To the Editor,
Planning Commission Chair Dan Griffin says, “Regarding frac sand, Houston County officials are well aware that there is very little support for large scale frac sand mining.” In so saying, he is implying, erroneously, that there is support for frac sand mining on the scale of 20 acres, which he seems to define as “small.” Worse, these 20-acre mines could be every half mile. Every half mile!
For over five years now, I and many others have been involved in the effort to protect Houston County from the ravages of frac sand mining. I have heard hundreds of people around the county affirm that they are opposed to any amount of frac sand mining. Yet, there is no more than the same ten or twenty people who are demanding to be allowed to destroy the beauty of our Bluff Country landscape so that they can make money at the expense of their neighbors and future generations.
Imagine a landscape pock-marked with 20-acre frac sand mines every half mile. What would that do to tourism, our roads, our water, our air? Even one frac sand mine, if you live near it, can ruin your home values, your water, your life.
A true conservationist would not promote this kind of damage.
Donna Buckbee
Rushford, MN