In any season, witnessing the beauty while cruising, or just sitting, in Spearfish Canyon, located in the Black Hills in western South Dakota, shows why it is recognized as “one of the premiere national landscapes in America.” This majestic canyon is designated as a Scenic Byway. People who love this canyon have been working to protect it. How about you? Will you Help Protect this beautiful national landscape?

Why? Because Solitario Zinc, a gold exploration company, is seeking permission from the US Forest Service to drill at 23 sites on about 27,800 acres of mining claims as part of its Golden Crest Project. The company's map shows their claims are located on the west edge of Spearfish Canyon from Cheyenne Crossing to north of Bridal Veil Falls. The Forest Service hasn’t decided whether it will require a short Environmental Assessment (EA) or a more thorough Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Help Protect this natural wonder and the water from exploration and mining.  Please sign our petition "HANDS OFF SPEARFISH CANYON!"

PETITION TO Steve Kozel, District Ranger, Northern Hills District, Black Hills National Forest. 

Mr. Kozel, It is within your power to protect Spearfish Canyon. We the undersigned urgently request that you require Solitario Zinc, Inc., to submit a complete Environmental Impact Statement before beginning exploratory drilling in the northern Hills. An examination of the Plan of Operations submitted to you reveals Solitario's threats to every beneficial use of Spearfish Canyon. 

These threats include: 
• the natural environment (water, trails, wildlife, land)
• the economy of the area, which is reliant upon outdoor recreation and tourism in the potentially impacted area
• tribal cultural resources
• human social and physical health