Woodbury Extends Permit For Sand Mining, Slag Stockpiling

The Woodbury City Council on Sept. 28 extended an existing permit for two companies to continue mining sand and stockpiling slag in the city.

There have been issues with noise and dust at the site—along Settlers Ridge Parkway about a quarter mile south of Hudson Road—and a holding pond overflowed and flooded more than four acres city land with water, silt and sand in May.

Preferred Sands of Minnesota has agreed to clean up the flooded area, and has taken steps to mitigate the spread of dust and reduce noise, said Community Development Director Dwight Picha. Complaints in spring dropped off after the measures were put in place, he said.

The council put language in the interim conditional-use permit to ensure those issues will be addressed at the site, occupied by both Preferred Sands and Black Diamond Granules, Inc.

Woodbury resident Shann Finwall, who lives about a half mile from the site, was the lone resident to speak during a public hearing on the matter at last Wednesday's meeting.

She expressed concerns about the site’s impact on the environment and brought with her a jar filled with sand that she says gets everywhere, including the inside of her car.

The city must protect the “health, safety and welfare” of its residents, said Finwall, who also noted that she has contacted the state Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and local watershed districts with her concerns about the site.  

Finwall was also dismayed at the holding pond overflow, which she said dumped three inches of sand and silt on open space nearby.

Holding up the jar of sand, Finwall said, “We’re breathing this stuff—it’s hazardous.”

Plant manager Todd Murchison said many of the problems at the site were fixed with simple repairs to equipment and the installation of “dust-control-collection devices.”

“(But) I’m not going to stand here and lie to you and say dust never leaves the site,” he said, adding that crews water the grounds to keep dust down and have someone sweeping seven days a week for five hours a day.

The council asked a few questions about traffic and dust control, and Councilwoman Amy Scoggins said she’s glad the new measures have been put in place.

“I would hope that that continues, she said.

The measure passed 3-0 (council members Julie Ohs and Christopher Burns were absent).

The Pioneer Press has a story on the work being done at the two sites.