Minerals and Mining Program
Administrator - Bob Townsend, C.P.G. E-mail
Phone (605) 773-4201
Fax (605) 773-5286
Welcome to the Minerals and Mining Web Page
The Minerals and Mining Program is the regulatory arm of DENR responsible for ensuring that the impacts from mineral exploration, mining, and oil and gas production in South Dakota to the environment are minimized and that affected lands are reclaimed and useable after the resources have been extracted. The regulatory process includes issuing exploration permits, mining permits, mining licenses, and oil and gas permits in accordance with the requirements of state law and rules and then, inspecting and monitoring development activities to ensure compliance with permit requirements.
Deadwood Standard Project Environmental Permits
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is making environmental permitting files related to VMC LLC's exploration and proposed Deadwood Standard large scale gold mining project near Lead available to the public in electronic format. On March 18, 2013, VMC, LLC started the process to obtain a large scale mine permit application by submitting a Request for Determination of Special, Exceptional, Critical, or Unique Lands on October 1, 2012. For more information, go to the Deadwood Standard permit web page.
New Exploration Permit Applications Received by the Department
Information on new exploration permit applications received by the Minerals and Mining Program, including the application, public notices, and key correspondence, is now available on the New Exploration Permit Applications web page.
Powertech Environmental Permits
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources is making environmental permitting files related to Powertech (USA) Inc. uranium exploration and proposed in situ leach mining projects near Edgemont available to the public in electronic format. In addition to ground water discharge permit and water rights permit applications submitted earlier this year, Powertech submitted a large scale mine permit application on October 1, 2012. For more information, go to the Powertech environmental permit web page.
New Mine Permit Applications, Including Requests for Determination of Special, Exceptional, Critical, or Unique Lands, Received by the Department
Information on new mine permit applications (including Requests for Determination of Special, Exceptional, Critical, or Unique Lands) received and being processed by the Minerals and Mining Program is now available on the New Mine Permit Applications web page. This includes mine permit applications, public notices, key correspondence, and intervention and nominating petitions.
In Situ Leach Mine Regulations
In situ leach mine regulations have been adopted by Board of Minerals and Environment and the Interim Rules Committee. For a copy of the adopted regulations, the board's statement of reasons for adopting the regulations, and questions and answers about the new regulations, please go to the in situ leach mine regulations web page. In 2011, the South Dakota Legislature tolled (put on hold/suspended) the in situ leach mining rules.
Uranium Exploration Permits
A new web page has been developed that contains information on how to obtain a uranium exploration permit. To access the web page, please go to the uranium exploration permits web page.
