Dunn County Extends Frac Sand Ban

Dunn County is extending a ban on new frac sand mining and processing operations. Officials say they need more time to study and craft regulations for this burgeoning industry.

Moratoriums let governments temporarily halt construction of new frac sand mines and processing centers. They’re meant to give governments time to study possible impacts of the industry so they can craft ordinances to regulate it. Dunn County passed its frac sand mining moratorium in January and it was expected to be lifted this month. But the county board has extended it by three months. The moratorium will now expire in late October. County Board Supervisor Joe Plouff says his committee needs more time to update their mining ordinances, “At the end of the day when I’m done, when I’m done with this and my committee is through with this I want to be able to look my constituents in the eye and say we’ve done the best job that we can on this issue for you. You are who we work for, we don’t work for a mining company.”

Plouff says his committee was nearly finished with a mining overlay district ordinance that would regulate hours of operation, sound and light pollution and fugitive dust. But he says members were concerned it didn’t differentiate between small sand pits and large industrial sand mining operation.