Winona County heads to court to defend its ban on sand mining for use in hydraulic fracturing Winona County, Minnesota's only county to ban the mining of silica sand for use by the oil and gas industry in hydraulic fracturing, goes to court Thursday to defend the ban.
Dozens of people voiced their concerns Wednesday morning about frac sand mining in Houston County.
When the Trempealeau County Board voted to temporarily suspend frac sand mining last month, its members thought the issue was solved – but one company has found a loophole that may allow it to build a new mine this year.
Winona County commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of allowing the first frac sand mine in the county.
Critics of silica sand mining had hoped the Minnesota Legislature would adopt aggressive statewide rules to protect people and the environment.
