The Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming are the sacred center of Lakota (Sioux) treaty territory and have an important place in the history and culture of tribal nations.  This place and Lakota rights and spirituality are threatened by a radioactive uranium mining project, the Dewey-Burdock project proposed by Powertech (aka Azarga) Uranium.  

In the waning days of the Trump Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted Powertech Uranium two permits and a Safe Drinking Water Act aquifer exemption without meaningful consultation with the Oglala Sioux Tribe and without conducting a cultural resources survey of the proposed mine site.  The Oglala Sioux Tribe has appealed these permits to the EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board.  If the Tribe is successful, important cultural resources will be protected.  If they lose, these resources will be bulldozed.  

Over 90% of the people who commented on the permits opposed them. Ask EPA Administrator Michael Regan to listen to the people and withdraw the permits and aquifer exemption immediately, to ensure proper tribal consultation occurs, and to ensure protection of Lakota cultural resources and water.