Updated: 2/14/2009      
Plan: Sand mining operation ready by March

Chippewa Falls facility
Canadian Sand and Proppant has purchased 93 acres in an industrial park in the northeast corner of Chippewa Falls, and the land is zoned for heavy industrial use. The company plans to spend $45 million to $50 million to build.
Sand from the town of Howard mine would be trucked to the plant, washed and the silt clay removed. It then would be shipped to the West by rail to be used in the oil-drilling industry.
The plant would create 55 jobs, with an economic impact of $14 million annually, according to the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation.
However, numerous area residents have attended meetings about the plant at the Chippewa Falls City Council and Chippewa County Board, questioning how the facility would affect air and water quality, traffic volumes and property values.
The council approved a developer's agreement with the plant in December on a 4-3 vote, with Mayor Greg Hoffman casting the tiebreaker. The developer's agreement includes authorizing a $1.75 million taxable tax-increment project revenue bond to the company.
City Planner Jayson Smith said the developer's agreement was the last item the company needed from the city before it could begin digging.
"To my knowledge, they have everything ready to go," Smith said. "All they are waiting for is the spring thaw."
A lawsuit over the processing plant will head to court April 8. Chippewa County Judge Roderick Cameron is expected to issue an oral decision on the case, Chippewa Falls City Attorney Bob Ferg said.
In October, the city's Plan Commission issued a conditional use permit to Canadian Sand and Proppant, which allows the firm to build several structures that will be about 90 feet tall. The group opposed to the sand plant, Concerned Chippewa Citizens, questions the legality of the Plan Commission's vote to allow height variances for tall buildings at the site and filed a lawsuit in November.
Public hearing on mines
Masterpole has scheduled a public hearing on the reclamation plan that will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Chippewa Falls Middle School.
The sand company will give a presentation then listen to statements and questions from the public.
"We're responsible for the process here, and the county looks forward to the public review," Masterpole said.
While anyone can comment, Masterpole reminds people that he only will accept comments about the reclamation plan - specifically how the land will be restored when the mine is closed and the effects on storm water.
Masterpole will not accept comments about the sand processing facility in Chippewa Falls or anything about the effects of a sand mine on air quality or traffic.
"It's important for people to draw the distinction between the proposed sand processing facility and the reclamation plan," Masterpole said. "They are two separate issues."
People who cannot attend the public hearing will be allowed to leave comments with the Land Conservation Department over the following two weeks, he said.
As of now, the Schindler-Sikora location in Howard is the only sand mine facility, Masterpole said.
"We've had inquiries from other landowners who may have marketable (sand) deposits," Masterpole said. "They may be developing business plans that may result in applications."
Meanwhile, another public forum has been set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the middle school.
Roger Whiting, who lives on the West Hill of Chippewa Falls, said he and his wife, Jane, organized the forum because they didn't feel they were getting answers from the council on the effects of the sand plant in the city.
"We began to realize a lot of people were asking questions, and people were getting vague answers," Whiting said.
"We believe people deserve to have good answers given back to them, and we sensed that wasn't happening."
Whiting said he hasn't made up his mind if he's for or against the plant because he still doesn't have enough information.
"I think the biggest failure is the DNR didn't get an environmental impact statement on all of this," Whiting said. "We want our community to be healthy. We chose to live here because of the small community."
Among the speakers lined up for Thursday are Crispin Hayes Pierce, an assistant professor and director of the Environmental Public Health Program at UW-Eau Claire; and Richard Gauger. Whiting said he expects the forum could last about 90 minutes.
Smith, the city planner, said he doesn't plan to attend the hearing Thursday. Schlaugat also won't be there, but he hopes it draws a good crowd.
"I really wish there was more citizen input in this, and I really wish them the best of luck," Schlaugat said.
Vetter can be reached at 723-0303 or chris.vetter@ecpc.com.
By Chris Vetter
Chippewa Falls News Bureau
CHIPPEWA FALLS - Sand mine operations could begin in the town of Howard as early as March 16, according to a mining reclamation plan filed in Chippewa County.
Meanwhile, mining company Canadian Sand and Proppant also has completed necessary paperwork to begin construction of a sand processing plant in Chippewa Falls.
The reclamation plan, totaling more than 200 pages of topographic maps, land surveys and charts, was filed Jan. 16 with the county's Land Conservation Department, said Dan Masterpole, county conservationist.
"It's a very complete and well-engineered plan," Masterpole said. "It meets all the requirements for its submission. It clearly explains how the mine will be opened, excavated and systematically reclaimed."
The plan shows that "initial stripping and berm construction" at the farm in Howard could start March 16 and that work could last until April 2010.
Mining of the "bottom dormant area" of the farm also could begin March 16, and the initial mine would be open through April 2014, the plan shows.
Michael Swoboda, Short Elliott Hendrickson project engineer, submitted the plan to the county.
"It's pretty detailed as far as reclamation plans go," Swoboda said.
The plan shows how the property largely will be restored to its agriculture base, along with a wetland and areas for wildlife, Swoboda said.
Canadian Sand and Proppant plans to mine a 110-acre parcel of land owned by Robert Schindler and a 20-acre parcel owned by Jeffrey Sikora.
The parcels are in the town of Howard, approximately six miles west of Tilden, the reclamation plan states. The land would be mined in phases.
The total proposed annual volume of sand from the Howard mine would be 600,000 tons, and it would be mined over 50 years, according to the plan.
Officials from Canadian Sand and Proppant did not return calls when contacted for comments.
Chippewa County Supervisor Allan Schlaugat, who lives in the town of Howard, is frustrated that the company is prepared to begin mining and is not going to seek a permit from the Town Board.
The company doesn't think it needs a permit, believing a town ordinance on the issue isn't valid.
"There is nothing the town can do right now," Schlaugat said. "(The board) will have to defend it - the town will have to take them to court or there's no reason to have the ordinance on the books."
A group of residents in Howard formed Loyalty To Our Land and hired Eau Claire attorney Glenn Stoddard. While the group has stated it wants to stop Canadian Sand and Proppant from digging the mine, no lawsuit has been filed.
Along with the reclamation plan, the company still needs to complete air quality studies and a wetland report with the Department of Natural Resources, Schlaugat said.