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  • Rochford Exploratory Drill Pads and Access Routes Closure

    The Black Hills National Forest has temporarily closed multiple drill pads and their associated access routes near Rochford, South Dakota to protect public safety. The closure is in effect from April 10 to August 1, 2026.

Alert Start Date: April 10, 2026

Alert End Date: August 1, 2026

Order Number: BKF-187-2026

Contact Information

Contact Name: Mystic Ranger District

Contact Number: (605) 343-1567

Associated Documents

Rochford Exploratory Drill Pad Closure Order Exhibit A: Rochford Drill Pad Closure Map Exhibit B: Rochford Drill Pad Closure Map Exhibit C: Rochford Drill Pad Signage

Forest Order

Order Number: # BKF-187-2026

U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service Black Hills Forest 
Mystic Ranger District  

Rochford Exploratory Drill Pad and Access Route Area Closure

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) the following is prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands on the Mystic Ranger District, Black Hills National Forest, described below and shown on the attached maps incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A and Exhibit B (the “Described Area”):

  1. Going into or being in the Described 36 C.F.R. § 261.53(e)

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

  1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).
  2. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.
  3. Persons engaged in business under the Rochford Mineral Exploration Plan of

DESCRIBED AREA

The described area is all NFS lands where Drill pads 1 through 8 and 11 through 20 are located and their associated access routes, as authorized by the Rochford Mineral Exploration Plan of Operations, and as depicted on Exhibit A and Exhibit B. The Described Area is located approximately two to four miles to the southwest of Rochford, South Dakota, in Pennington County. Depiction of the drill pad signage and flagging is shown in Exhibit C.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to protect public health and safety.

IMPLEMENTATION

  1. This Order shall be in effect from April 10, 2026, at 5:00 m. MDT through August 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MDT, unless rescinded.
  2. Maps identifying the Described Area are attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A and Exhibit Depiction of drill pad signage and flagging is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit C. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibits A, B and C, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/r02/blackhills/alerts
  3. Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.
  4. A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
  5. Contact the Mystic Ranger District in Rapid City, SD, (605) 343-1567, and Black Hills National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Custer, SD, (605) 673-9200, for more information about this Order.
  6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in the same Described Area.

Signed and issued on April 10, 2026.

/s/SHAWN COCHRAN 
Shawn Cochran Forest Supervisor 
Black Hills National Forest

Last updated April 10, 2026

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