County Planning & Zoning Commission recommends 18-month moratorium on permits for frac sand mining

The Winneshiek County Planning & Zoning Commission is recommending to county supervisors that they adopt an 18-month moratorium on the issuance of new permits for frac sand mining operations in Winneshiek County.

The recommendation followed a two-hour long public hearing on the issue Tuesday night.  Commission members all favored a moratorium, but were split on whether it should be for 12 months or 24 months.  Commission members Wendy Stevens and Leslie Cook suggested the 18-month moratorium.  That proposal was approved on an 8-1 vote, with Doug Egeland the only dissenting vote.

Prior to the vote, Winneshiek County Protectors spokesperson Lyle Otte presented over 1,350 signatures on a petition calling for a 24-month moratorium.  A standing room only crowd of around 150 people jammed into the third floor courtroom to hear a procession of speakers raise objections to frac sand mining.

Many of the comments from speakers at the public hearing revolved around the potential health threats caused by silica sand mining and whether the dust causes health problems, especially to the lungs.  University of Iowa environmental health professor David Osterburg said there were "real health threats" associated with frac sand mining. Other comments centered on the impact sand trucks would have on road conditions.  One speaker said a typical mining operation would create 200 to 400 truck trips each day.

David Williams, an attorney from Fillmore County, Minnesota--one of the SE Minnesota counties that has a frac sand mining moratorium--suggested the moratorium would allow time for study and drafting appropriate ordinances.  "This is not about prohibiting frac sand mining, it's about regulating it," he suggested.

Some mining industry officials also were present to defend their industry.  Pattison Sand representative Beth Reagan said her company employs over 100 people in Clayton County, with a $10 million payroll.  She also pointed out "Everything we use in daily life is either grown or mined."

But the argument that prevailed was the argument that the moratorium would give Winneshiek County officials enough time to study the issue fully and write the proper regulations.  That would allow for informed decisions, noted Decorah resident Kate Rattenberg, who concluded, "You can't go back once (mining) is started."