Buffalo County Public Health Officer Jennifer Rombalski recommended taking more time to study air and water quality risks of mining frac-sand. Tom Taylor of Naples in rural Mondovi said zoning studies might lead to changes in regulations and processing of frac-sand mining permits.
But Taylor said zoning issues could be completed in less than six months. He recommended a 4-month moratorium extension, but it was defeated 8 to 4. Fay Passow of Belvidere voted for a 4-month extension along with Taylor and board members Steve Weiss of Gilmanton and Allen Carothers of Maxville.
A moratorium on all new non-metallic mining permit applications has been in place for nearly seven months already.
More than 30 people addressed the county board with 2-minute limits on arguments and comments for or against extending the moratorium. Joan Schnabel of Fountain City and Susanne Smith of rural Cochrane unraveled a long paper banner in front of the county board calling for a moratorium extension.
Smith said Buffalo County has been pushed into mining without having enough background information about it.
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