The formal process has begun for Winona County''s review of two more frac sand mines in Saratoga Township after the county received environmental assessment worksheets from the State of Minnesota.
            
Planning Department spokesman Eric Johnson told the County Board a 30 day public comment period, on the 38 acre Dabelstein and 37 acre Yoder sites, will begin on October 15th. Following that, copies of the EAWs will be available for the public at the County Government Center, Winona Public Library, St. Charles City Hall and the Saratoga Township office.
           
Johnson said after the comment period ends it will be up to both the Planning Commission and the County Board to determine if the projects go forward.  Copies of the EAWs will also be placed on the State Environment Quality Board's website.
            
While the developers of the two sand mine sites voluntarily called for the environmental review, last week the County Board ordered an EAW on the county's first sand mine proposal, also in Saratoga Township.