Letter: Mine will strive to go beyond compliance

To the Editor:

I personally want to thank everyone who attended our recent informational meeting on a proposed new underground sand mine in Diamond Bluff and Oak Grove, and a sand processing and load out facility in Trenton; Pierce County, Wisconsin.

We know that some people have concerns about sand mining, and we want to make sure that everyone has information to make decisions based on facts and science.

Less than 10 acres of the 2,900-acre underground mine will involve above-ground activities. The surface of the remaining land will be undisturbed, and will continue to be used for farming or remain forested.

The sand from the new mine will be trucked to a processing facility and rail load-out in a part of Trenton township that is zoned for industrial use, and next to an existing sand and gravel operation and an asphalt plant.

The Trenton facility will be very similar to our Hager City processing facility that has been in operation since 2007, and is also located within the Town of Trenton. We have had no complaints of noise from that facility. In fact, many of those who attended the informational meeting were not even aware that it was there.

All of our mining operations are heavily regulated by the federal, state and local government. All of our facilities have state-of-the-art dust suppression systems, and it is our consistent goal to operate in a manner that goes beyond compliance.

The new mine and new sand processing facility together are expected to employ 52 workers and generate $4.7 million a year in the region through salaries and money spent for inputs, goods and services.

If anyone has questions or concerns about the new mine and processing facility, please contact me at WISC@fmsand.com or (715) 448-3006.

Rich Budinger

Maiden Rock

Rich Budinger is regional manager of Wisconsin Industrial Sand Co., Maiden Rock

Tags: opinion, letters