Bear Butte is located within Meade County, in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Bear Butte is a sacred site to the Plains Tribes in addition to holding four National Historic Designations. Bear Butte is sacred land and comparable to Mt. Sinai or the Vatican.

The South Dakota State Board of Minerals and Environment in November approved oil drilling permits allowing Nakota Energy LLC to drill up to 24 wells in a 960-acre field for the production of oil and gas within 1.5 miles of Bear Butte, a sacred site and National Historical Landmark.
 
The South Dakota State Board of Minerals and Environment failed to comply with required regulations regarding consultation with the South Dakota State Historical Society, due to Bear Butte being a National Historical Landmark and oil drilling would occur within the boundaries. This failure to comply forced the State to re-open public notification and hearings.
 
On May 18, 2011 South Dakota State Board of Minerals and Environment choose to revoke the original permits, cutting the number of oil wells allowed from 24 to 5 based upon public testimony and recommendations made by South Dakota State Historical Society. 
 
Meade County Commissioners announced on May 24, 2011 they are exploring legal action to revoke the recent decision on May 18th. The basis of Meade County's potential legal action is "a violation of property rights" 
 
Meade County Commissioners Chairman, Alan Aker was quoted in today's news press article in Rapid City Journal stating: “The fact that the board granted the permits before there was a Bear Butte issue and is now more restrictive, really tells you there was no other reason for their action than Bear Butte,” Aker said. “I’d hate to see the precedent started that proximity to Bear Butte means you have diminished property rights.”
 
Meade County has continually violated the sacredness of Bear Butte with their continued actions for the past six years, all in the name of greed. Meade County has no zoning ordinances to regulate property owners.

The struggle to protect the serenity of Bear Butte from continual encroachment has ultimately developed into a religious freedom vs property rights issue.
 
We are asking for your support in signing our petition requesting Meade County to cease and desist from further action on the Bear Butte oil drilling issue.

For more information about the ongoing struggles to Protect Bear Butte, please visit our website at www.protectbearbutte.com .
 
Thank you for your support!