Frac Sand Mining Fillmore County
The world is not changed by those who sort of care. - Sally Hogshead
Monday, May 9, 2016
Saturday, April 4, 2015
“Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children’s children. Do not let selfish men, or greedy interests, skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Tuesday, 3 March is when the Houston County Commissioners will take their final vote on frac sand mining
Dear Friends,
I am writing with an urgent appeal, the
background of which is below. In essence, this coming Tuesday, 3 March is
when the Houston County Commissioners will take their final vote on frac sand
mining in Houston County. In spite of their vote FOR a ban two weeks ago,
they now seem to be back-pedalinig toward ordinances which will do no
good in truly regulating the industry. (For example, enforcement language
indicates that the County "may" take actions if violations occur, not that it
"may," "shall" or "will.")We are looking for people from within an hour radius to come.
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Houston County Commissioners Backpedaling on Frac Sand Mining
Ban
At their Feb 24th
meeting, Houston County Commissioners backpedaled on the commitment they made
the week before to ban frac sand mining in the County.
On February 18th,
the Houston County Board voted unanimously to add language to the draft
mining ordinance that would ban frac sand mining. That
decision was made after a three-hour Public Hearing during which hundreds of
County residents turned out to overwhelmingly voice their opposition to the
mining of silica sand for use in hydraulic fracking.
Since then the County
Board has been pressured by the mining industry and its local allies to abandon
that commitment. It appears a majority of the Board, Steve Schuldt, Teresa
Walter and Judy Storlie, now favor allowing frac sand mining instead of a ban.
(http://www.news8000.com/news/frac-sand-mining-ordinance-vote-delayed-in-houston-county/31459714)
Following a controversial Public
Comment period last Tuesday, Commissioners discussed regulating frac sand mining
in the County instead of prohibiting it. This development comes despite
the fact that Houston County Attorney Sam Jandt advised the Commissioners that a
ban on frac sand mining could legally be passed and defended in
Court.
During the contentious Public
Comment period, Charlie Wieser from La Crescent again attempted to bully
the Board into rejecting the ban. Wieser, whose brothers Brian and Jeff,
and other family members are heavily involved in the frac sand mining industry,
again threatened that the County would be sued if the Commissioners passed a
ban. (See a video of his comments and frequent updates at www.houstoncountyrealitycheck.com)
Please contact
Commissioners Schuldt and Walter before the Tuesday, March 3rd
showdown vote!
Teresa Walter 895-2446 or teresa.walter@co.houston.mn.us
Steve Schuldt 724-3639 or steve.schuldt@co.houston.mn.us
Tell them you want a ban on frac
sand mining. Tell them that you do not believe their argument that
regulations will protect our county from the destruction of frac sand mining.
Please try to attend our
“Ban the Sand” rally this Tuesday at 8:30 at the County Courthouse before the
Commissioners’ meeting at 9:00.
Ken Tschumper
Houston County Government
Accountability Project
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