Winneshiek Protectors submits proposed frac sand ordinance to Winneshiek County Board

The Winneshiek County Board has been given a proposed frac sand mining ordinance by the Winneshiek Protectors.

The ordinance was drafted with the help of retired attorney David Williams, who was involved in drafting Fillmore County's frac sand mining ordinance.  Williams told county supervisors the impacts of frac sand mining "justify stricter regulations."  He said the proposed ordinance was drafted in such a way that existing sand and gravel operations in the county would not be affected--that the ordinance would apply only to frac sand mining.

The proposed ordinance would include requirements that any mining company wanting to do frac sand mining would be required to obtain a conditional use permit that would include a plan for reclaiming the land after sand mining was completed.

Winneshiek County supervisors Dean Thompson looked over the proposed ordinance and thanked the grou for its work, saying, "This is great!"