Photo by Andrew Link via Instagram
At least 40 people have been arrested in Winona during a protest of frack sand mining.
Protesters gathered at an intersection Monday and then walked to the commercial harbor and a sand processing plant on Winona’s west end.
via Winona Daily News.
A new documentary about frac sand mining directed by local filmmaker Jim Tittle will be making its debut tonight at the Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing. “The Price of Sand” aims to not only shed light on both sides of the fracking debate, but also to look at how the struggle puts a strain on community relations in smaller communities of southeast Minnesota. The film will be screened at the Grandview Theatre in St. Paul next Thursday.
The defeat of a major frac sand facility in St. Charles of Winona County has forced investors to look elsewhere while others are simply giving up.
“Me and my partners split up. They went to Wisconsin,” said Rick Frick, one of two remaining principals in Minnesota Proppant LLC. “Were they fed up? Yes, that had a lot to do with it.”
Stuart Hagen, one of the investors who left Minnesota Proppant, wouldn’t comment about his experience. He and his son, Gunnar, spent a full year helping to organize and advance the project.
“We’re out of it,” said Hagen, who lives near Eau Claire, Wis. “I’m not involved any more.”
via StarTribune.com.
The City Council of St. Charles unanimously voted on Tuesday to adopt a resolution that would block a local mining company from building a $55 million to $70 million silica sand processing plant in the city limits.
via StarTribune.com.
Health department seeks potential for groundwater contamination at the site.
Lime Township’s next decision on the Jordan Sands silica sand mining project has been delayed until May after the company asked for 60 extra days to respond to public comments on an environmental study.
Jordan Sands asked for the delay to thoroughly answer questions about the study, CEO Scott Sustacek said.
“We think we can cover all the comments and questions that came up,” he said.
Fifty-two people and agencies submitted more than 130 pages of comments on the study, said Beth Proctor, a 3rd Avenue resident who lives near the proposed mine.
via Mankato Free Press.
Northeastern Iowans fear expanding silica “frac” sand mining will not only cause environmental issues, but will also add to the noise pollution as they say the clamour of trucks hauling away the sand is enough to cause the ground to shake.
As the mining of frac sand in Minnesota is debated at the state capitol, Minnesota Public Radio News is hosting an online chat that looks at silica sand mining in the upper Midwest. We’ll hear from reporters from around the region — and the country to get a feel for what’s happening. Join the conversation Tuesday at noon.
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Permitting decisions are on hold while the review is underway.
Minnesota Sands bows to state pressure, in a move that could set a precedent for growing industry.
via Star Tribune.
Minnesota Industrial Sand Council clashes with those concerned about harm to air and water at legislative hearing.
Small governments in southeastern Minnesota seek state help on studying and regulating mining, with calls for a moratorium.
via Star Tribune.
It is common for city leaders to wear more than one hat, but Red Wing Mayor Dennis Egan’s new job as an advocate for sand mining is raising concerns over his ability to lead the city in a manner that serves the public interest.
[The mayor's move is] triggering consternation in his hometown just as it begins considering what position to take in a sand-mining debate that is emerging at the State Capitol.
Egan said Tuesday he sees no conflict of interest and won’t step down while he works as executive director of the Minnesota Industrial Sand Council.
But Red Wing City Council President Lisa Bayley, a lawyer, said she has received many “complaints, questions and concerns” from residents about the mayor’s new job as a paid advocate for an industry that is at the forefront of local ferment. via Star Tribune.
“In a desperate effort to prevent foreclosure on his parents’ farm, Kyle Slaby applied to his local township board last year for permission to mine frac sand. He dreamed of erasing more than $600,000 in debt and getting rich from deposits of high-grade crystalline silica, which is in hot demand because of the national boom in hydro-fracking for oil and gas.
“What he never saw coming, he says, was one of the township’s three elected officers derailing his plan — and then going into the sand business himself.
“A Houston County frac sand mine won’t be allowed to operate during the county’s moratorium, a judge has ruled.
“Wabasha County Judge Terrence Walters ruled late last week not to lift a stop work order issued by Houston County for the mine, known as the Erickson Quarry and located a few miles southeast of Rushford,” via Winona Daily News.
“The city of Winona’s planning commission on Monday approved a draft of a comprehensive frac sand study.
“All commissioners voted to send the draft report to a public hearing except commissioner Brian Buelow, who voted no on three of four separate votes on different issues that effect the growing local industry,” via Winona Daily News.
