Winona Co. frac sand permit challenged

A group of Winona County residents is challenging the county board's decision to approve a frac sand mine.

The Nisbit mine is located in Saratoga Township, and local residents are concerned about truck traffic and the mine's impact on air and water quality.

On Monday, 12 residents backed by the Land Stewardship Project asked the state Court of Appeals to review the county's decision. The group is also waiting to hear from the appeals court on another matter related to the Nisbit mine — whether an in-depth environmental study should be required for the mine.

Winona County approved the Nisbit mine last month. It's the first and only mine to receive a permit since the county's moratorium on silica sand mining expired last year.

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