Sand Mining Operation in Ste. Genevieve County Meeting Opposition

A sand mining operation is trying to move forward in Ste. Genevieve County, but citizens want some concerns addressed first.

Next Gen Chemicals has purchased 249 acres of land in rural Ste. Genevieve County for the purpose of a silica sand mining operation. Ste. Genevieve presiding commissioner Garry Nelson says there hasn’t been any actual commercial mining that has taken place yet…

The upside of having the mining operation in the county is increased industry, which means jobs, more tax revenue, and more money coming into the area.
However, Commisioner Randy Ruzicka says local citizens are concerned about the impact the operation would have on the area…

Commissioner Karen Stuppy is also concerned about the toll the business would take on the roads and traffic…

Nelson tells us that Ste. Genevieve County does not have a planning and zoning committee. People voted down planning and zoning about 20 years ago, and so the county really has no mechanism to regulate what land is used for…

However, as Ruzicka says Next Gen must still abide by any existing regulations from other governmental entities…

A public comment period lasts until April 28th through the Department of Natural Resources. After that a public meeting will be held at 7pm May 19th at the Ste. Genevieve Community Center.

Full interview with the Ste. Genevieve County Commission