Clean Water Alliance talks lithium

By Leslie Silverman

 

Lilias Jarding with Black Hills Clean Water Alliance  talked about lithium activities  in the Black Hills to about 40 people at the Hill City Center Sept. 19.

Jarding shared a map created by a company in Sioux Falls showing mining claims as of April 26. According to Jarding there are 248,000 acres of active mining claims.

“That’s 20 percent of the Hills, or one in every five acres that has an active mining claim,” she said. 

Jarding said the push to electric vehicles creates a high demand for lithium as hundreds of pounds are needed for each electric vehicle.

Hard rock lithium is found in the Black Hills in spodumene, a hard silicate mineral found in pegmatite rocks.

Lithium was mined in the past in the Hills. There are nine known operators in the Black Hills currently, often from overseas, Jarding said.

Australia is the largest producer of lithium in the world and Chile has the largest reserves.

There is one operating  lithium mine in Lawrence County and four licensed lithium mines south of Custer. Those operations are named after a Rapid City resident, Jarding said.

In South Dakota companies do what’s called an Exploration Notice of Intent. If a drilling operation is on private land there is no opportunity for public participation for the process of granting the notice of intent.

Jarding talked about the exploration taking place at the old Ingersoll Mine on Old Hill City Road, which will include 55 drill holes from 11 pads.

Immediately south of Hill City is another exploratory site for 80 holes from 16 pads.

“There are some wells nearby. They want to do directional drilling, which means they don’t just drill down they drill out,” Jarding said. 

Hill City officials on hand did confirm the city well is within 100 feet of the drill site.

Jarding said one of the problems with drilling in the Black Hills is that the geology of the central Black Hills isn’t well known.

“Water found in the area is found in fractures in the rock  and  because it’s not very well studied. the amount of water in a particular fracture and which fractures are connected to each other may or may not be known.”

Jarding listed several potential impacts including drilling 24 hours a day with lights, water trucks if they have to haul water in and impacts to wildlife and residents. She did note the state or the drilling companies may limit any of these potential impacts. Once exploration is complete companies can get a state mining license.

In South Dakota lithium is categorized with sand and gravel, not other hard rock minerals like gold. This license costs $100 annually, requires a modest bond and a stormwater plan.

There is  no reclamation or cultural resources plan required. Jarding reiterated that if the claim is on private land the public does not have a formal voice.

On private land Jarding said the state lets both the exploration and mining of lithium go forward without public participation. This is not the case if mining or exploration takes place on National Forest land.

Jarding listed potential health risks associated with lithium including drinking water contamination,  skin contact, eye contact inhalation, impacts of metabolism,  neuronal communication, cell proliferation and embryo development. She gave an example of combustion as a potential hazard as well.

Lithium mining is untaxed in South Dakota.

Jarding said mining uses a lot of water, with approximately 5,000 to 10,000 gallons per day per drill for exploration.

She said processing lithium usually occurs somewhere near the mining.

“It uses large amounts of energy because they heat it up,” she said.

Currently there are no lithium processing operations anywhere in the United States according to Kwinn Neff, president  the South Dakota Mineral Industries Association.

No state or county representatives were at the meeting although Jarding encouraged attendees to reach out to county officials to move a hard rock ordinance forward.

“Lithium mining for green energy  isn’t very green,” she said.

She encouraged participation to discuss the issues with neighbors and to take any opportunity for public input on the federal, state or county level.