Earlier today, Bluestem posted about the fracking sand mining debate that's creating conflict in Goodhue County. The area's fine silica sand is perfect for the natural gas extraction process known as "fracking," which forces gas out of shale.
Area residents are concerned about possible negative health and environmental effects from mining the sand and have asked the county board to approve a moratorium on silica sand mining.
On Monday night, the Goodhue County Planning Advisory Commission voted against recommending a moratorium on silica sand mining. From the earlier post:
Boese reports that a representative from Windsor Permian was supposed to attend the meeting, although he or she didn't step forward to introduce him or herself at the meeting. A county employee told Boese that the Windsor Permian representative would be meeting with staff today
A reliable source who wishes to remain anonymous tells Bluestem that he and others spotted three Windsor Permian employees consultants at Monday's Goodhue County Planning Advisory Commission. From an email:
FYI, one of the neighbors who was sitting at the back of the room told me that when Keith Fossen was invited to make his statement, one of the three Windsor Permian employees sitting in the audience stood up, then seemed to realize it his error, and sat down.
Originally, they were supposed to speak, which was why I attended. At the last minute, the commissioners decided against giving them the opportunity.
Maybe that's why they looked so peeved at the start of the meeting.
I'm told that a youtube of two Windsor Permian employees consultants or employees talking to each other before the meeting will be posted soon. I'll add it here when it becomes available.
Update: The source has submitted a photo of the three, but has only identified one of the Windsor-Permian representatives. He is Cy Ingraham. Pat Popple, of Chippewa Falls CCC, the anti-sand mining group, ID'd him for the source.
According to Popple, Ingraham is the consultant who has worked with Canadian Sand & Proppant in Wisconsin. Ingraham is an employee of SEH, a firm that specializes in "civil works, energy, environmental and transportation solutions."
According to his page on SEH's website, Ingraham is a "mining services leader" who provides environmental engineering and industrial services.
So three employees consultants or employees were in the audience on Monday, though not, as Boese wrote in the PB, "identified" to the general public who packed the meeting. But the consultants/employees will be meeting with county staff about the project. After reading the Concerned Chippewa Citizens website, I hope that citizens in Goodhue County keep an eye on these proceedings.
Photos: Aerial view of the site (above); Cy Ingraham, industry consultant( below).
Note: The title of the post was changed to reflect the identification of one of the people as a consultant for the company. While the source used the term "employee," one of the three people has been identified as a consultant; identification of the other two individuals is pending.
The natural gas lobbyists sell their product as the greener fossil-fuel alternative to oil or coal. Fracking's history belies that claim: http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/whats-fracking
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Jul 21, 2011 at 01:23 PM