The company intending to ship frac sand out of Wabasha on railroad cars says it will begin construction of a loading and storage area in spite of a citizen's group which is appealing a permit to operate the facility.    
                   
Superior Sands spokesman Paul van Eijl told the Rochester Post Bulletin his company plans to begin laying track in Wabasha despite the appeal filed with the Wabasha City Council by the group 'Friends of Wabasha' which opposed the conditional use permit that was granted last month by the Wabasha Planning Commission.  Van Eijl told the paper the permit was legally approved.
                 
The citizen's group opposed the project saying the planning commission failed to require an environmental review of the project, among other issues.  The permit allows as many as 250 trucks to haul frac sand mined in western Wisconsin into Wabasha each day.
                  
The Wabasha City Council is expected to consider the appeal at its February 5th, meeting.