WABASHA, Minn. (AP) -- A Wabasha citizens group is appealing a conditional use permit for a frac sand loading facility.
The "Friends of Wabasha" filed the appeal Monday with the City Planning Commission. The group opposes the granting of the permit to Superior Sand Systems last month. The permit allows Superior Sands to build a loading facility for transferring silica sand from trucks onto trains for transport to North Dakota and Texas for use in the oil and gas extraction process called hydraulic fracturing.
The sand would be trucked in from western Wisconsin. The permit allows up to 250 trucks to enter and exit Wabasha each day.
KAGE Radio reports the group claims the permit was issued without the commission assessing impacts on traffic, tourism and nearby St. Elizabeth's Hospital and another business.
