Climate pollution. The four-year grant\, initially authorized in the spring\, is designed to support efforts in identifying and addressing pollution issues in the area\, specifically strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Rapid City’s new Grant Coordinator\,  Jamie Toennies knows about this issue – 605-394-4143  – 2379 \nLink to article in Rapid City Journal: \nhttps://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/rapid-city-officials-discuss-reconsideration-of-epa-grant/article_d179613c-531a-11ee-9820-0f181b9bae28.html \nAll of the City Council members’ contact info is below: \nJosh Biberdorf  \njosh.biberdorf@rcgov.org \n(605) 431-6947 \n Jesse Ham  \njesse.ham@rcgov.org \n(605) 391-3293 \nLindsey Seachris  \nlindsey.seachris@rcgov.org \n(605) 939-0140 \nBill Evans  \nbill.evans@rcgov.org \n(605) 431-7509 \nKevin Maher  \nkevin.maher@rcgov.org \n(605) 484-6587 \nGreg Strommen  \ngreg.strommen@rcgov.org \n(605) 342-2814 \nJohn Roberts  \njohn.roberts@rcgov.org \n(605) 484-9747 \nLance Lehmann  \nlance.lehmann@rcgov.org \n(605) 390-1087 \nRod Pettigrew  \nrod.pettigrew@rcgov.org \n(605) 939-3747 \nPat Roseland  \npat.roseland@rcgov.org \n(605) 431-1945 \nLink to City Council meeting notice: https://www.rcgov.org/event/5106-city-council-meeting.html \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/advocate-for-epa-clean-air-grant-before-rapid-city-council-meeting/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230913T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230913T163000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230920T031400Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230920T031400Z
UID:8751-1694610000-1694622600@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:BHNF Forest Service Advisory Board Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Advisory Board Meeting\nForest Service Office – Mystic Ranger District Office\n8221Mount Rushmore Road\, Rapid City\, SD 57702\n1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – September 13\, 2023 \nFor agenda visit: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1137280.pdf
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/bhnf-forest-service-advisory-board-meeting/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230920T053000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230920T063000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20231006T213848Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231006T231123Z
UID:9079-1695187800-1695191400@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Recording of Radio interview Zimmerman/Burkhart- on Black Hills in the Balance - SDPB
DESCRIPTION:  \nRecording of a radio interview of Mary Zimmerman/Beth Burkhart-(of the Norbeck Society)  on “Black Hills in the Balance” – SDPB \nhttps://listen.sdpb.org/rural-life-and-history/2023-09-20/black-hills-in-the-balance
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/recording-of-radio-interview-zimmerman-burkhart-on-black-hills-in-the-balance-sdpb/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230921T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230921T160000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230616T182050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230616T182136Z
UID:8028-1695286800-1695312000@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Board of Minerals & Environment
DESCRIPTION:Tentative BME meeting schedule for the remainder of 2023: \nSeptember 21\, 2023 \nOctober 19\, 2023 \nNovember 16\, 2023 \nPlease 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:
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/board-of-minerals-environment-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230922T213000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230922T220000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230921T202536Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230921T204856Z
UID:8765-1695418200-1695420000@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:BLM's Proposed On-Shore Oil/Gas Leasing Rule Reform Comment Deadline
DESCRIPTION: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. \nThe 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: \n https://www.regulations.gov/document/BLM-2023-0005-0001\n\n\n\n\n\n\nQuote from the BLM:\n“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.” \nNational 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: \nHere 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 \nHere is a link to a pre-fab on-line comment letter provided by the National Audubon Society: \nhttps://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 \nThere 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)
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/blms-proposed-on-shore-oil-gas-leasing-rule-reform-comment-deadline/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230925T235000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230925T235900
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230907T061552Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231007T013723Z
UID:8694-1695685800-1695686340@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Comment deadline on Spruce Draft Environmental Assessment\, BHNF
DESCRIPTION: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. \nhttps://phas-wsd.org/event/spruce-comment-deadline-is-extended/ \nLink to view documents > – https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=61599 \nThere are a bunch of documents to unload – The Draft EA & 11 specialist reports. \nFirst below is an alert from the Norbeck Society and then a quote from the BHNF. \nPlease 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. \nOn 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. \nPHAS 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. \nAlso\, 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) \nQuote from the Norbeck Society’s Alert:  \n“Important Comment Opportunity – Spruce Project comments due Sept. 23 [25th] \nBlack Hills Projects lead to Timber Harvests on our already overcut forest – please take a moment to submit your comments! \nThe Black Hills National Forest proposes management activities on approximately 3\,614 acres in mixed conifer stands. \nThe modified proposed action includes: \n\n@493 acres overstory removal with reserves\n831 ac. shelterwood\n888 ac. commercial thinning\n720 ac. group selection\n682 ac. precommercial thinning restoration\n\nAssociated road activities being proposed include: \n\n@41 miles temporary road construction and closure\n22 miles of road reconstruction\, and road maintenance\n\nBlack 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: \n\nThe Spruce Project potentially authorizes more unsustainable logging simply to appease the timber industry\, without care for the needs of the forest.\nAccording 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.\nThe 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.\nHistorically 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.\nSpruce 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:\nDamage 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.\nAdd the reasons you want to keep your Spruce and mixed Spruce forests!\n\nBelow is a direct quote from the BHNF: \n“Release Date: Aug 28\, 2023 \nContact(s): Media Contact: Scott Jacobson\, 605-440-1409 \nCuster\, 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. \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \nComments 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. \nComments 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). \nFor 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.”
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/comment-deadline-on-spruce-draft-environmental-assessment-bhnf/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230928T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230928T204000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230927T213246Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230927T221050Z
UID:8887-1695925800-1695933600@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Sierra Club Hybrid Meeting on Mining Threats to Rapid Creek Watershed
DESCRIPTION: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.  \nThis is a hybrid meeting ….Suzanne will be online by 6:15 p.m. to let folks into the chat.\n──────────\nSuzanne Martley is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.Join Zoom Meeting\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/89229868938?pwd=Mll0emV6WGc5L3kybjYyVmlreGx3QT09Meeting ID: 892 2986 8938\nPasscode: 569293\n— \nOne tap mobile\n+12532050468\,\,89229868938#\,\,\,\,*569293# US\n+12532158782\,\,89229868938#\,\,\,\,*569293# US (Tacoma)\n—\nDial by your location\n• +1 253 205 0468 US\n• +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)\n• +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)\n• +1 669 444 9171 US\n• +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)\n• +1 719 359 4580 US\n• +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)\n• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)\n• +1 305 224 1968 US\n• +1 309 205 3325 US\n• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)\n• +1 360 209 5623 US\n• +1 386 347 5053 US\n• +1 507 473 4847 US\n• +1 564 217 2000 US\n• +1 646 931 3860 US\n• +1 689 278 1000 US \nMeeting ID: 892 2986 8938\nPasscode: 569293 \nFind your local number:https://us02web.zoom.us/u/ken56p6O5J \n──────────
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sierra-club-hybrid-meeting-on-mining-threats-to-rapid-creek-watershed/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230929T213000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230929T215900
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230816T193251Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230928T185416Z
UID:8475-1696023000-1696024740@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Deadline to Comment on Biden Administration's Proposed Changes to NEPA
DESCRIPTION: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. \nIf you scroll down to the bottom on the alert\, a simple pre-fab comment letter is available there. \nTo learn about in more depth –  summaries of changes proposed.-  visit these links. \nhttps://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/the-white-house-continues-to-advance-6435510/ \nhttps://eelp.law.harvard.edu/2023/08/nepa-phase2-proposal/ \nA red line version of proposed rule change: \nhttps://ceq.doe.gov/docs/laws-regulations/CEQ-Regulations-Redline-for-Proposed-Rule.pdf \nNancy (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.\n\n\nThe CEQ will hold virtual public meetings on the proposal on Saturday\, 26 August; Wednesday\, 30 August; Monday\, 11 September; and Thursday\, 21 September.“ \nFor 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 \nSee 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). \nOr visit –  88 Fed Reg. 49924 (July 31\, 2023). \nhttps://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/07/31/2023-15405/national-environmental-policy-act-implementing-regulations-revisions-phase-2\nCEQ will look to Executive Orders 12898 and 14096 to guide its application of environmental justice. \n\n============================== \n\nHOW TO COMMENT: \nThe deadline is received in Washington DC just before midnight EST (11:59 pm EST). \nYou may submit comments\, identified by docket number CEQ–2023–0003\, by any of the following methods: \n• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. \n• Fax: 202–456–6546. \n• Mail: Council on Environmental Quality\, 730 Jackson Place NW\, Washington\, DC 20503. \nInstructions: 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. \nDocket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received\, go to https://www.regulations.gov. \n======== \nFor more info: Amy B. Coyle\, Deputy General Counsel\, 202–395–5750\, Amy.B.Coyle@ceq.eop.gov  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n===============================================\nSIMPLE COMMENTS\n===================================================\nQuote from Food & Water Watch alert:\n\n\n“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. \nBut 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. \nTo 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. \nSubmit 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! \nSubmitting a comment to Regulations.gov is easy. \n\nClick any link in this email to be taken to the regulations.gov page.\nProvide your information.\nClick “Submit Comment.”\n\nHere is some sample comment language to get you started: \nI 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. “
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/deadline-to-comment-on-biden-administrations-proposed-changes-to-nepa/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20230930T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20230930T180000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230928T193838Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230928T194416Z
UID:8922-1696082400-1696096800@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:The Drive Electric EV Car Event - Rapid City
DESCRIPTION: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. \n\n\nSeveral 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. \n\n“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 \n 
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/the-drive-electric-ev-car-event-rapid-city/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20231001T233000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20231001T235900
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230930T182816Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230930T185418Z
UID:8954-1696203000-1696204740@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Deadline to Send Written Comments to SDGFP Commission
DESCRIPTION: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. \nComments 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. \nPHAS will object to this. \nAgenda of Oct 5th-6th \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/October_2023_Commission_Agenda_[Public_Copy].pdf \nHound hunting of raccoons petition: \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Petition_203_-_Nonresident_Raccoon_Hunting_with_Hounds.pdf \nFinalization – Free admittance at Parks some days\, Hunt for Habitat rules \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/FINAL_Mothers_Fathers_Day_PEL_Exemption_Repeal.pdf \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/FIN_2023_Hunt_for_Habitat.pdf \nTo find public comment web page \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/ \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/deadline-to-send-written-comments-to-sdgfp-commission/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20231004T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20231005T173000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230616T173716Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230616T173757Z
UID:8016-1696410000-1696527000@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:SD Water Management Board Meeting
DESCRIPTION:Below are the Water Management Board meetings tentatively scheduled for the remainder of 2023. \nOctober 4-5\, 2023 \nDecember 6-7\, 2023 \nPlease 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: \nhttps://boardsandcommissions.sd.gov/Meetings.aspx?BoardID=106 \n 
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-water-management-board-meeting-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20231005T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20231006T120000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20230424T211912Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231019T185702Z
UID:6922-1696510800-1696593600@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:SD Game\, Fish and Parks Commission October 2023 Meeting
DESCRIPTION: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/ \nWritten comments are due before midnight on the Sunday night before the meeting. \nYou can testify in person or by Zoom\, at 2 pm MT. \nGo to past event calendar alerts on Commission meetings for more notes on general  Commission meeting procedure. \nThe 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. \nVisit PHAS  Mountain Lion alert or our alert in events calendar for the July & September Commission meeting for details. \nWe 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. \nYear-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  \nSDGFP’s raccoon web page at SDGFP https://gfp.sd.gov/raccoon/    \nSDCL 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  \nMountain lion hunting restrictions https://sdlegislature.gov/Rules/Administrative/41:06:61:06 \nSee 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/ \nREPORT ON ACTIONS \nThe 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.. \nThe 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. \nThe 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. \nYou can go to the archives to listen to audio of past Commission meetings – https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/archives/ \nIf you have a Macintosh\, you may need to download free audio files translation software for Macs\, to open PC audio files. \nAgenda of Oct 5th-6th \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/October_2023_Commission_Agenda_[Public_Copy].pdf \nHound hunting of raccoons by non-residents petition: \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Petition_203_-_Nonresident_Raccoon_Hunting_with_Hounds.pdf \nFinalization – Free admittance at Parks some days\, Hunt for Habitat rules \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/FINAL_Mothers_Fathers_Day_PEL_Exemption_Repeal.pdf \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/FIN_2023_Hunt_for_Habitat.pdf \nTo find public comment web page \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/forms/positions/ \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/ \nWritten 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/ \nYou 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. \nUnless 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.\n“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> \,\nThe two new commissioners  e-mails likely are:\nJim.White@state.sd.us or James.White@state.sd.us\, Bruce.Cull@state.sd.us
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-game-fish-and-parks-commission-october-meeting/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20231006T233000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20231006T235900
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20231003T164109Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231003T165435Z
UID:9018-1696635000-1696636740@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Spruce comment deadline is extended
DESCRIPTION: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.\n\nToni 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.\n  \nThe 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 \nThe Spruce Project draft EA and supporting documents are available on the project webpage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=61599. \nYou 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 \nPHAS  has submitted comments as has the Norbeck Society. \nThe following options are available for submitting comments: \n\nEmail comments to: matthew.daily@usda.gov\nHardcopy comments can be mailed\, or hand delivered (Tuesday through Friday\, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. mountain time\, excluding holidays):\n\nToni Strauss\, Deputy Forest Supervisor \nBlack Hills National Forest \nAttn: Matthew Daily (Spruce Project) \n1019 N. 5th Street \nCuster\, SD 57730 \n(605) 673-9200 \n\nFax comments to (605) 673-9350. Cover page needs to include “Comments for Spruce Project\, Attn: Matthew Daily.”\n\nThank 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.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/spruce-comment-deadline-is-extended/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20231008T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20231008T170000
DTSTAMP:20260415T013553
CREATED:20231007T185424Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231007T185424Z
UID:9104-1696762800-1696784400@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Norbeck Society Annual Meeting & Picnic
DESCRIPTION: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. \n 
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/norbeck-society-annual-meeting-picnic/
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR