ste. genevieve

Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources approved the permit for a 73-acre frac sand mine in Ste. Genevieve County Thursday.  The department also denied a request for an official hearing on the proposed mine owned by Summit Proppants.

Several people who live near the proposed mine have been fighting the approval of the permit for most of the year. They’ve cited health, environmental and quality of life concerns. Ste. Genevieve county resident Mike Miller says they are disappointed but will continue to fight the mine in the legal system.

Dozens of Ste. Genevieve County residents met Tuesday night with the company applying to open up a sand mine in their neighborhood. Locals fired questions at Mark Rust, owner of Summit Proppants, for four hours about the mine’s potential impact on the community.

The biggest points of contention between locals and the company included regulation on air and water quality, the 50 semis traveling in and out of the facility daily, the possible decrease in property value and a guarantee that the company would only operate during the day.