Crisis Conditions Unfolding in Frac Sand Mining (MN & WI)

by Duane Nichols on February 14, 2015

DANGEROUS FRAC SAND MINING NEAR APPROVAL IN HOUSTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO STOP IT – SAVE YOUR COMMUNITY – DEMAND A FRAC SAND BAN

Houston County Commissioners are about to approve a mining ordinance that will open the doors to an unlimited number of frac sand mines in is County in Minnesota. They could approve it as soon as Wednesday, February 18th.

THE DRAFT ORDINANCE:

• Contains NO provision for monitoring deadly silica dust, a known major cause of lung disease.

• Contains NO PROTECTION of our precious water supply – neither its quality nor its quantity.

• EACH MINE can have 20 acres (15 football fields) of active mining.

• EACH MINE could add 4,000 truckloads of sand per mine, per year on Houston County roads.

• There is NO limit on the number of mines (Fillmore Co. allows only FIVE mines!) Houston could have HUNDREDS!

• YOU will pay for the road maintenance (road agreement with the county will only be required if mines run 30 or more trucks a day — 22 trucks (15 cubic yard trucks) over 180 days can haul 60,000 cubic yards.)

>> Provides NO PROTECTION for our beautiful bluffs.

>> Provides NO PROTECTION of your investment in your home (home values decrease up to 30% within a mile of a mine, that is if anyone would want to buy it.)

>> “Grandfathered” mines (Houston County has 130 of them) will NOT be required to follow most of the regulations.

>> Contains NO provisions for enforcement of what little regulation it does contain.

PLEASE JOIN LOCAL FAMILIES – THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES IS TO BAN FRAC SAND MINING IN HOUSTON COUNTY!

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE – SPEAK UP AT THE PUBLIC HEARING: Wednesday, February 18, 10:00 AM Houston County Courthouse, Commissioners Room, 304 S. Marshall St., Caledonia, MN 55921

DO THREE THINGS NOW: EMAIL, WRITE, AND CALL ALL FIVE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Steve Schuldt – 507.724.3639, steve.schuldt@co.houston.mn.us 12874 County 10 Caledonia, MN 55921

Teresa Walter – 507.895.2446, teresa.walter@co.houston.mn.us 550 Skunk Hollow Road, La Crescent, MN 55947

Justin Zmyewski – 507.450.8297, justin.zmyewski@co.houston.mn.us 18158 State 16, Houston, MN 55943

Dana Kjome – 507.498.5676, dana.kjome@co.houston.mn.us PO Box 15, Spring Grove, MN 55974

Judy Storlie – 507.895.8994,  judy.storlie@co.houston.mn.us 28 South Elm Street, La Crescent, MN 55947

To learn more about frac sand mining, go to: www.sandpointtimes.com and www.freehoustonsand.com

{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

Keith A. Koehler March 3, 2015 at 10:35 am

Fracking in WV, PA, OH and elsewhere is causing companies in Wisconsin to destroy land for fracking sand. This is the case here in Trempealeau County, WI. The stress and strain are splitting families and friends, some sign up.

New mines around Whitehall, WI are very detrimental, and some of us are thinking of moving away. I just checked into a move to Minnesota, but it looks like the same thing going on over there.

These fracking and mining activities are like a rain coming down now, but the bigger storm is coming. The greed of the industry will be dumping on many more residents and citizens.

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