THE BLACK HILLS NEED YOUR VOICE!
This Is Your Chance to Protect Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara Mountain from Mining
COMMENTS NEEDED BY MARCH 8, 2006

Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara Mountain are Irreplaceable.

Located in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota, Jewel Cave is the third longest cave in the world—an astonishing 135 miles and 10 feet long. It is also critical habitat for wintering bats. Although protected as a National Monument, the cave itself extends far beyond the Monument boundaries, actually extending beneath lands managed by the Black Hills National Forest. Inyan Kara, which is located in the northwestern Black Hills of Wyoming, is one of three roadless areas remaining on the Black Hills National Forest. Long held sacred by indigenous peoples like the Lakota, the 1,278 acre Inyan Kara has remained relatively untouched, despite development pressure in the Black Hills.

Unfortunately, Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara are not protected from mining. Although mineral potential is low, the Black Hills National Forest does not prohibit mining in Inyan Kara or on top of Jewel Cave. The third longest cave in the world and an important sacred site are now at risk.

Fortunately, the Black Hills National Forest is proposing to protect Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara from mining. The proposal calls for prohibiting hard rock mining on 4,696 acres to protect Jewel Cave and 1,278 acres to protect Inyan Kara. But your voice is needed to make sure the Black Hills National Forest fully protects these irreplaceable areas. Please take one minute to write a letter by March 8, 2006 to the Black Hills National Forest. A sample letter is provided below.

Ask the Forest Supervisor to:
• Fully protect Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara from hard rock mining;
• Withdraw from mineral entry the full 4,696 acres of the Black Hills National Forest above Jewel Cave and the full 1,278 acres of Inyan Kara; and
• Please Select Alternative 2 as documented in the Environmental Assessment for the Inyan Kara and Jewel Cave Area Mineral Withdrawals.
Write your letters to:
• Craig Bobzien, Forest Supervisor, Black Hills National Forest, 1019 N. 5th St., Custer, SD 57730, mailroom_r2_black_hills@fs.fed.us
Also, please send a copy of your letter to the Bureau of Land Management, who will also decide whether to protect Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara from mining. Send a copy to:
• Bob Bennett, Wyoming State Director, Bureau of Land Management, PO Box 1828 , Cheyenne, WY 82003; and
• Howard Lemm, Montana/Dakotas Acting State Director, Bureau of Land Management, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59101

SAMPLE LETTER:
Dear Supervisor Bobzien:

Jewel Cave and Inyan Kara are irreplaceable. I urge you to withdraw from mineral entry the proposed 4,696 acres of the Black Hills National Forest above Jewel Cave and the proposed 1,278 acres of Inyan Kara. Please select Alternative 2, the proposed action, as set forth in the Environmental Assessment regarding the Inyan Kara and Jewel Cave Area Mineral Withdrawals.

Sincerely,



cc:
Bob Bennett, Wyoming State Director, Bureau of Land Management
Howard Lemm, Montana/Dakotas Acting State Director, Bureau of Land Management


Thank you for lending your voice to protect this special place!