Rein Application for Expansion
What you can do: Contact commissioners urging them to call for EIS.
Fillmore Commissioners are voting Apr 2, 9:00a, whether or not to approve the Rein permit.
Background info: Public comment period expired, and the comments have been reviewed. Important concerns were raised in the public comments, especially from the MPCA and other state agencies, that
the EAW shows the "potential for significant environmental effects."
The written response to the comments indicates that we still don't have enough information about the potential environmental effects.
At the meeting, if they do find the potential exists, they have to call for a full EAW.
If they do not, they can issue a permit for the expansion at that meeting.
We stiill have time to contact our commissioners about the inadequate response to those comments and the need for EIS. Ensure that you make it clear that this is not a comment on the EAW, but on their responsibility to call for an EIS.
How to contact the commissioners
link to site
Talking points
There is a potential for significant environmental
The written response to the comments indicates that we still don't have enough information about the potential environmental effects.
MPCA commented: do an EIS.
An EIS is required, not only to fill in the blanks of basic information, but in
addition, to address the project's environmental impacts and provide a
comparative analysis of its economic and sociological effects. We need an EIS
that considers reasonable alternatives, including the "no-build" alternative.
We need information on future stages of the proposed mine to examine cumulative
impacts. Only then will Fillmore County officials be able to make a wise
decision on a conditional use permit.
The cumulative effects of the Rein mine expansion, along with the other
silica sand projects known or discussed in our area have potential for
significant environmental impacts. An EIS is needed to study them
thoroughly.
Comments are here and here
