The Clayton County Supervisors have given preliminary approval for Pattison Sand to expand its mining operation.
Clayton County supervisors have given initial approval to the expansion of a sand mining operation.
The board unanimously voted Monday to rezone 746 acres near Clayton from agricultural to heavy industrial use. The rezoning requires at least one more reading and affirmative board vote to take effect.
The board imposed five restrictions on Pattison Sand Company, including that the company would be responsible for any water well damage that could be attributed to the mining. Silica sand is used by oil and gas drillers for hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as fracking.
(By Darin Svenson, KDEC, Decorah)