The Winona County Planning Commission will decide Thursday on a recommendation on whether the County Board should require an environmental assessment worksheet on the Nisbit sand mine request in Saratoga Township.
                   
The state Environmental Quality Board has ruled that Winona County is the required governmental unit to make the final decision on the need for the so-called EAW.
                   
County Planning and Environmental Services Director, Jason Gilman' said  a timeline requires the county board to notify the Nisbits within 5 working days after the board decides if the EAW is needed. That could be as soon as October 17th.
                   
Gilman said if the county board decides not to require the EAW, the board will then have to act on the Planning Commission's original recommendation which was to approve the Nisbit's request for a permit to operate the county's first sand mine.