Two state agencies are urging Winona County to order developers of two proposed frac sand mines in Saratoga Township to complete full environmental impact statements on the operations.
                   
Winona County and the county's Planning Commission will hold a joint public hearing on the Dabelstein and Yoder permit requests on February 21st, and the board could make a final decision by early March.
                   
Now the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health want further environmental review of the two proposals.  The newspaper says the full EIS studies are more extensive than the environmental assessment worksheets already completed on the two proposals...and also more costly.
                  
The agencies say the further study is needed because of a third sand mine proposal for Saratoga Township also under consideration, and because of two other proposals in nearby Fillmore County.  The agencies say that should trigger a more extensive review of their total possible impact on the environment.