South Dakota approves development by sacred Bear Butte

Thursday, May 19, 2011  

After two days of hearing from tribes and other parties, the South Dakota Board of Minerals and Environment approved an application for an oil field near sacred Bear Butte.

Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Chairman Michael Jandreau, Rosebud Sioux Tribe council member Russell Eagle Bear, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe council member Jesse Taken Alive and Northern Cheyenne Tribe historic preservation officer Conrad Fisher urged the board to reject the application from Nakota Energy. They said the oil field will harm the place where they pray and make offerings.

“To the Cheyenne this is the center of the universe,” Fisher told the board, The Mitchell Daily Republic reported.

The board approved the application anyway but placed a limit of five wells.

Get the Story:
For now, Nakota Energy can drill three more oil wells at Bear Butte (The Mitchell Daily Republic 5/19)
Bear Butte Oil Controversy Settled (KELO-TV 5/18)

Tribes oppose oil field development by sacred Bear Butte (4/22)
Native Sun News: Something rotten in oil field regulations (4/21)
Native Sun News: Oil development plan poses threat to Bear Butte (1/12)