Trempealeau County's Enviironmntal and Landuse Committee has approved five more permits for either frac sand mining, or sand loading operations for oil or natural gas recovery.
                       
The Trempealeau County Times reports that brings the total number of permits issued in the county to 18, an increase of nearly 50%.  One permit was for an operation between Arcadia and Blair, a second one was for an operation in the Town of Trempealeau, and the other three were in the Town of Preston.
                        
The paper says more applications for permits are on the horizon.  Another five applications are currently being prepared for the Environmental and Land Use Committee.