State frac sand moratorium unlikely

Hoping for a statewide moratorium on frac sand mining? Don't expect one this year. The proposal seems to have died at the state Legislature, with any language on moratoriums absent from the omnibus environmental bills moving forward in the House and Senate this week. And Gov. Mark Dayton announced last month that he doesn't support a statewide moratorium.

Read more in Winona Daily News.

Winona frac sand moratorium ending

Two Winona City Council members made a last-ditch effort to extend the city's frac sand moratorium but were denied by the rest of the council. The Winona City Council voted 5-2 not to extend the city's yearlong moratorium on new and expanding frac sand businesses by 120 days. The moratorium will expire March 13.

Read more in the Winona Daily News.

Sand storm brewing on the horizon

Mining for sand used in the hydraulic fracturing process has become a hot topic in Minnesota and state leaders in North Dakota are paying attention. With the Bakken Formation receiving much of its sand used for fracking from neighboring states to the east like Minnesota and Wisconsin, people in the Peace Garden State are interested in a groundswell movement in Minnesota that is asking for a moratorium on mining for frac sand.

Read more in The Dickinson (ND) Press.

Senate panel approves frac sand mining moratorium

A state Senate committee on Tuesday approved a statewide moratorium on new frac sand mining, despite warnings from industry officials that the legislation would stifle job growth and put Minnesota at a competitive advantage with its neighbor, Wisconsin.

Read more at Minnesota Public Radio.

Frac sand mine takes Houston County to court

A Houston County mining company and two mine owners are asking a Wabasha County judge to allow them to continue mining and processing sand in Houston County, after the county ordered them to stop because of the county's ongoing moratorium. Minnesota Sands LLC and mine owners Tracie and Michelle Erickson are scheduled to go before Terrence Walters today to fight the stop work order the county issued in July against the mine, located a few miles east of Rushford in the western edge of the county.

Read more in the Winona Daily News.

Health department asks for frac sand moratorium extension

The Buffalo County public health department is calling for an extension to the frac sand moratorium as its expiration date approaches.

Read more in the Winona Daily News.