South Dakota Mining Company Cancels Black Hills Graphite Drilling Amid Tribal Opposition
A mining company based in Rapid City, South Dakota, Pete Lien & Sons, has decided to cancel its plans to drill for graphite in the Black Hills. This decision follows significant opposition from Native American tribes and a temporary restraining order that halted the project. The company communicated its withdrawal to the United States Forest Service, stating it would not pursue another plan for this project. The opposition stemmed from the project's proximity to Pe'Sla, a sacred site for Sioux tribes, used for ceremonies and buffalo grazing. Nine tribes from South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska filed a lawsuit against the Forest Service, citing violations of the National Historical Preservation Act and the National Environmental Protection Act, as the project was approved without an environmental review. The NDN Collective and other environmental groups also challenged the project, leading to a temporary restraining order against the drilling. 
