U.S.Report South Dakota mining under renewed attack

Now that the mining-initiated 2-year moratorium on new mine development is law in South Dakota, the mining industry’s foes are at it again. Environmental groups are gathering support for a statewide initiative to limit total open pit acreage to 3,100 acres. If the industry watchdogs gain enough support, in the form of signatures on a petition, the November, 1990, state ballot will include a referendum question on the acreage cap.

The South Dakota Mining Association had hoped its moratorium initiative would forestall a bid to impose an acreage ceiling on open pit mining. However, this latest tactic by the “environmentalists” suggests the strategy backfired.

The association’s member firms include Homestake Mining, Wharf Resources, MinVen Gold, Bond Gold and others. Homestake was the driving force behind the 2-year moratorium passed in February of this year.

In 1988, the mining association won an expensive public campaign against increased taxes and severe reclamation requirements. It seems that it will have to man the barricades again.