Houston County to vote on frac sand mining ban

Houston County commissioners are expected to vote next week on an ordinance that would prohibit silica sand mining in the county.

If approved, the ordinance would make Houston County the first county in Minnesota to ban the practice. The rule would not affect the mining of sand for construction or agricultural purposes.

The sand is used in a natural gas extraction process called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. When the sand is forced into underground rock formations it breaks up the stone, releasing large amounts of natural gas. The hard Minnesota sand is perfect for fracking, because it can withstand the intense pressure needed to break rock.

"My thinking is we have a pretty delicate geologic system in Houston County, karst topography. Water flows through it pretty quickly," County Board Chair Steve Schuldt said. "If we take off too much of the top layer, we're shooting ourselves in the foot. Our water is going to be contaminated."

For months, critics of sand mining said the proposed ordinance did not go far enough to monitor silica dust and it also did not limit the number of mines in the county. An all-out prohibition on silica sand mining would be a victory for many residents like Bruce Kuehmichel, of Caledonia, who have fought to keep the industry out of the county.

"The people, the majority of the citizens of Houston County, are all for protecting their environment and they want to preserve for future generations what they're enjoying today," said Kuehmichel, a member of the anti-frac sand mining group, Houston County Protectors.

There are currently no silica sand mines in Houston County but it is home to nine active mines used either for construction or agricultural purposes, according to county officials.

Fillmore, Winona and Wabasha counties have all passed ordinances restricting silica sand mining in recent years. Houston County commissioners will vote on the ordinance at their Tuesday board meeting.