Global warming may cause water scarcity in world's poorest countries
Water quality, consumption will be affected

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released alarming data on the impact of global warming on some of the world's poorest regions. By 2100, one to three billion people worldwide are expected to suffer from water scarcity. Global warming will increase evaporation and severely reduce rainfall—by up to 20 percent in the Middle East and North Africa—with the amount of water available per person possibly halved by mid-century in these regions.

Dams—provided they are adequately sized, designed and take into consideration environmental impacts—can contribute to human development by fighting global warming and regulating water supply. Yet in the context of scarcity, upstream infrastructure projects on international rivers may impact water quality or availability for neighboring states. This could leave many citizens of these countries unable to get adequate water supplies.

Water consumption also must be addressed. Agriculture accounts for more than 70 percent of water use in the world. Agronomical research and technical innovations are crucial to maximizing water efficiency, and must be taken much further. But addressing scarcity will mean revising agricultural practices and policies worldwide to ensure their sustainability.

Uranium mining to continue in South Dakota
Local groups work to stop further drilling

South Dakota Circuit Court Judge John Delaney denied a motion for a stay to stop any further drilling by a uranium mining company near Edgemont, South Dakota.

Powertech, a Canadian mining company, began drilling uranium exploratory wells a few weeks ago despite the legal appeal of its permit approval. Two environmental organizations, Defenders of the Black Hills and ACTion for the Environment, are appealing the decision made by the South Dakota Board of Mining and Environment.

Opponents of continued uranium mining argue that the people of South Dakota and its neighbors have been subjected to radioactive dust and water runoff from the hundreds of abandoned open pit uranium mines, processing sites, underground nuclear power stations, and waste dumps for more than 40 years. Among their concerns is the possibility of overflow from the mud pits in one of the Black Hills' sudden rain showers. One of the aquifers empties directly into the Cheyenne River and is used by many ranchers to water their livestock. Among the deeper aquifers of concern is the Madison, which provides water for many western South Dakota communities

Charmaine White Face, coordinator for Defenders of the Black Hills, said, "This appeal is about the violation of our Constitutional rights. Our concerns about the environment were not even considered by the Board during the first hearing in January. That's why we appealed their decision in the first place. We are not even to the environmental questions yet."

Judge Delaney stated that even though a number of procedural violations were committed by the Board and the State Department of Environment and Natural Resources, he now had the authority to make the decision.

The permit that is being appealed allows Powertech to drill 155 more exploratory wells at depths of 500-600 feet in the southwestern Black Hills. They already have 4,000 uncapped and unmarked uranium exploratory wells. Each exploratory drill hole will have an excavated mud pit approximately 12 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 10 feet deep.

The two groups are considering appealing the request for a stay to the state Supreme Court. They continue to state that Powertech does not have a valid permit to drill until after the appeal is finished.

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