If Fillmore County Commissioners do not order an EIS on Rein's Expansion...

Rein Application for Expansion 

What you can do:   Contact our commissioners - Urge them to call for an EIS. 
                                 Attend the citizen input session, meeting on March 26, 9:30a.
                                 Attend the commissioners' meeting April 2, 9a.

April 2, 9:00 am Fillmore Commissioners are voting on whether or not to approve the Rein permit.

If Fillmore County Commissioners do not order an EIS on Rein's Expansion,  they could issue a permit immediately!

Background info:  Important concerns were raised in the public comments, especially by the MPCA and other state agencies, indicating that

the EAW shows the "potential for significant environmental effects."

To see the Written Response to Comments, see the previous post.

Yes, the public comment period expired, and the comments have been reviewed. However, the response to those comments indicates that we still don't have enough information about the potential environmental effects.

It is NOT too late for citizens to speak up now. Although it is too late to have comments included as formal responses to the EAW, we can always contact the commissioners, let them know our concerns, and ask them to order an EIS because there is the potential for significant environmental impacts.

Talking Points...
(Ensure that you make it clear that this is not a comment on the EAW, but on their responsibility to call for an EIS. If you do not, they may regard it as a comment on the EAW and they will disregard your message.)

Talking points

An EIS is required, not only to fill in the blanks of basic information, but in addition, to address the project's environmental impacts and provide a comparative analysis of its economic and sociological effects.  We need an EIS that considers reasonable alternatives, including the "no-build" alternative.  We need information on future stages of the proposed mine to examine cumulative impacts.  Only then will Fillmore County officials be able to make a wise decision on a conditional use permit.

 The cumulative effects of the Rein mine expansion, along with the other silica sand projects known or discussed in our area have potential for significant environmental impacts.  An EIS is needed to study them thoroughly.

Several government agencies commented that there is potential for significant environmental impact.

This is the first mine applied for in the county and an EIS should be required to set precedent. 

The other three proposals in Fillmore County are going to do an EIS, And Rein should too.

The written response to the comments indicates that we still don't have enough information about the potential environmental effects.