05/23/2026
URANIUM PROJECT HEARING ADJOURNED EARLY - FEDERAL LAWSUIT FILED!
For the second time in as many weeks, our efforts and the work of our allies have paid off!
We were attending the hearing before the SD Board of Minerals and Environment in Hot Springs, which was scheduled to last all week (and beyond). It was a hearing on a proposed permit to drill for uranium in Craven Canyon, a 7000+ year old cultural and ceremonial site in the southern Black Hills that is presently in use. The company involved, the ridiculously-named "Clean" Nuclear Energy Corp., is a one-person subsidiary of Nexus Uranium, a Canadian company.
The hearings were held at the Mueller Center in an auditorium. The Board members were on the stage. So were two of the founding members of Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, who were also involved in protecting Craven Canyon from uranium mining in 1979.
Yesterday mid-afternoon, the proceedings abruptly stopped, and the hearing Chair and the Board's attorney leaned over and started talking with each other. Then the Board went into executive session. When they came out, they only had one thing to say -- the hearing was adjourned (not postponed) until further notice!
This outcome was due to the efforts of Elizabeth Lone Eagle, an intervenor who filed a lawsuit in Federal Court in Rapid City first thing on Wednesday morning. The lawsuit alleges that the Board of Minerals and Environment violated the due process rights of the Lakota intervenors, and a temporary restraining order was requested. The restraining order came through mid-afternoon -- and that is why the hearing was abruptly put on hold for an undetermined amount of time.
Our congratulations to all involved for this outcome, and especially Elizabeth! The company may apply to re-start the permitting process and, if so, we'll deal with that too. There have been a number of efforts to protect Craven Canyon from uranium mining over the years, and there's no reason to think that will change in the future.
Thank you to all those who attended and provided their public comment, and to those who donated their time, resources, services, and facilities. Stay with us for updates.
For more information about this uranium project go to https://bhcleanwateralliance.org/chord-project/
