PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — A bill to regulate lithium mining under stricter standards failed in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee Thursday after a deadlocked vote and subsequent motion.
House Bill 1258 would have placed lithium mining under the same regulations as gold and silver mining rather than current sand and gravel standards. The committee first split 6-6 on a do-pass motion before voting 8-4 to send the bill to the 41st day, effectively killing it.
“Lithium mining is not the same as digging up gravel. It’s a hard rock mining operation, more similar to gold and silver mining,” bill sponsor Rep. Nicole Uhre-Balk, D-Rapid City, told the committee.
Mike Lees, program administrator for the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Minerals Mining Program, opposed the bill, saying current regulations suffice.
“Known lithium deposits in South Dakota occur exclusively in the Black Hills in small, localized deposits…typically between one and 10 acres in extent,” he said.
“I think we need to study this,” Rep. Tim Goodwin, R-Rapid City, said, suggesting a summer field trip to examine mining operations.
According to DANR testimony, five lithium mining sites operate in South Dakota under two operators.
