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Mining and Outdoor Recreation Policy

FOURTH MEETING

2015-2016 Regular Session - Tuesday, January 27, 2015

STATE OF MINNESOTA FOURTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-NINTH SESSION

MINING & OUTDOOR RECREATION POLICY COMMITTEE
MINUTES

Representative Hackbarth, Chair of the Mining and Outdoor Recreation Policy Committee, called the fourth meeting to order at 2:53 P.M. on Tuesday, January 27 2015, in Room 10 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:

HACKBARTH, Tom, Chair LUECK, Dale, VC
ANDERSON, Mark
ANZELC, Tom
CONSIDINE, John
CORNISH, Tony
DILL, David
HERTAUS, Jerry
JOHNSON, Brian
KIEL, Debra
LUCERO, Eric
MCNAMARA, Denny
METSA, Jason
YARUSSO, Barb


Members excused:
MELIN, Carly

Representative Hackbarth called the meeting to order at 2:53 P.M. A quorum was present.

Representative Johnson moved to approve the minutes of January 21, 2015. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The following people testified for the Silica Sand Mining informational hearing and took questions from committee members:

Fred Corrigan, Executive Director of the Aggregate and Ready Mix Association (ARM) of Minnesota, and Peder Larson of Larkin, Hoffman, Daly & Lindgren Ltd. Attorneys, gave an overview of the Silica Sand Mining Industry.

Matt Bryan, Vice President of Operations for Merriam Junction Sands, and Scott Sustacek, Chief Executive Officer of Jordan Sands, spoke on plant operations.

Aaron Scott, Area Manager for Shakopee Sands, addressed ambient air study results at the Shakopee Sand Processing Facility and its implications.

Doug Losee, Regional General Manager of Unimin Corporation, and Grey Lusty, Regional General Manager of Unimin Corporation, presented an overview of company operations and regulatory concerns.

Fred Corrigan, Executive Director of the Aggregate and Ready Mix Association of Minnesota, and Tim Becken of Cemstone, commented on mining regulations.

Dr. John Richards, PhD, P.E., QSTI Air Control Techniques, P.C. Cary, North Carolina, discussed fenceline monitoring of Ambient PM4 Crystalline Silica concentrations at sand-producing facilities.

Will Seuffert, Executive Director of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, gave an update on the Silica Sand Rulemaking Advisory Committee process.

Catherine Neuschler, Legislative Coordinator for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, covered agency rulemaking on particulate emissions from silica sand projects.

Heather Arends, Silica Sand Rule-Making Program Director and Industrial Minerals Supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, yielded her time to public testimony.

The following members of the public testified on mining:

Margaret Walsh, resident of Winona (Winona County).

Lynn Austin, resident of Mankato (Blue Earth/Nicollet/Le Sueur Counties).

Katie Himanga, Silica Advisory Panel Citizen Member and Mayor of Lake City (Wabasha and Goodhue County).

Amy Nelson, Silica Advisory Panel Government Representative and resident of Hay Creek Township, Red Wing (Goodhue County).

Lynne Schoen, Wabasha City Council Member.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:40 P.M.





Representative Tom Hackbarth, Chair




Claire Leiter, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..
House TV Video:
View Archive

00:05 - Gavel.
01:15 - Informational hearing for silica sand mining from silica sand producers, and state agency silica sand rule-making update from Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota Environmental Quality Board.
Runs 1 hour, 48 minutes.


Informational Hearing for Silica Sand Mining from Silica Sand Producers and State Agency Silica Sand Rule-Making Update from DNR, MPCA and EQB.

If you would like to add your name to a list of interested citizens who would like to speak during today's public comment period at the end of this informational hearing, please e-mail CLA Claire Leiter at Claire.Leiter@house.mn.