Posted on Jan 23, 2023
Despite setback for Missouri silica sand mine, the fight isn’t over for neighbors
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NexGen has proposed mining silica sand in Ste. Genevieve County on about 250 acres near Hawn State Park. But Missouri didn’t conduct any sort of review of the potential environmental or public health impacts of the mine before issuing a land reclamation permit last year.
Missouri regulators handed a setback to a proposed silica sand mine south of St. Louis earlier this month when they revoked a pivotal permit. But the fight isn’t over for opponents of the mine.
While state regulators denied one permit to NexGen, the would-be owners of the proposed mine, they almost simultaneously granted the company a wastewater permit for the site. And even the Missouri Mining Commission’s decision to revoke the first permit wasn’t as decisive as opponents hoped.
Missouri regulators handed a setback to a proposed silica sand mine south of St. Louis earlier this month when they revoked a pivotal permit. But the fight isn’t over for opponents of the mine.
While state regulators denied one permit to NexGen, the would-be owners of the proposed mine, they almost simultaneously granted the company a wastewater permit for the site. And even the Missouri Mining Commission’s decision to revoke the first permit wasn’t as decisive as opponents hoped.
Despite setback for Missouri silica sand mine, the fight isn’t over for neighbors
Posted from kcur.org
Environment
Health
Mining and Metals
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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It is becoming more prevalent where government doesn’t seem to think the public should be given the opportunity to respond to anything.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."NexGen received its land reclamation permit last year despite objections from neighbors who fear the mine will mean toxic dust particles in the air, contaminated water and noisy disruptions to the rural community. But following an appeal, the state’s Administrative Hearing Commission recommended environmental regulators vacate it.
The commission said in a November order that NexGen didn’t comply with the requirement to list all owners of property the company would mine and didn’t show a source saying it had a legal right to mine.
The Missouri Mining Commission agreed in part and voted 4-1 to vacate the permit.
But before that decision becomes final on Tuesday, Operation Sand’s attorney, Stephen Jeffery, wants the commission to explain why. He filed a motion with the commission, saying the law requires the mining commission to either agree completely with the Administrative Hearing Commission or modify it “only if the commission states in writing the specific reason for a change.”
“Because clearly (the Missouri Department of Natural Resources) did not investigate the application,” Jeffery said. “They admitted that in depositions. All they did is, ‘Well, we looked at the application and all the spaces were filled in and it was signed, so it was good.’”
NexGen declined an interview request but said in a statement that it was disappointed in the decision."...
..."NexGen received its land reclamation permit last year despite objections from neighbors who fear the mine will mean toxic dust particles in the air, contaminated water and noisy disruptions to the rural community. But following an appeal, the state’s Administrative Hearing Commission recommended environmental regulators vacate it.
The commission said in a November order that NexGen didn’t comply with the requirement to list all owners of property the company would mine and didn’t show a source saying it had a legal right to mine.
The Missouri Mining Commission agreed in part and voted 4-1 to vacate the permit.
But before that decision becomes final on Tuesday, Operation Sand’s attorney, Stephen Jeffery, wants the commission to explain why. He filed a motion with the commission, saying the law requires the mining commission to either agree completely with the Administrative Hearing Commission or modify it “only if the commission states in writing the specific reason for a change.”
“Because clearly (the Missouri Department of Natural Resources) did not investigate the application,” Jeffery said. “They admitted that in depositions. All they did is, ‘Well, we looked at the application and all the spaces were filled in and it was signed, so it was good.’”
NexGen declined an interview request but said in a statement that it was disappointed in the decision."...
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