The Lower Wisconsin Riverway Board
has asked that an application to establish
a frac sand mine in the Town of Bridgeport
be voluntarily withdrawn. The 200 acre
sand mine would be partially in the
Lower Wisconsin Riverway in Crawford
County.
The Riverway Board’s request is based
on a recommendation from the Riverway
Board Executive Committee. The committee
says the proposal should be withdrawn,
because nonmetallic mining on the scale
proposed, is not compatible with the goals
and objectives of the Riverway.
Riverway law requires nonmetallic
mining activities to avoid visual disturbance
when viewed from the river during leaf-on
conditions. The mining company…
the Pattison Sand Company of Clayton,
Iowa…has told the board it would comply
with the applicable regulations, and that
there would be no visual impact.
No timetable for action on the permit
applications has been set by the Riverway
Board, pending a response from the
applicants on the request to withdraw the
the proposal. A letter to withdraw has been
sent to Pattison Sand Company, and the
four landowners where the mine would be
established. The Riverway Board has also
asked Executive Director Mark Cupp to
ask for help from the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources for computer
modeling or imaging of the potential
visual impacts from the mine.
—-dash—-
According to a press release from the
Lower Wisconsin Riverway Board,
public comments received by the board on
proposed sand mine have been
overwhelmingly in opposition to the frac
sand mine concept. Concerns have been
cited about air quality, surface water and
groundwater pollution, noise, impact on
eagles and other wildlife, and the potential
disturbance of wetlands, archeological sites,
and the overall natural character of the
of the Riverway.
