Frac sand mining in Minnesota now has its own website.
Six state agencies created a portal to their frac sand activities and rule-making around the industry. Officials said the site is geared toward easy navigation of the regulatory landscape. In particular, it will help people interested in what the state is doing to develop new rules for managing and permitting silica sand projects.
The website, silicasand.mn.gov, provides links to each of the state agencies involved with making the new rules or managing activities involved with the mining, transportation and processing of silica sand. They include the Environmental Quality Board (EQB), the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Pollution Control Agency (PCA), Department of Health, Department of Transportation and Department of Agriculture.
"Frac sand mining in Minnesota has presented complex environmental and economic issues," said Dave Frederickson, chair of the EQB and commissioner of the Minnesota Agriculture Department. "Governor Dayton is directing our agencies to work closely together to streamline the details of our efforts."
The agencies named to do rule-making in the legislation are the EQB, DNR and PCA. The others don't have rule responsibilities but were included in the website because they are closely tied with issues in the industry.
Josephine Marcotty
