BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Prairie Hills Audubon Society - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Prairie Hills Audubon Society X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://phas-wsd.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Prairie Hills Audubon Society REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Denver BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20220313T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20221106T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20230312T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20231105T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20240310T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20241103T080000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0600 TZNAME:MDT DTSTART:20250309T090000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0600 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:MST DTSTART:20251102T080000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20231214T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240105T233000 DTSTAMP:20260506T033011 CREATED:20231205T041500Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231213T181606Z UID:9695-1702512000-1704497400@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Christmas Bird Count Season 2023-2024 DESCRIPTION:Christmas Bird Count Season runs from December 14th\, 2023 to January 5th\, 2024. \nThis years summary (2023-2024) of  Christmas Bird Counts in SD and near-by areas of surrounding states can be found on this PHAS web page: https://phas-wsd.org/citizsen-science/ \nYou can also download a  PDF of our Announcement of CBC’s in SD the region around western SD at https://www.scribd.com/document/692209583/Announcing-Christmas-Bird-Count-FINAL-ma-23-24-3 \nYou can also go to the National Audubon Society web page on the 2023-2024 Christmas Bird Counts. \nTo find details on a Christmas bird count near you on Audubon’s interactive map: \nhttps://audubon.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=ac275eeb01434cedb1c5dcd0fd3fc7b4 \nWind Cave National Park (who don’t register with NAS) will have their’s this year on Sunday\, Dec 17th \nYou can download this pdf for last years summary: https://www.scribd.com/document/690938817/Final2-2022-23-CBC-Announce-122nd-final-2 \n  URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/christmas-bird-count-season/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2023-12-04-at-9.28.56-PM.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240105T235000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240105T235900 DTSTAMP:20260506T033011 CREATED:20231214T035938Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231214T040038Z UID:9919-1704498600-1704499140@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Scoping Comment Deadline for Parmalee Timber Project DESCRIPTION:The Hell Canyon Ranger District is proposing a vegetation management project\, Parmlee Project \nYour comments would be most helpful if received by January 5\, 2024. The preferred method to comment is via email at: \ncomments-rocky-mountain-black-hills-hell-canyon@usda.gov \nOther ways to comment include by phone: 605-673-9200\, you can hand deliver your comments at the District office at: 1019 N. 5th Street\, Custer\, SD 57730 or by postal service: Rob Hoelscher\, District Ranger\, 1019 N. 5th Street\, Custer\, SD 57730. These documents\, including a larger map\, may be viewed on the project website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=65281. \nScoping package https://usfs-public.app.box.com/v/PinyonPublic/file/1381590254298 \nMap: https://usfs-public.app.box.com/v/PinyonPublic/file/1381587239853 \nFor information or hard copies of scoping package\,  contact Wendy\,  wendy.schuyler@usda.gov \n or call her at 605-673-9361 and she can drop one in the mail for you. You may also pick up a hard copy at the District office. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/scoping-comment-deadline-for-parmalee-timber-project/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240110T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240228T120000 DTSTAMP:20260506T033011 CREATED:20240207T210809Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240207T210809Z UID:10659-1704888000-1709121600@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:National Audubon Society's Annual Photo Contest Entry Period DESCRIPTION:Audubon’s Annual Photo Contest Entry Period (recycles every year)\nThis event  recycles every year\, in a similar time frame & mode.  – you were able to submit  photos/videos between January 10th\, 2024 at 12 pm-February 28th\, 2024 at 12 pm. https://www.audubon.org/get-outside/audubon-photography-awards-2024-official-rules \nJudges  awarded eight prizes to photographers and videographers in 2023: the Grand Prize\, Professional Prize\, Amateur Prize\, Youth Prize\, Plants for Birds Prize\, Fisher Prize\, Female Bird Prize\, and Video Prize. \nPrizes included in 2024:\nGrand Prize: $5\,000 USD\nProfessional Prize: $2\,500 USD\nAmateur Prize: $2\,500 USD\nPlants for Birds Prize: $2\,500 USD\nVideo Prize: $2\,500 USD\nFemale Bird Prize: $1\,000 USD \nBirds in Landscape: $1\,000 USD\nFisher Prize: $1\,000 USD\nYouth Prize: Six days at Audubon’s Hog Island Audubon Camp for Teens during the 2024 season \nPrevious Years winners \nThere are some very nice photos to look at. \nThe winning photos were already sent out in Audubon’s magazine \nhttps://www.audubon.org/section/audubon-photography-awards \n2023 winners \nhttps://www.audubon.org/news/2023-audubon-photography-awards-winners-and-honorable-mentions \n2022 winners \nhttps://www.audubon.org/news/the-2022-audubon-photography-awards-top-100 \n2021 winners \nhttps://www.audubon.org/news/the-2021-audubon-photography-awards-top-100 \n2020 winners\nhttps://www.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2020/the-2020-audubon-photography-awards-winners \n2019-2017 winners \nhttps://www.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2019/the-2019-audubon-photography-awards-top-100 \nhttps://www.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2018/the-2018-audubon-photography-awards-top-100 \nhttps://www.audubon.org/news/the-2017-audubon-photography-awards-top-100 \n  \n  \n  \n  URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/national-audubon-societys-annual-photo-contest-entry-period/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240111T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240112T110000 DTSTAMP:20260506T033011 CREATED:20231213T064845Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240106T004834Z UID:9825-1704974400-1705057200@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:SD Game\, Fish & Parks Commission's January Meeting DESCRIPTION:SD Game\, Fish & Parks Commission’s January Meeting is in Pierre\, Thursday-Friday\,  January 11-12\, 2024\, at Matthews Training Center. \nFolks can testify for 3 minutes at 2 pm CT in person or by Zoom or phone. Visit this web page closer to the meeting date for more details: https://gfp.sd.gov/commission/information/ \nAgenda link: \nhttps://gfp.sd.gov/UserDocs/nav/Commission_Agenda_-_Jan_11-12\,_2024_Public_Copy.pdf?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=gfp-commission-updates&utm_content=GFP+to+Hold+January+Meeting \nZoom meeting link; https://state-sd.zoom.us/j/92827772568?pwd=cHByUFlQNi8rRXJ0dGlEazNRbjBqZz09#success \n\nTo join via conference call\, dial 1 669 900 9128\nMeeting ID: 939 1291 5359\nPasscode: 0565645\n\nSD GFP normally meets on the first Thursday-Friday of the month\, unless those days are close to a holiday and then the meeting week may shift. They normally don’t meet in February and August. \nThere are no finalizations of rule in January\, but there are 2 petitions for rule-making and 4 proposals for rule changes (includes waterfowl season rules)\, that likely won’t have a finalization hearing for at least 60 days. \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 – – thus January 7th\, 2024\, before midnight CT))  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. If there is rule finalization(s) you get 3 minutes per each rule you want to testify on. During the Open Forum\, you get 3 minutes to testify on anything. \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” \, “Jon.Locken@state.sd.us” \,  “Travis.Bies@state.sd.us” \, “Robert.Whitmyre@state.sd.us” \, “Julie.Bartling@state.sd.us” or Julia.Bartling@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-parks-commissions-january-meeting/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240115T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240215T235900 DTSTAMP:20260506T033011 CREATED:20231214T041146Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231214T041218Z UID:9922-1705276800-1708041540@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Climate Watch Winter Season - January 15th-February 15th DESCRIPTION:Climate Watch Winter Season – January 15th-February 15th \nClimate Watch – The summer and winter seasons repeat each year.\nClimate Watch is sponsored by the National Audubon Society (NAS) & takes place during two distinct seasons—winter (January 15-February 15) and summer (May 15-June 15). Below is the alert for any season (winter or summer) . \nLike the Christmas bird count this is a chance to help create “citizen science” for birds. Climate Watch focuses on these target species: Eastern Bluebird\, Mountain Bluebird\, Western Bluebird\, White-breasted Nuthatch\, Red-breasted Nuthatch\, Brown-headed Nuthatch\, Pygmy Nuthatch\, American Goldfinch\, Lesser Goldfinch\, Painted Bunting\, Eastern Towhee\, and Spotted Towhee. \nThese birds are easy to identify\, have an enthusiastic constituency\, and Audubon’s climate models for these species offer strong predictions for range shifts for us to test. In future years\, Climate Watch may include additional target species threatened by climate change. We believe that western bluebird and painted bunting are not normally in SD. All the other birds occur in all or parts of SD. \nVisit this page to see where these birds are in SD\, and which are near you: \nhttps://www.sdakotabirds.com/species_main.htm\nLocation Climate Watch focuses on areas of predicted change for these 12 species at each location across the continent. Audubon provides volunteers with online mapping tools with a grid of 10 km x 10 km squares showing species-specific predictions for each square based on the climate models. A Climate Watch Coordinator can help select your location and survey square. If you are participating on your own\, use the online maps to decide in which square to do your surveys. You will be able to see which squares are already “claimed”. \nHow to count Volunteers should first make sure to read through all of the materials including the full protocol manual. The Climate Watch protocol is different than any other birding program. Then using the planning done with the online maps\, volunteers survey appropriate habitat for the target species within a square and conduct 12 point counts of five minutes each within one morning\, then record the number and species of all birds seen or heard within 100 meters. Participants send the data to the National Audubon Society. \nHow data will be used  Audubon’s 2019 climate change report\, ‘Survival By Degrees\, – https://www.audubon.org/climate/survivalbydegrees – reveals that up to two-thirds of North American birds are vulnerable to extinction due to climate change. For example\, the beautiful Mountain Bluebird is vulnerable because in the vast majority of its summer range\, the climate conditions that this bird needs—temperature\, amount of rainfall\, and other environmental factors—will shift northward and eastward. This bird may be able to move into new areas over time\, or it may struggle to adapt. To test the report’s predictions\, Audubon has developed Climate Watch\, which aims to document species’ responses to climate change and test Audubon’s climate models by having volunteers in the field look for birds where Audubon’s climate models predict they will be in the 2020s. This information helps Audubon target our conservation work to protect birds. See the Climate Watch results page here to see our early reports and results from the data received by Climate Watch volunteers so far! \nLink to the Climate-watch program on the National Audubon Society web page \nhttps://www.audubon.org/conservation/climate-watch \nClimate watch instructions for participants \nhttps://www.audubon.org/news/participant-resources-climate-watch\nClimate watch for beginners webinar\, – this has much of the same info as our November meeting \nhttps://audubon.zoom.us/rec/share/xe9NAZTe6WVOf7fz2kbRAYAQMI66eaa8hCFL_fNZn0k3a8uNjHkvp4-EZzq7vlq_?startTime=1588186808000 URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/climate-watch-winter-season-january-15th-february-15th/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240117T064500 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240117T084500 DTSTAMP:20260506T033011 CREATED:20240116T060135Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240116T060357Z UID:10088-1705473900-1705481100@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:House State Affairs hearing on HB 1071 DESCRIPTION:House State Affairs hearing on HB 1071 https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/24868 \nCommittee: House State Affairs\nRoom: Room 414\nDate: Wednesday\, January 17\, 2024\nTime: 7:45 AM-9:45 AM \nYou can testify remotely if you ask the committee at least 24 hours in advance  to be scheduled to testify and for a link. \nYou can send written comments in before the meeting to the committee or individual members \nVisit BHCWA alert on this https://bhcleanwateralliance.org/public-hearings/state-level-comment-notices/ \nHB 1071 would let the Governor make agreements with the federal government to extend state authority over uranium mining and milling. An agreement under this bill would eliminate the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for uranium mining and milling.  This would shut tribal governments out of the permitting process by eliminating requirements for tribal consultation.  The public’s ability to oppose uranium projects would also shrink. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/house-state-affairs-hearing-on-hb-1071/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240117T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240117T163000 DTSTAMP:20260506T033011 CREATED:20231202T010158Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231202T010554Z UID:9555-1705496400-1705509000@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Black Hills National Forest - Forest Service Advisory Board Meeting DESCRIPTION:Black Hills National Forest – Forest Service Advisory Board Meeting is likely to occur on 1/17/24. \nAs the date approaches\, please verify that the meeting will occur\, – visit BHNF web page https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/blackhills/workingtogether/advisorycommittees/?cid=stelprdb5114550 \nor email \nscott.j.jacobson@usda.gov   URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/black-hills-national-forest-forest-service-advisory-board-meeting-2/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240118T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240118T160000 DTSTAMP:20260506T033011 CREATED:20240118T053641Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240118T205711Z UID:10137-1705568400-1705593600@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:SD Legislature - Floor votes HB 1071 (SD DANR would replace NRC)& Committee vote SB 14 (shooting coyotes from snowmobile) DESCRIPTION:================================ HOUSE BILLS ————————————————————-HB 1071\, Take action – ask your legislator to oppose HB 1071 –  https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/24868   – \nHB 1071  would let the Governor make agreements with the federal government to extend state authority over uranium mining and milling & other processes with radioactive material . An agreement under this bill would eliminate the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for uranium mining and milling & other processes with radioactive material. This would shut tribal governments out of the permitting process by eliminating requirements for tribal consultation. The public’s ability to learn about & oppose uranium projects would also shrink. PHAS OPPOSES THIS BILL .  BHCWA has an alert on this bill. It was sent to  House State Affairs on Wednesday 1/17/24 – HB 1071 passed out of Committee with one vote against. It is listed for a second reading on the House Calendar for Thursday afternoon -1/18/24 (it will likely be debated & voted on at some time after 1 pm CT). Agenda: https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Committee/1197/Agendas \n================================ SENATE BILLS ————————————————————- \nTake action – ask committee to oppose Senate Bill 14\, – Senate Bill 14 = https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/24559 – Would permit taking of coyotes from snowmobiles in certain conditions – hunting from snowmobiles is currently not allowed. PHAS OPPOSES THIS BILL.  In Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday 1/18/24\, 10 am CT\,  Agenda: https://mylrc.sdlegislature.gov/api/Documents/259993.pdf#page=1 \nOn 1/18/24\, the bill was amended in Committee and then passed with unanimous consent and placed on consent calendar. It will likely be voted on on the House floor on Monday.  The amendment made it illegal to harass coyotes before shooting them. \nHere is a link to a web site with arguments against indiscriminate coyote hunting – file:///Users/mac/Desktop/PC_SAB_Coyote-Facts_FINAL_2020_08.pdf \nPHAS web site on the legislature has committee e-mails https://phas-wsd.org/sd-legislature/ \nsenateagnaturalresources@sdlegislature.gov \n\n Randy.Deibert@sdlegislature.gov\, Joshua.Klumb@sdlegislature.gov\, Liz.Larson@sdlegislature.gov\, Jim.Mehlhaff@sdlegislature.gov\, Al.Novstrup@sdlegislature.gov\,  Herman.Otten@sdlegislature.gov\, Erin.Tobin@sdlegislature.gov\, URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-legislature-committee-floor-votes-hb-1071-sb-14/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240122T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240122T160000 DTSTAMP:20260506T033011 CREATED:20240122T075857Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240124T182132Z UID:10308-1705928400-1705939200@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:SD Legislature Floor votes Monday on HB 1043 (lithium tax) & SB 14 (expand hunt coyotes w/ snowmobiles) DESCRIPTION:Below find alerts on bills related to environment on the floors (Senate & house) Monday\n\n**Senate Bill 14\, \nWould permit taking of coyotes by invitees of landowner from snowmobiles in certain conditions – hunting from snowmobiles is currently not for any species except for coyotes & then only by landowner.  PHAS OPPOSES THIS BILL. .  \nIn Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources on Thursday 1/18/24\, 10 am CT. This bill passed out of committee with an amendmen by a unanimous vote and was placed on the consent calendar. The amendment added was to prevent harassment of coyotes before being shot.\n It was expected on the Senate floor on Monday the 22nd  but was delayed till Tuesday. It passed with 3 votes against. Folks needed to ask their senators to remove it from consent calendar.    Visit our web site https://phas-wsd.org/sd-legislature/  for list of all Senate members.\n We object to this as cruelty to animals & indiscriminate coyote hunting doesn’t work to reduce the population.\nThe current law forbids snowmobile chasing or driving coyotes (or any animal)\, but the proposed new law does not prohibit those actions for landowners/lessee and invited guests with coyotes.\n\nHere is a link to our letter against that explains issues with the bill: https://www.scribd.com/document/700546391/Please-Remove-SB-14-From-the-Consent-CalendarF  .\n\nHere is a link to a discussion sheet for arguments against indiscriminant coyote hunting  – https://projectcoyote.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PC_SAB_Coyote-Facts_FINAL_2020_08.pdf   \nSenator Nesiba got it removed from the Consent Calendar. The bill passed the Senate on Tuesday with 3 Senators voting against it – see vote: https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Vote/78751 \nWe did not start notice & working on this bill soon enough. It still has to go to the House and would likely get sent to House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee (but that hasn’t happened yet) so we ask you to contact folk in the House..\n\n\n\n**HB 1043\, https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Bill/24879\n**HB 1043 would classify lithium as a precious metal for the purpose of taxation and to authorize a new tax. PHAS SUPPORTS\, House Agriculture & NR Comm\, passed amended\, It will be on the House Floor on Monday the 22nd after 2 pm. The bill passed out of the House  57 to 9  and is sent to Senate Energy and Commerce Committee\n\nLast year a similar bill made it out of the house but was killed in the Senate – in 2023 it was alleged bill needed to be rewritten for technical reasons . This passed the House floor\, with a strong vote in favor\, but last year a similar bill passed the House\nbut was killed in the Senate\, alleged to be due to technical issues with writing of that old bill.\nIf you go to our web page on the Legislature\, you can learn about bills there. URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-legislature-floor-votes-monday-on-hb-1043-lithium-tax-sb-14-expand-hunt-coyotes-w-snowmobiles/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240123T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240123T160000 DTSTAMP:20260506T033011 CREATED:20240123T063451Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240123T200639Z UID:10394-1706014800-1706025600@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Senate Floor Vote on SB 14 (was postponed from Monday to Tuesday) DESCRIPTION:SB 14 (expanding conditional hunting of coyotes from snow mobiles) was removed from the Consent Calendar (thanks to Sen. Nesiba) and the Senate floor vote on SB 14 was postponed from Monday to Tuesday.  Senate starts meeting at 2 pm CT on Tuesday and the bill is early on the agenda\, \nGo Back to previous day – Monday Jan 22nd calendar alert to read about the bill\, or to our Legislative Web page \nSB 14 Specific alert    – https://phas-wsd.org/event/sd-legislature-floor-votes-monday-on-hb-1043-lithium-tax-sb-14-expand-hunt-coyotes-w-snowmobiles/ \nPHAS Legislative Web Page: https://phas-wsd.org/sd-legislature/ URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/house-floor-vote-on-sb-14-was-postponed-from-monday-to-tuesday/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240126T235000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240126T235900 DTSTAMP:20260506T033011 CREATED:20231214T014044Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231214T014533Z UID:9911-1706313000-1706313540@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:Objection Deadline Golden Crest Exploratory Drilling Project DESCRIPTION:Objection Deadline Golden Crest Exploratory Drilling Project is Friday\, January 26th\, 2024\, 45 days after it was published in RCJ newspaper on Dec 12th\, 2023.  To have legal standing to object (formally) you must have commented during scoping or draft EA review. \nClean Water Alliance and other groups will be doing alerts on this objection process – in fact CWA has already sent one out.\, \nForest Service says: \n“Access to each drill site will be along National Forest Service Roads (NFSRs) and trails branching off NFSR 134 (Tinton Road). No new road or trail construction is proposed. Water used for drilling will be sourced from an approved municipal or privately owned water supply in the Lead/Deadwood area. Equipment and supplies will be stored at a staging area approximately 1 acre in size. The total surface disturbance for the entire project will be approximately 2 acres. \nThe proposed project duration is 5 calendar years\, which includes 27 months of active drilling.  All sites will be reclaimed following drilling activities. \nThe EA and draft DN/FONSI for the Golden Crest Exploration Drilling Project are available upon request at the Northern Hills Ranger District office\, 2014 North Main Street\, Spearfish\, SD  57783. These documents are also available at the Black Hills National Forest website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/blackhills/?project=62590. \nAdditional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Chris Stores\, Natural Resources Planner\, at 605-443-3081 or by e-mail at chris.stores@usda.gov. \nThe Golden Crest Exploration Drilling Project is an activity implementing a land management plan. This activity is subject to pre-decisional objection under subparts A and B of 36 CFR Part 218…. \nIssues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted written comments\, regarding the proposed project unless the issue is based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunity…..” \n========== \nHow to submit objections. The Forest Service says: \n“Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public//CommentInput?Project=62590. An automated response should confirm your electronic objection has been received. \nObjections can be faxed to the Objection Reviewing Officer at 605-673-9350. The fax coversheet must include a subject line with “OBJECTION: Golden Crest Exploration Drilling Project” and should specify the number of pages being submitted. \nWritten objections may be submitted via regular mail to: Black Hills National Forest Supervisor’s Office\, Attn: Objection Review Officer\, 1019 North 5th Street\, Custer\, SD 57730. \nObjections sent by private carrier or hand delivery must be addressed to: Black Hills National Forest Supervisor’s Office\, Attn: Objection Review Officer\, 1019 North 5th Street\, Custer\, SD 57730. Office hours are Monday through Friday\, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.\, excluding Federal holidays\, for hand delivery. Any objections sent by US mail or private carrier must be postmarked by the final day of the objection period to be eligible for consideration.” \n  URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/objection-deadline-golden-crest-exploratory-drilling-project/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20240127T090000 DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20240127T110000 DTSTAMP:20260506T033011 CREATED:20240127T131153Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240127T131324Z UID:10501-1706346000-1706353200@phas-wsd.org SUMMARY:First Rapid City Legislative Cracker Barrel DESCRIPTION:The first Rapid City Legislative Cracker Barrel is January 27th at Western Dakota Tech\, 9 am – 11 am. This is sponsored by Elevate Rapid City. Go to our web page on cracker barrels to learn about statewide cracker barrels  & the next Rapid City ones – https://phas-wsd.org/sd-legislative-cracker-barrels-2022/ URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/first-rapid-city-legislative-cracker-barrel/ END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR