Sources in the frac sand activist community tell Bluestem that Minnesota Environmental Quality Board Principle Planner Jeff Smyser has cancelled his trip to Houston to participate in a pre-conference workshop offered by the Frac Sand Logistics And Supply Chain 2013: Rail, Trucking and Transloading Opportunities Congress on November 19.
The grassroots activists and Land Stewardship Project's Policy Program Organizer Bobby King learned about Smyser's trip shortly before the EQB met on Wednesday in St. Paul when Bluestem Prairie broke the story with the post EQB staffer to lead Frac Sand Logistics & Supply Chain 2013 pre-conference workshop in Texas.
Reached for comment about Smyser's cancellation, King said that he and a Winona-based frac sand industry critic had raised objections to Smyser's trip not only because of the potential appearance of favoritism toward industry Smyser's workshop leadership in Houston might signal, but also because the EQB planner had turned down three requests for meetings by concerned citizens.
"He couldn't meet with us," King told Bluestem, "but he's got time to go to Texas and talk to these guys?"
King called the trip cancellation "a positive development."
He noted that Smyser had addressed the criticisms in Wednesday's meeting, saying that he had intended to go to Texas to learn more about the industry. According to King, Smyser told the board meeting that the out-of-state travel had been approved for state payment.
Following testimony on Wednesday, the EQB voted to reject draft frac sand mining guidelines, Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Hemphill reported in Frac sand draft rules go back to the drawing board.
According to King, a citizen activist videotaped the board meeting, including activists and Smyser's statements. Bluestem will post it if and when it becomes available.
Photo: Winona frac sand activist Jim Gurley, who expressed his dismay about the Smyser junket to the EQB on Wednesday. Photo by Judy Keen at MinnPost. For a strong overview of the issue, read Keen's excellent July 2013 article, Frac mining’s pros and cons: Debate focuses on southeastern Minnesota.
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