DAKOTA, Minn. – The company Minnesota Sands, which has its eyes on rich silica deposits in southeast Minnesota, seems caught in its conflicting claims over the years about its intentions. At times Minnesota Sands’ chief promoter, Rick Frick, has proposed 11 frac-sand mines in Fillmore, Houston and Winona counties. But when the scale of the proposal raised the specter of an environmental study, Frick instead said he wanted only one mine so as to avoid an environmental study that could be problematic. This fall Frick, who lives outside Dakota, inquired if Fillmore County would allow a single mine. The question ended up before the state Environmental Quality Board, which had become wary of the Frick’s real intentions. Was this a one mine at a time first step to expand eventually to all 11 operations that he had proposed earlier? The wariness deepened when Frick wen to the U.S. Supreme Court in October to start a mine in Winona County. Meanwhile, Fillmore County’s zoning administrator, Cristal Adkins, said Frick has not made a formal application for a Fillmore County permit.
Which is it? If Rick Frick wants only one mine, in Fillmore County, then how can he simultaneously be asking the U.S Supreme Court to approve a frac mine in Winona County.