Chippewa County (WQOW) - An area township has reached a ground-breaking agreement with a new industry.
After more than a year of negotiations, the Chippewa County town of Howard has signed a developer's agreement with EOG Resources. The company plans to operate a sand mine on a 132-acre site west of Tilden along county Highway B. The town says the 20-year agreement is the first of its kinds for a frac sand mine in the state. The town chair says it balances the rights of residents leasing land to the mining company with the rights of neighbors.
Among other things, the company agreed not to have trucks hauling sand when school buses are on the road and to close on Sundays. They originally planned a 24/7 operation. EOG also agreed to make up the difference if a neighbor sells their home because of the mine and does not receive as much as the current assessed value. Other parts of the agreement address limiting noise and groundwater protection. The company expects to have the mine up and running this fall.
