For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 26, 2018

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Brian Walsh (605) 773-3296

FOR PROJECT DETAILS: http://denr.sd.gov/mmexplore.aspx

Water Management Board to Consider Mineral Mountain Resources (SD) Inc. Application for Temporary Permit to Use Water from Rapid Creek

PIERRE, S.D. – On Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018, the Water Management Board (Board) will consider Mineral Mountain Resources (SD) Inc. application for a temporary permit to use water from Rapid Creek for mining exploration near Rochford, South Dakota. The Board meeting will begin at 11 a.m. CDT in the Floyd Matthew Training Center, Joe Foss Building at 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, South Dakota.

The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) received an application for a temporary permit to use water from Mineral Mountain Resources (SD) Inc. on Aug. 22, 2018. The request seeks use of 1.8 million gallons of water at a pumping rate of 200 gallons per minute with a daily use not to exceed 10,000 gallons. If approved, the temporary permit would expire on Dec. 31, 2018.

The chief engineer of the DENR Water Rights Program recommended conditional approval of the application for a total of 880,000 gallons since the proposed use will not interfere with or adversely affect existing prior appropriations or vested rights. However, DENR has chosen to defer issuance of this temporary permit and present the application to the Water Management Board for action as allowed by administrative rule. A copy of the application, report and recommendation can be found online at http://denr.sd.gov/mmexplore.aspx.

To keep the public apprised of the Mineral Mountain Resources (SD) Inc. exploratory drill project, DENR has a webpage at http://denr.sd.gov/mmexplore.aspx to provide project status updates. Additional information about the Water Management Board and the upcoming Board meeting can be found at https://boardsandcommissions.sd.gov/default.aspx.

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