The Winona Daily News reports in County agency calls for moratorium on frac sand mining:
Winona County’s Soil and Water Conservation District voted unanimously Wednesday to support a one-year moratorium on frac sand mining in the county.
“There’s still a lot of questions and controversy over environmental concerns,” said Daryl Buck, the district’s manager. “Our job isn’t to say yes or no, but to help the county assess what needs to be done and what concerns need to be addressed.”
District supervisors are primarily concerned about the potential for mining operations to contaminate the water table, the reclamation of mining sites, and the protection of rare species.
There are three pending applications for silica sand mining sites in Winona County, which the county is reviewing amid heated public debate on mining the region’s sand.
Supervisor Eric Nelson said the potential for rapid growth in local silica sand mining could explode if permits are approved for the three sites before the county fully studies the potential impacts.
“When things expand quickly without being reviewed, on a larger scale it could create problems we might be able to avoid if we have good reviews,” Nelson said.
Earlier this years, the Goodhue and Wabasha County boards voted for one-year moratoriums in order to review their policies about silica sand mining. The Rochester Post Bulletin reported in Opposition rises up against silica sand mines that citizens in Olmsted County are also organizing:
And now, Olmsted County is facing public resistance to silica sand mining, led by Chatfield resident Paul Jewison. His property is adjacent to a newly proposed silica mine near Chatfield High School, and he's not happy about it.
"Looks like 'Gateway to Bluff Country' turns into 'Highway to Hell,'" he said via email.
Photo: A big honking silica sand mine pit.
Comments