Windsor Permian Statement

DATE: 6/20/2011
To: Goodhue County Planning Advisory Committee
From: Windsor Permian, LLC
14301 Caliber Drive, Suite 300
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134
Re: Public Hearing for Interim Ordinance/Moratorium Request

Windsor Permian, LLC purchased three parcels in Goodhue County in 2010 with the intent of extracting sand and gravel. The recent growth in sand exploration in Minnesota reflects the quality, value, and accessibility of the material in this region. Our hope is to be evaluated and considered for a permit under the same criteria used for the 38 existing sand and gravel operations in Goodhue County.

Windsor is still testing our properties to determine the optimum way to develop our resources while minimizing impacts to natural resources. We will follow all Federal, State and County Regulations that apply to planning and permitting and look forward to creating a sustainable project that will provide economic benefit to the area.

Windsor’s planning is in the early stages and has included preliminary meetings with the Department of Natural Resources and (MNDNR) and the Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT). Windsor met with the agencies to understand specific permitting requirements and to listen to recommendations about the project and reclamation plans. Formal coordination with Goodhue County will be initiated with a permit application when sufficient planning has been accomplished to define the conceptual mine plan and the practices that will be put in place to protect resources. Information will be shared openly with the citizens of Goodhue County and the resource protection agencies throughout the environmental review and permitting process in accordance with requirements of the Minnesota Environmental Protection Act and the Goodhue County Conditional Use Permit process.

No dewatering of the Jordan Aquifer will occur at Windsor’s proposed site. Exploratory drilling has shown that approximately 50 feet of rock exists between the base of the mined sand and the first occurrence of groundwater. Since the operation will exist above the water table there will not be disruption to the base groundwater flow to Hay Creek.

Windsor’s wet processing will utilize groundwater from an aquifer below the Jordan. DNR permit regulations will require testing to verify that water withdrawal will not adversely impact local wells. Process water will be recycled and reused and no process water will be discharged from the site. Rainwater will be retained in settling ponds prior to discharge, resulting in a potential improvement over the agricultural runoff leaving the site at present.
Thank you for your consideration of this information in your review of the requested moratorium on sand mining. We look forward to being a good neighbor and to contributing to the economic development of Goodhue County.