11-14-2004, 05:36 PM
[size 2]PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Mike Rounds today announced a one-month extension to the public comment period for a draft plan that guides restoration of lands damaged by the mining operation of the Homestake Mining Company (now Barrick Gold).[/size]
[size 2]The public comment period for the draft Conceptual Restoration Plan was scheduled to end on Nov[/size][font "Arial"][size 2]. 1. Governor Rounds has approved an extension through Dec.[/size][/font][font "Arial"][size 2] 1.[/size]
[size 2]"This plan is a tremendous opportunity for South Dakota to protect some of the most beautiful land in the country, so it is vital that the public be given every opportunity to comment on the plan," Governor Rounds said.[/size]
[size 2]The draft plan lays out several alternatives for compensating the public for hazardous substance releases from the Homestake Mining operation in the northern Black Hills. The recommended alternative is to use money paid by the mining company as part of this compensation to purchase and preserve undamaged land and keep it in public ownership.[/size]
[size 2]Governor Rounds said that the state is currently exploring the purchase of 469 acres of land in Spearfish Canyon. "This represents some of the finest and most diverse land and stream habitat in South Dakota," Governor Rounds said. "That is why it is important that we provide this extended comment period."[/size]
[size 2]The public can submit their comments on the plan to: Shelly Deisch; Game, Fish and Parks; 3305 W. South Street, Rapid City S.D. 57702. E-mail at [/size][/font][size 2][url "mailto
helly.deisch@state.sd.us"][font "Arial"]shelly.deisch@state.sd.us[/font][/url][/size][font "Arial"][size 2].[/size]
[size 2]Copies of the draft are available for review at:[/size] [ul] [li][size 2]S.D. Game, Fish and Parks web site: [/size][/font][size 2][url "http://www.sdgfp.info/"][font "Arial"]www.sdgfp.info[/font][/url][/size][font "Arial"][size 2].[/size] [li][size 2]U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service web site at: southdakotafieldoffice.fws.gov.[/size] [li][size 2]Rapid City Public Library, 610 Quincy Street.[/size] [li][size 2]Siouxland Library, Main Branch, 201 N Main Avenue, Sioux Falls.[/size] [li][size 2]Rawlins Municipal Library, 1000 E Church Street, Pierre.[/size] [/li][/ul]
[size 2]Hard copies of the plan may be obtained from:[/size] [ul] [li][size 2]Draft Conceptual Restoration Plan for Whitewood Creek, John Kirk; Game, Fish and Parks, 523 E. Capitol, Pierre SD 57501. E-mail at [/size][/font][size 2][url "mailto:john.c.kirk@state.sd.us"][font "Arial"]john.c.kirk@state.sd.us[/font][/url][/size][font "Arial"][size 2].[/size] [li][size 2]Whitewood Creek Restoration Plan Coordinator, Shelly Deisch, Game, Fish and Parks; 3305 W. South Street, Rapid City SD 57702. E-mail at [/size][font "Times New Roman"][size 3][url "mailtohelly.deisch@state.sd.us"]shelly.deisch@state.sd.us[/url][/size][/font][size 2].[/size] [li][size 2]Draft Conceptual Restoration Plan for Whitewood Creek, Joy Gober, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 420 S. Garfield, Suite 400, Pierre SD 57501. E-mail at [/size][/font][size 2][url "mailto:Joy_Gober@fws.gov"][font "Arial"]Joy_Gober@fws.gov[/font][/url][/size][font "Arial"][size 2].[/size] [/li][/ul][/font]
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[size 2]The public comment period for the draft Conceptual Restoration Plan was scheduled to end on Nov[/size][font "Arial"][size 2]. 1. Governor Rounds has approved an extension through Dec.[/size][/font][font "Arial"][size 2] 1.[/size]
[size 2]"This plan is a tremendous opportunity for South Dakota to protect some of the most beautiful land in the country, so it is vital that the public be given every opportunity to comment on the plan," Governor Rounds said.[/size]
[size 2]The draft plan lays out several alternatives for compensating the public for hazardous substance releases from the Homestake Mining operation in the northern Black Hills. The recommended alternative is to use money paid by the mining company as part of this compensation to purchase and preserve undamaged land and keep it in public ownership.[/size]
[size 2]Governor Rounds said that the state is currently exploring the purchase of 469 acres of land in Spearfish Canyon. "This represents some of the finest and most diverse land and stream habitat in South Dakota," Governor Rounds said. "That is why it is important that we provide this extended comment period."[/size]
[size 2]The public can submit their comments on the plan to: Shelly Deisch; Game, Fish and Parks; 3305 W. South Street, Rapid City S.D. 57702. E-mail at [/size][/font][size 2][url "mailto
helly.deisch@state.sd.us"][font "Arial"]shelly.deisch@state.sd.us[/font][/url][/size][font "Arial"][size 2].[/size] [size 2]Copies of the draft are available for review at:[/size] [ul] [li][size 2]S.D. Game, Fish and Parks web site: [/size][/font][size 2][url "http://www.sdgfp.info/"][font "Arial"]www.sdgfp.info[/font][/url][/size][font "Arial"][size 2].[/size] [li][size 2]U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service web site at: southdakotafieldoffice.fws.gov.[/size] [li][size 2]Rapid City Public Library, 610 Quincy Street.[/size] [li][size 2]Siouxland Library, Main Branch, 201 N Main Avenue, Sioux Falls.[/size] [li][size 2]Rawlins Municipal Library, 1000 E Church Street, Pierre.[/size] [/li][/ul]
[size 2]Hard copies of the plan may be obtained from:[/size] [ul] [li][size 2]Draft Conceptual Restoration Plan for Whitewood Creek, John Kirk; Game, Fish and Parks, 523 E. Capitol, Pierre SD 57501. E-mail at [/size][/font][size 2][url "mailto:john.c.kirk@state.sd.us"][font "Arial"]john.c.kirk@state.sd.us[/font][/url][/size][font "Arial"][size 2].[/size] [li][size 2]Whitewood Creek Restoration Plan Coordinator, Shelly Deisch, Game, Fish and Parks; 3305 W. South Street, Rapid City SD 57702. E-mail at [/size][font "Times New Roman"][size 3][url "mailto
helly.deisch@state.sd.us"]shelly.deisch@state.sd.us[/url][/size][/font][size 2].[/size] [li][size 2]Draft Conceptual Restoration Plan for Whitewood Creek, Joy Gober, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 420 S. Garfield, Suite 400, Pierre SD 57501. E-mail at [/size][/font][size 2][url "mailto:Joy_Gober@fws.gov"][font "Arial"]Joy_Gober@fws.gov[/font][/url][/size][font "Arial"][size 2].[/size] [/li][/ul][/font][signature]