A proposed limestone quarry near Piedmont is likely to be the next chapter in the statewide saga of landowner rights. While much of the paperwork is signed and sealed, opponents to the mine say they’re not giving up so easily.
The 300-plus acre mine would dig for limestone, a critical mineral for building materials. However, the location has nearby residents concerned about the environmental health of the Black Hills, landowner’s rights, and potential health concerns from blasting.
According to members of the Meade County Commission, the lack of local zoning ordinance allowed this development to advance so close to a community in the first place.
A recent town hall in Piedmont brought over 270 opponents to the table.
That included Nick Moser, a Yankton-based attorney who was deeply involved on the side of landowners in the Summit carbon pipeline debate. He said in these kinds of debates there’s more than one way to make progress.
“One of those might be lawyers and judges, and I hope not, but the best way to achieve your goal is to show up, be engaged, and continue doing what you’re doing – but I want to give you one caveat," Moser said. "This right here is unbelievable. This many people, in a community the size of Piedmont, to listen to lawyers. I mean, come on.”
Moser said considering the landowner rights battles the state has seen recently, tedium is the legal language of progress.
“It can’t just be one meeting, and it can’t just be two meetings," Moser said. "The pipeline battle lasted years. I hope this doesn’t last years, but please understand that showing up today – excellent first step – but there’s a lot more work to do.”
Simon Contractors is a French-owned, Wyoming-based mining company. Despite this level of opposition, Simon has the inside lane legally as many of the most important documents to develop this mine are already signed.
Previously, Simon had declined to send a representative to the town hall but did concede a question-and-answer segment with a local media outlet to be played at the event specifically for Meade County residents. That Q&A session never materialized.
