The RCJ notes:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service extended the comment period this week for the Proposed Dakota Grassland Conservation Area until Jan. 14, 2011.

Preserve our soil and grasslands for future South Dakota tourism and agriculture? I know, it's a far-lefty dream....

Establishment of the Dakota Grassland would allow the Service to further the protection of wetland and grassland habitats by working with private landowners to develop conservation easement agreements. Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements between landowners and the Service. The easements protect wetlands and grasslands from being converted to other uses, but allow for the continuation of traditional activities such as farming wetlands when dry from natural conditions and livestock grazing and haying in grasslands.

Check this out and consider supporting it. Contrary to popular (Gordon Howie's) belief, this grasslands easement would still allow grazing leases, but would add some special protections to preserve these special lands on the prairie.

There's more about it here and here on the US FWS site.