St. Charles, Minn., ponders future as sand mining takes off

Nestled in a trout stream paradise between Rochester and Winona, this picturesque town has long been known as the "Gateway to Whitewater," a nearby state park known for its stunning ravines. Before long, it could be the gateway to Minnesota's new mining frontier. Local investors have floated a $55 million to $70 million proposal -- as large as any in the country -- to build an industrial processing plant and rail depot that would convert St. Charles into a regional hub for the nation's burgeoning frac sand industry and open southeastern Minnesota to what could be a sand mining frenzy.

Read more in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.