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DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261107T090000
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DTSTAMP:20261106T202412Z
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UID:23381-1794042000-1794052800@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Nov. 7th\, Morning field trip on "Fire in the Black Hills"\,  Norbeck Society
DESCRIPTION:Nov. 7th\, Morning field trip on “Fire in the Black Hills”\, Norbeck Society\, Chris Stover (Forest Fuels Specialist retired from BHNF) will lead the Field Trip.- \n ** Meet at 9:00 at the Three-Forks parking lot (intersection of Hwy 385 and Hwy 16). We will carpool into the area of interest and make 3 or 4 stops along the way. High clearance & 4-wheel drive are required\, and we need volunteers with suitable vehicles who are willing to take on passengers. The total loop is about 15 miles\, 10 on forest roads. You might enjoy a burger and brew at Cohort Craft Brewery afterwards!  \n** Bring water and snacks and appropriate footwear!  \n** Please RSVP: info@norbecksociety.com  \nLet us know if you are a passenger or a driver 
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/nov-7th-morning-field-trip-on-fire-in-the-black-hills-norbeck-society/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261109T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261109T220000
DTSTAMP:20261106T234228Z
CREATED:20261106T210110Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T234228Z
UID:23399-1794204000-1794261600@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Expected Monday\, Nov. 9: Senate vote on the permitting bill that would weaken NEPA\, ESA & the Clean Water Act.
DESCRIPTION:Expected Monday\, Nov. 9: Senate vote on the permitting bill that would weaken NEPA\, ESA & the Clean Water Act. Call now\, before the vote.\n\nWhat: The U.S. Senate is expected to hold its first vote as early as Monday on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA\, S. 5653). This is the cloture vote to open debate\, and it needs 60 votes to pass. The 417-page bill would narrow environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)\, shorten Endangered Species Act consultation deadlines\, limit states’ and Tribes’ authority to put conditions on federal permits under Clean Water Act Section 401\, and weaken National Historic Preservation Act review. It would also fast-track oil and gas\, mining\, logging\, and large AI data centers. \nSenate schedules often change\, and the vote could slip to later in the week. Calls are useful any time before the vote\, so don’t wait. Senate offices open at 7 a.m. Mountain / 8 a.m. Central. They also take voice mail messages after hours.  Much of the time \,Thune’s staff doesn’t answer the phone and often all you can do\, 8 to 5\,  is leave messages for him. \nSouth Dakota angle: Sen. Thune\, as Majority Leader\, controls when this vote happens and supports the bill. Rep. Dusty Johnson voted for the House version (the SPEED Act). We don’t expect to change their votes\, but they should hear from South Dakotans\, and the talking points below are aimed at what matters here. \nCall (as an individual constituent): \n\nSen. John Thune: DC (202) 224-2321 | Rapid City (605) 348-7551\nSen. Mike Rounds: DC (202) 224-5842 | Rapid City (605) 343-5035\nRep. Dusty Johnson (if the bill reaches the House): DC (202) 225-2801\nOr the Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121\n\nTalking points. Pick two or three that matter most to you. Calls go better in your own words. \n\nNEPA is how South Dakotans get a voice on Black Hills projects. Timber sales\, mining\, road building\, and grazing on the Black Hills National Forest all go through NEPA review. That review is where citizens\, ranchers\, hunters\, and Tribes find out what’s planned\, comment\, and get mistakes fixed before the damage is done. This bill would reduce the federal actions that require review\, narrow the alternatives agencies have to consider\, and exempt more projects completely. Fewer projects reviewed means fewer chances for local people to weigh in.\nLess time to catch problems\, and less ability to challenge them. The bill sets new deadlines and new limits on court challenges to permitting decisions. When an agency gets it wrong on a public forest\, a citizen challenge is often the only remedy left. Shutting that door rewards rushed decisions.\nMining in the Black Hills. The Black Hills have a long history of mining and its damage\, from Gilt Edge Mine\, now a Superfund site\, to polluted Whitewood Creek. New gold\, lithium\, uranium\, and rare earth mines are proposed in and around the Hills today. The bill is designed to speed approvals for mining. This is exactly where careful environmental review protects our water and saves taxpayers from cleanup bills.\nHistoric preservation and sacred sites. The Black Hills are sacred to the Lakota and other Tribal nations and full of archaeological and historic sites. The bill weakens National Historic Preservation Act review and would waive it for certain reissued nationwide permits. It also weakens Tribal consultation\, which affects South Dakota’s nine Tribal nations. Once a site is bulldozed\, it’s gone for good.\nState authority over our waters. Clean Water Act Section 401 lets South Dakota put water-quality conditions on federal permits for pipelines\, mines\, and other projects crossing our rivers and streams. The bill narrows that authority. Decisions about South Dakota’s water should stay in South Dakota.\nEndangered species. The bill shortens ESA consultation deadlines\, which means less careful review for species like the whooping crane\, pallid sturgeon\, and black-footed ferret.\nFix the real cause of delays. Permitting delays mostly come from understaffed\, underfunded agencies\, not from environmental laws. Fully staffing the Forest Service\, BLM\, and Fish & Wildlife Service would speed permits without cutting the public out.\n\nShort sample message: “I’m a constituent from [town]. Please vote NO on cloture for S. 5653\, the permitting bill. It weakens NEPA review\, which is how South Dakotans get a say on timber\, mining\, and other projects in the Black Hills. It also undercuts historic preservation and protection of sacred sites\, speeds up mining approvals\, and limits South Dakota’s own authority over our waters. Permits are slow mainly because federal agencies are understaffed. The answer is to give agencies the staff and funding they need\, not to cut the public out of decisions about our public lands.” \nFriends and family in other states: The votes that matter most are Democratic senators’ votes\, because 60 votes are needed. Please forward this to people in states with Democratic senators\, especially Oregon (Merkley\, Wyden)\, Illinois (Duckworth)\, Massachusetts (Markey)\, New Mexico\, Colorado\, Arizona\, Nevada\, Washington\, and California. Ask them to call their own senators and urge a NO vote. \nMore information: Western Environmental Law Center statement and policy analysis (https://westernlaw.org/)\,  | Bill text and summary (Congress.gov) \n 
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/expected-monday-nov-9-senate-vote-on-the-permitting-bill-that-would-weaken-nepa-esa-the-clean-water-act/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261109T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261109T160000
DTSTAMP:20261107T024812Z
CREATED:20261106T225739Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261107T024812Z
UID:23405-1794238200-1794240000@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Deadline comment/intervene in 2 ground water right permit applications for Uranium mine
DESCRIPTION:DEADLINE Monday\, Nov. 9: Comment or petition on Powertech’s water permits for the Dewey-Burdock uranium mine (Madison & Inyan Kara aquifers)\nWhat: Powertech (USA) Inc.\, a subsidiary of enCore Energy\, has applied to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) for two water permits for its proposed Dewey-Burdock in-situ uranium mine. The mine site is about 20 square miles in southwestern Custer and northwestern Fall River counties\, near Edgemont\, on the southern edge of the Black Hills. DANR received the applications in June but didn’t publish notice until late October\, leaving the public less than two weeks to respond. Comments and petitions are due Monday\, November 9\, 2026. \n\nApplication No. 2914-2\, Inyan Kara Aquifer: Water to mine uranium out of the Inyan Kara formation. Powertech would pump at up to 4\,500 gallons per minute from up to 1\,000 wells. At that rate\, about 2.36 billion gallons a year would pass through the wells\, with net consumption capped at 274.2 acre-feet a year (about 89 million gallons). The notice gives no end date.\nApplication No. 2915-2\, Madison Aquifer: About 84 million gallons a year for 20 years\, with a possible 20-year extension. The Madison water would mainly be used to try to restore the mined aquifer after mining\, plus facility operations.\n\nThe Water Management Board will hear both applications at 10:45 a.m. Central\, Wednesday\, December 2\, 2026\, at the Matthew Training Center\, Joe Foss Building\, 523 E. Capitol Ave.\, Pierre. The Chief Engineer found that the applications raise important public interest issues and should not be approved without a hearing. \nWhy it matters: \n\nThe Madison and Inyan Kara are among the main aquifers supplying drinking\, ranch\, and irrigation water across western South Dakota. In-situ mining injects chemicals into the aquifer to dissolve uranium\, and in-situ mines elsewhere have rarely\, if ever\, returned an aquifer to its pre-mining quality.\nBlack Hills water is already stretched. A 2025 U.S. Geological Survey study found that the region’s aquifers and reservoirs are falling short of demand\, and after years of drought many shallow wells have gone dry.\nA federal appeals court has noted that a sizable number of cultural\, historical\, and archaeological sites\, including burial sites\, have been identified in the project area. The court also found that the Oglala Sioux Tribe has the most direct historical\, cultural\, and religious ties to the area. The Tribe\, Black Hills Clean Water Alliance\, and others have fought this project in state and federal proceedings since at least  2012.\n\nTwo ways to take part (you must file separately for EACH application): \n\nComment: Anyone may comment to the Chief Engineer on DANR’s comment form. A comment goes into the record\, but it does not make you a party to the hearing.\nPetition to intervene: To become a party of record\, you must file a written petition on DANR’s form with both the Chief Engineer and Powertech. You must describe an injury to you that is unique\, not just the general public’s injury. For example\, you might own a well\, land\, or water rights near the site or downgradient from it. The petition must also give your reasons for opposing the application and your name and mailing address. A petitioner may also ask in writing\, by Nov. 9\, to postpone the hearing. Individuals can represent themselves in an intervention\, but corporations must be represented by an attorney\n\nForms and notices: Go to danr.sd.gov/public\, scroll to the Powertech notice under “Water Rights\,” and click the dates in the “Petition/Comment Deadline” column. You can maybe read the Inyan Kara (2914-2) or Madison (2915-2) hearing notices here.  However it is possible that parts of this web site will be broken & not work correctly this weekend (11/6-11/9). \nMail\, e-mail or deliver to: Chief Engineer\, Water Rights Program\, Foss Building\, 523 E. Capitol\, Pierre\, SD 57501. Phone (605) 773-3352. Petitioners also send a copy to Powertech (USA) Inc.\, 101 North Shoreline Blvd.\, Suite 450\, Corpus Christi\, TX 78401. The mail must be POSTMARKED by 11/9/26.  Also DANR normally has a web portal you can upload comments to\, however due to talking to DANR on Friday\, I am warned that DANR public notice/public commenting web page may be broken this weekend at least in part and you can e-mail comment to  DANRmail@state.sd.us. \nWe are not sure if the deadline for e-mails is COB on Monday or 11:59 pm CT.  Normally it is 11:59 for commenting.  Call and ask DANR on Monday to verify if you want to e-mail late at night Monday. \nHelp with writing comments: Black Hills Clean Water Alliance has step-by-step filing instructions and commenting hints and videos on how to comment on its State-Level Comment Notices page. —  https://bhcleanwateralliance.org/public-hearings/state-level-comment-notices/ \nDakota Rural Action’s action alert and links to the permit applications and comment pages for each permit are here:\nhttps://www.dakotarural.org/powertech-seeking-billions-of-gallons-of-groundwater-comment-or-intervene-by-nov-9/\nBackground reading: “Public comment period opens as company seeks state permits for uranium mine” (SD Searchlight / Rapid City Post). Also see the Rapid City Post’s article on declining state aquifers and Brad Johnson’s SD Searchlight commentary\, “With mining\, remember: The people who may need the water in 50 years won’t be at the hearing.” \nSources: \n\nDANR notice of hearing\, Application 2914-2\nSD Searchlight / Rapid City Post: Public comment period opens\nDANR Powertech water rights page
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/deadline-comment-intervene-in-2-ground-water-right-permit-applications-for-uranium-mine/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261109T215000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261109T215900
DTSTAMP:20260930T225159Z
CREATED:20260930T225159Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260930T225159Z
UID:23262-1794261000-1794261540@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Nov 9\, Deadline to comment against fast-track oil drilling permits in Alaska's Western Arctic
DESCRIPTION:Monday\, Nov 9\, 2026\, 9:30–9:59 pm MT — Deadline to comment against fast-track oil drilling permits in Alaska’s Western Arctic (NPR-A) \nSummary: Qualifying oil and gas production sites in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska would get a decision within 60 days of a complete application\, with no additional project-level environmental analysis required. To qualify\, a project’s entire footprint would have to sit within 25 miles of existing permanent oil and gas infrastructure. The proposal came following a formal petition from the Alaska Oil and Gas Association. Earthjustice warns that new projects in the Western Arctic\, including in Teshekpuk Lake\, the Colville River and other special areas that have long been off limits to development\, could be fast-tracked. The impacts analysis is missing: BLM published only a portion of the environmental impact statement for the proposed rule and did not include the section that analyzes its environmental impacts.\nFederal Register notice: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/08/2026-18261/national-petroleum-reserve-in-alaska-production-site-development\nComment portal (rule): https://www.regulations.gov/document/BLM-2026-0133-0001 · RIN 1004-AF57\nDraft EIS chapters (separate comment): Comments on the draft environmental chapters go through the BLM ePlanning site. Both close on November 9. Go to eplanning.blm.gov; the NEPA Number is DOI-BLM-AK-0000-2026-0012-EIS.\nSnail mail: U.S. Department of the Interior\, Director (630)\, Bureau of Land Management\, 1849 C St. NW\, Room 5646\, Washington\, DC 20240\, Attention: RIN 1004-AF57. (This is BLM’s standard rulemaking address. I didn’t open the full ADDRESSES section to confirm it\, so please check the Federal Register notice before posting.)\nReady-made alert: \nEarthjustice’s press release is at https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/trump-administration-proposes-regulations-to-rubber-stamp-drilling-in-alaskas-western-arctic. \nTheir Pre-fab letter – https://earthjustice.org/action/no-shortcuts-for-oil-and-gas-companies?ms=web \nAlaska Wilderness League and The Wilderness Society are also active on this issue. I didn’t find a pre-filled comment form yet.\nArticle: “BLM Proposes 60 Day Decisions for Arctic Oil Sites Within 25 Miles of Existing Alaska Infrastructure”  URL link >>https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/73225/20260907/blm-proposes-60-day-decisions-arctic-oil-sites-within-25-miles-existing-alaska-infrastructure.htm \nComments are likely due before midnight EST.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/nov-9-deadline-to-comment-against-fast-track-oil-drilling-permits-in-alaskas-western-arctic/
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261110T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261110T203000
DTSTAMP:20261106T203557Z
CREATED:20261106T201616Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T203557Z
UID:23386-1794333600-1794342600@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Jack Gladstone - "Montana's Troubadour" Preforms at the Journey in Rapid City
DESCRIPTION:Jack Gladstone – “Montana’s Troubadour” Preforms at the Journey in Rapid City in the evening.
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/jack-gladstone-montanas-troubadour-preforms-at-the-journey-in-rapid-city/
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://phas-wsd.org/wp-content/uploads/Jack-Gladstone-Flyer-Word-Ver-4-FINAL-003.jpg
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20261112T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20261112T203000
DTSTAMP:20261106T202212Z
CREATED:20261106T201844Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261106T202212Z
UID:23388-1794506400-1794515400@phas-wsd.org
SUMMARY:Travis Lavieri speaks on Black Footed Ferret - Norbeck Society meeting 11/12/26\, Rapid City
DESCRIPTION:Travis Lavieri speaks on Black Footed Ferret – Norbeck Society meeting 11/12/26. 6 pm presentation at OCW in Rapid City\,
URL:https://phas-wsd.org/event/travis-lavieri-speaks-on-black-footed-ferret-norbeck-society-meeting-11-12-26-rapid-city/
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