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The Black Hills Preservation Project -- Protecting Our Land and Water Supply 💧
Multiple federal and state programs are in place to address mining-related damage, ranging from requiring bonds for current mining operations to federal Superfund cleanups for long-abandoned sites.
Active and recent reclamation efforts
Federal Superfund site remediation
Whitewood Creek: For over a century, the Homestake Gold Mine polluted Whitewood Creek with millions of tons of mine tailings. After being designated a federal Superfund site, the Homestake Mining Company conducted a cleanup under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supervision. The cleanup included removing and replacing contaminated soil in residential yards. The creek's banks have now been revegetated, and the site is in reuse as ranchland and for recreation.
National Forest projects: The U.S. Forest Service manages reclamation projects on federal lands within the Black Hills National Forest. An example is the Deadwood-Agnew Mine Reclamation Project, which filled an open pit with a reclamation product, applied topsoil, and reseeded the area.
State-level mining permits and bonding
South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR): The DANR enforces reclamation requirements for all licensed mining operations in the state.
Reclamation bonding: Prior to beginning work, mining operators must submit a bond that covers the estimated cost of reclamation. For large-scale mines, the bond must cover the entire cost of hiring a third-party contractor to complete the reclamation.
Bond release: After reclamation is complete, a post-closure bond may be required to cover potential long-term costs before the original bond is released.
Cyanide bonding: Operations using chemical leaching agents like cyanide must provide additional financial assurance, ranging from $25,000 to $1 million.
Challenges and funding gaps
Thousands of abandoned mines
The Black Hills has thousands of abandoned mine sites, many of which continue to cause pollution and pose physical hazards.
The federal Abandoned Mine Land (AML) program, funded by fees on coal production, primarily addresses legacy coal mines. This leaves many abandoned hardrock mines without a dedicated funding stream for remediation.
The 1872 General Mining Act contains no provisions for reclamation, allowing many historic mine sites to remain permanently damaged.
Funding and oversight
While federal funding is available, it is often prioritized for coal mines, leaving a large number of hardrock mines in states like South Dakota without a clear path for comprehensive cleanup.
The lack of county zoning in some areas, as seen with the limestone mine near Piedmont, can allow mining projects to proceed without sufficient oversight, potentially leading to inadequate reclamation in the future.
Copyright © 2025 Black Hills Preservation Project
Custer, South Dakota
Black Hills Preservation Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible.
©2025 Black Hills Preservation Project. All rights reserved.
Black Hills Preservation Project
PO Box 9
Custer, SD 57730
Contact Email: blackhills@myyahoo.com
www.blackhillspreservationproject.org
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