That's the message U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., is sending to the people of South Dakota, and anyone else in the country that has enjoyed the Black Hills at one point or another and can help her get the federal overnment to act and participate in a grassroots letter writing campaign.  

“I'm asking everyone to take the time and write a letter to the White House that explains how important it is that we save the Black Hills from the pine beetle - we need some relief in this process and these letters will strengthen my message,” Noem said. “I truly believe this is an emergency situation because we have a lot of communities and homes in these areas and it's going to be devastating to the state's tourism industry and the economy if something doesn't happen right now.”

She noted that several people's jobs are at risk if the mountain pine beetle takes over, and that fire danger caused by an influx of dead trees alone should be enough to warrant an immediate response.

As for whether writing a letter is worth everyone's time, Noem said it absolutely is.

“When an office is flooded with letters, they begin to realize the public is not happy, and changes start to happen,” she said.

If everyone who cares about the future of the forests of the Black Hills writes a letter, she said that would help her cut through the government bureaucracy, which is the main hurdle when it comes to inaction. 

Despite her ongoing efforts to convince Obama and his top environmental aide, Nancy Sutley to make alternative arrangements when it comes to the National Environmental Policy Act, it hasn't been enough.

“We make several calls every week and hear nothing in return,” Noem said. “We've been working really hard to get some sort of response as to why nothing has happened, and still nothing.”

One of the biggest let downs happened in September, three months after she sent a letter explaining the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action, Noem received a letter that said the request would not be granted.

“Over and over again they are refusing to realize that this is an emergency situation,” she said. “I just don't understand because something similar to this has been done in the past, and I don't see any reason at all South Dakota should be treated any different.”

If Obama does allow for an expedited process, Noem said she trusts that the people on the ground, and the people who live and work in the forests of the Black Hills will know exactly what to do — and do it.

“We'd respond immediately with all hands on deck,” Noem said. “I'd work go get people in there fighting the mountain pine beetle right away.”

To read about South Dakota's overall effort to beat the Mountain Pine Beetle in the Black Hills visit www.beatthebeetles.com.

To view a selection of articles that the Pioneer has written on the mountain pine beetle visit www.bhpioneer.com.

When writing letters, Noem said people need to request the White House reconsider their denial of an expedited regulatory process for the Black Hills. More information about what to include in each letter is available at www.noem.house.gov and e-mails can be sent to http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact.

Letters should be addressed to:

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

Washington D.C. 20500

Chairwoman Nancy Sutley

Council on Environmental Quality

730 Jackson Place, NQ

Washington D.C. 20503

We want to hear from you!

Will you be writing a letter, or do you have an opinion on how the mountain pine beetle issue can be better addressed?

If so, let us know by e-mailing a letter to the editor at news@bhpioneer.com, or submitting a comment at www.bhpioneer.com.