Last week, Bluestem Prairie reported that Citizens told North Branch City Council exactly what to do with frac sand transfer station proposal.
Sunday, Gary King, editor of the Leader News Room, a cooperative Wisconsin newspaper, reports in SSS withdraws proposal to build frac sand facility at North Branch:
Superior Silica Sands LLC has decided to discontinue any additional effort towards developing a frac sand trans-loading facility in North Branch's industrial park.
In a letter dated May 30, SSS told the city, "It has been a pleasure to work with you. We are truly sorry that this business partnership did not work out."
. . . No reason given by SSS as to why they dropped the proposal, however public opposition to the company's plan, which called for nonstop traffic of large frac sand hauling trucks through North Branch, Taylors Falls and St. Croix Falls while going back and forth to the company's frac sand site near Barron, Wis., had grown in recent weeks.
The letter was copied to the City of St. Croix Falls and shared with members of a grass roots group which gathered a petition with more than 1,400 signatures in opposition to the plan. The petition was presented it to the City of North Branch City Council nearly two weeks ago. The week prior to the presentation of the petition, the City of Taylors Falls sent a letter to the City of North Branch, asking they reconsider selling nearly 40 acres of land to SSS for the trans-loading facility and at least express concerns of the citizens of Taylors Falls, many who pointed to traffic safety, health concerns from potential dispersing of sand and how such traffic would hurt the tourism-based economy in Taylors Falls. . . .
Located in Chisago County on I-35 noth of the Twin Cities, North Branch is home to just over 10,000 people.
Photo: Anti-frac sand mining banner, via Chisago County Press.
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