Scott -

I may have missed something here as I only see one date at the bottom of the agency letter.

Did they really open up a comment period and then not designate the open and termination date of comments?

Do you know?   Otherwise, I can call them.

Thanks for bringing this to the forum.

Maybe South Dakotoans and non-residents alike might voice their disaproval of  the large tracts of land that are not near the agency's intended special uses.

Patricia,
This is the response I received from the forest service when I question the same thing.

Good Morning, Scott.

Thank you for your interest in this project. At this point we have not formally “kicked-off” this project, so there is not much information to share. Basically there were areas set aside in the Forest Plan Amendment (signed in 2005) as having unique botanical and other values. Two of the Standards included in the Forest Plan dictate that we pursue mineral withdrawals in these areas. The mineral withdrawal applies strictly to mineral rights and does not address any other uses in these areas.

I have included some links below to the parts of the Forest Plan that describe these two unique management areas.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/In...ENTS/fsm9_011912.pdf (Botanical Areas)
http://www.fs.usda.gov/In...ENTS/fsm9_011910.pdf (RNA)

In addition I have added you to the mailing list of people who will be contacted when we get to the point in the process when it becomes open to public comment.

Thank you for your comments,

Chelsea




Chelsea Monks
Forest Botanist

Forest Service
Black Hills National Forest

p: 605-673-9343
telework: 307-283-1361
f: 605-673-9208
chelseamonks@fs.fed.us

M-Th
1019 N. 5th St.
Custer, SD 57730
www.fs.usda.gov/blackhills


Caring for the land and serving people

Thanks for checking on this, Scott.

 

 

If they were identified and set aside in the plan amendment in 2005, they already exist and this will be just the "icing on the cake" to actually determine how far they are going to go in "protections".   Need to stay on top of it when it comes out in either scoping or when they start taking comments for whatever draft they come up with.  Since it is already in the plan, they might be able to get away with a CE, but most likely an EA.

 

Mineral withdrawal means you can't file a claim, but prospecting/mining is still allowed.  That is where you need to concentrate efforts, to grandfather in existing claims and keep it available for prospecting and mining, as long as the "protections" are not impacted unduly.

Hi, I am the Managing Editor/Communications Director for GPAA. The best advice I can offer is to write Congress, make public comments to any proposed changes. Please start pressuring your elected officials to oppose ANY changes to the Mining Law of 1872. Help educate your countrymen to stop electing people who knuckle under to radical environmental groups or who have no regard for freedom and liberty of the individual. As editor, I face a daily onslaught of emails, forum posts, phone calls from members and I am in constant contact with mining rights groups. My phone number is 1-800-551-9707, Ext. 164. Please feel free to call me about any of these issues. To help me out, please have facts and contact information readily available. The best means of communication is email. Again, my email is content@goldprospectors.org

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Call your elected officials. If you don’t know who they are, look online. They are easy to find and so are their email addresses, phone and fax numbers and mailing addresses. Tell them how unhappy you are with the green lobby and government agency assault on your prospecting pastime or livelihood. Isn’t it time you spent and hour or two writing your senators and representatives in Congress? After all, they create the laws and oversee the federal agencies. If you really want your voice to be heard, stay informed,and contact your elected representatives at www.senate.gov and www house.gov.

Stay informed. Read the Pick & Shovel Gazette and share it with your friends and neighbors. Check the website for up-to-date action alerts and breaking news. Faithfully renew your GPAA membership, which includes your subscriptions to the Pick & Shovel Gazette, your best source of small-scale mining news, and Gold Prospectors magazine to get a new generation of people involved in prospecting.

Join our facebook community at www.facebook.com/GoldProspectors and our online forums: www.goldprospectors.org. Get involved. Participate in discussions. Share information and photos on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

Set an example. Be a responsible miner. Fill in your holes, pick up trash left by others and pack out what you pack in. Be mindful of the wildlife and respectful of Mother Nature. Teach your children and grandschildren the same.

Contact your local news media and tell them how miners are getting the shaft. Write a letter to the editor or respond respectfully to comments posted on various newspaper and news media forums. Be willing to go on the record or have the news reporter email Managing Editor/Communications Director Brad Jones at content@goldprospectors.org. Most often journalists will want to talk to a local source or local prospector. Help the news reporter by providing research and facts. Demand fair and balanced coverage and stay up the issues facing the small-scale mining community. Be courteous and dignified by do not be afraid to express your opinion.

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Support Public Lands for the People and other mining rights groups: www.plp1.org

Contact local grassroots groups to see where they stand and if they are willing to fight for your rights to prospect and mine and stop the endless land grabs Gold Prospectors magazine to get a new generation of people involved in prospecting, metal detecting and gem and treasure hunting.

Thanks Brad,

                      I plan to contact my elected officials, Both seem to be concern with our forest.  I not positive but I think some of the areas covered in this plan has been hit hard by pine beetles.  The original letter I posted was sent to me by our local chapter unfortunately I cant attend meetings since I work 6 days a week. Our local media seems to think that the Forest Service can do no wrong. I plan to follow what the FS, so when the discussion is open I can get my 2 cents in and keep track any new changes.