Bill Limiting Local Control Over Sand Mines Stalls Out In Legislature

State Senator Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, says he’s disappointed his bill limiting local control over existing frac sand mines wasn’t able to pass this session, but he’s not sure if he’ll reintroduce it.

Senate Bill 632 would have exempted existing frac sand operations from any new regulations passed by local government. It would have also exempted land that was registered as having silica sand deposits. Tiffany co-authored the bill and says it aims to keep locals from changing the rules for sand mines after they’d been permitted; he says he’s sorry to see it die this session.

“[I’m] disappointed that the compromise bill that we thought we had a broad agreement on was not able to pass, especially in light that all it was doing was grandfathering existing quarries and mines in place,” he said, “that they get to continue to live under the rules that they have been in the past.”

The bill was supported by the Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association along with a number of trade groups, but opposed by the Wisconsin Towns Association and a number of local officials. Tiffany says he’s not sure whether he’ll reintroduce the bill next session.

“If we see any quarries or mines that are being denied their legitimate property rights being able to operate as they have we’re going to be very concerned about that,” he said. “So, we’ll watch this very closely and we’ll see what next session brings.”

Pepin County Board Supervisor Dwight Jelle says he’s relieved that Senate leadership let the bill die instead of tampering with local control.

“I’m glad that happened,” Jelle said. “We all know that it may be back in a different form soon and who knows, it may be worse.”

The bill passed a Senate committee on a party line vote but never made it to the floor. A companion bill in the state Assembly never left committee.