Frac sand mining – last night in Rushford
July 10th, 2013
Let’s hear it for LAND STEWARDSHIP PROJECT! Last night they held a meeting in Rushford, packed, almost ran out of chairs, good to see so many who want to take action against the frac sand mining push to sell our part of the world to oil and gas companies. People get that the biggest issue here is corporate control and greed.
This meeting was lead by LSP’s Johanna Rupprecht, Megan Buckingham, and Doug Nopar, with LSP member activists Vince Ready, Barb Nelson, and Marilyn Frauenkron Bayer, and overall, it was well worth the drive. It’s that same warm fuzzy feeling as filling a Taconite, MN gym on a -20 degree day, only warmer!
There are at least 11 mines proposed by Minnesota Sands that are subject to an Environmental Impact Statement, 615.31 acres, phased and connected actions under the Minnesota Rules and subject to a Mandatory Environmental Impact Statement because it’s over the 160 acre threshold. Minn. R. 4410.4400, Subp. 9(B).
The EQB determined that these mines would indeed require an EIS (the mining companies try to say it’s “voluntary,” how good of them, but it’s not voluntary, it’s MANDATORY) in March.
There are a few things that I think need to be done, information that needed in the public domain:
- File a Data Practices Act Request with the EQB and do a quick file review to find out what’s been going on with these projects thus far. The public is left out of the “pre-application” discussions.
- Make sure the EIS scope is broad, and that the EQB doesn’t release a one-sided scope proposal that would take an act of Congress to alter… or a lawsuit!
- Details of ownership, who owns these projects, who is behind these projects, and how do these projects own!!! Who in the community and which of “the deciders” are being paid by the mining companies. Remember Dennis Egan, former Mayor of Red Wing? Who else is in their employ, direct or indirect? We need to know about these connections and obligations:
April Fool on April Fools Day!
Rochester Chamber: Egan, Broberg & others on frac sand
Where’s the Mayor’s resignation letter?
7p TONIGHT – Red Wing City Council Meeting
Mayor Egan to resign? Sand mining bill introduced!
Last Mayor Egan post before Council meeting
KARE 11 turns up the heat on RW Mayor Egan
Mayor Egan – the voice of frac sand mining!
Cherryholmes a lobbyist for Covanta!
April 9th, 2013
Oh my, Jackie Cherryholmes, running for Mayor of Minneapolis, went and did a “Dennis Egan.”
There’s nothing better than when an industry hired gun goes and blows it, when given a choice to do the right thing they just can’t manage to do it, showing their lack of ethics and character for all the world to see.
What do we see? That Jackie Cherryholmes was a registered lobbyist for Covanta, the evil promoter and operator of the HERC garbage burner that is now trying to get their garbage burning capacity increased, asking to burn more garbage and spread toxic emissions over Minneapolis. A big thanks to the STrib for getting this out into the open.
From the Campaign Finance Board:
Covanta spent $80,000 lobbying in 2012, 2011 and 2010, and $40,000 in 2009.
On February 16, 2013, Cherryholmes announced she was running for Mayor of Minneapolis.
On March 1, 2013, she terminated as lobbyist for Covanta on Leg/Metro issues. She’d registered as Covanta lobbyist on February 15, 2011, just over two years prior.
Cherryholmes also terminated as lobbyist for M.A. Mortenson that same day. What about entities such as Minneapolis Refuse? Others? Do others have interests before the City of Minneapolis?
In the STrib today:
Cherryhomes omits a detail in support for burning more trash
Posted by: Maya Rao under Politics and government Updated: April 8, 2013 – 6:55 PM
She said she had never lobbied City Council in connection with Covanta.
April Fool on April Fools Day!
April 1st, 2013
Bubble in the natural gas fracking world? Is the fracking boom about to go BOOM? From AlterNet:
Is Natural Gas the Next Bubble? Has Fracking Promised More Than It Can Deliver?
In this weekend’s Red Wing Republican Eagle — they edited my headline, this is the original, because my view of this is that those writing about how he is being abused, it’s a lynching, etc. are ignoring the crucial fact that he had the choice to disclose but he did not. Let’s see what happens today:
It’s about disclosure!
Rochester Chamber: Egan, Broberg & others on frac sand
March 16th, 2013
More frac sand mining promotion! The Rochester Chamber of Commerce, run for just 7 months, over a decade ago, by none other than illustrious soon-to-be-former Mayor Dennis Egan, is hosting a frac sand event.
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Friday, March 22, 11:30a.m. -1:00p.m.
Canadian Honker Events at the Ramada 1517 - 16th St SW Rochester, Minnesota
Cost: Members $25, Non-members $35 (includes lunch)
Pre-registration Required
Word first arrived on March 14, 2013, as a email from the Rochester Chamber, where Egan was listed as “Mayor of Red Wing & Exec. Director, Minnesota Industrial Sand Council.” They have altered that to say only “Minnesota Industrial Sand Council” on their website:
And from their website:
Experts! Who are the “experts” in this Rochester Chamber cast of characters?
Vern Baker is clear about his interests! Good job!
We all know about Dennis Egan and his ethical standards and expertise in frac sand mining…
Jeffery Broberg represents landowners such as David Nisbit who want mines on their property, and who said at a public hearing, “As the applicant’s representative, I have a higher level of rights on these issues.” His promotional bent is clear in his statement after the St. Charles rail site was denied by the City:
From the NoCapX site, we know an awful lot about Broberg, for example his classic “Exhibit 7” portrayal of the long closed sand-barred boat landing at the White Bridge Road!
Dave Christianson is billed as “Project Manager, Minnesota Department of Transportation.
He was billed as something similar at soon-to-be-former Mayor Egan’s Frac Sand Forum. What does Google have to say? MnDOT Freight, Rail, & Waterways Staff; City of Winona powerpoint, and he’s all for expansion: “We believe it is very well controlled,” he said. “It’s something we look forward to seeing expanded and properly managed as we go forward.”
So of this lot, all are proponents, and not one speaker is independent, and not one speaker is opposed. “Advocacy” is part of the title of the Chamber staffer who sent the email, and it’s pretty clear what they’re advocating for!
To attend, you have to pre-register, and pay $35: Members and Non-Members.
7p TONIGHT – Red Wing City Council Meeting
February 25th, 2013
7 p.m. February 25, 2013
Red Wing City Hall
Tonight’s the night — be there or be square! Tell the Red Wing City Council what you think about having the “voice of frac sand mining” as Mayor of Red Wing. Should he be allowed to remain in office until April Fools Day?
jsebion3@gmail.com, lisa.bayley@ci.red-wing.mn.us, deanhove@charter.net, michael.v.schultz@charter.net, peggy.rehder@ci.red-wing.mn.us, ralph.rauterkus@ci.red-wing.mn.us, marilyn.meinke@ci.red-wing.mn.us
Tonight the Red Wing City Council will be addressing the Mayor’s offer to resign as of April 1, 2013. April Fools? I hope not.
If you can’t attend the meeting, CLICK HERE FOR LIVE WEBCAST:
IS HIS RESIGNATION IN WRITING? There’s no reason to wait so long — he should resign immediately. He should resign before the legislative session goes any further. He should resign before any meetings where he’d be going to represent the City of Red Wing. He’s tainted. This is about character, and he’s had many opportunities to display his character, and what I’ve seen is disturbing. If he doesn’t resign, he should be booted out, as the City Council has power to do under the City Charter.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF THE FEBRUARY 11, 2013 COUNCIL MEETING
The agenda item about Dennis Egan begins at 36:13.
Dennis Egan’s comments 51:26 – 1:03:55.
Throughout, he remains resolutely firm in stating there is no problem with his actions, and very long-windedly states when put on the spot, that he will not consider resigning. No direct answers.
Egan begins not by addressing his own egregious behavior, but by objecting to emails sent that questioned the ethics and motives of City Administrator Kay Kuhlman, that it was “out of bounds and out of line, unfair and uncalled for.” WOW. Here’s what was in the STrib, from Egan, about talking to Kuhlman about his frac sand mining lobbying job:
And in the Post Bulletin, he also raises Kuhlman’s involvement:
He seems to be using her to hid behind, that “She didn’t raise any red flags at that time,” and that he “informed” her “prior to accepting.” Maybe that conversation didn’t happen, she wasn’t informed, and she’s collateral damage. Maybe he’s dropping her name to help bolster his position. Whatever occurred, he’s putting her in a bad position. What was that conversation, the subject, the date, what all did he disclose to Kuhlman? The City Council and the public should know.
Based on the Kuhlman reference in the STrib and Post Bulletin, here’s a Comment of mine on the Post Bulletin site:
The bottom line is that Not-soon-enough-to-be-ex-Mayor Dennis Egan did not disclose to the City Council. If Not-soon-enough-to-be-ex-Mayor Dennis Egan did disclose to City Administrator Kay Kuhlman, she did not disclose to the City Council. If he’s tossing her name around to bolster his position and he didn’t disclose his position to Kay Kuhlman as he said he did, then it’s even worse for him. Because he raised this issue so defensively right out of the gate (CLICK HERE, at 51:26), I think there’s more going on here. What’s the rest of the story?
This is about character. This is about Dennis Egan’s value system. Dennis Egan has demonstrated his character and value system, and he is not fit to be Mayor. He should not represent the City in any way.
Timing is important. The legislature is in session and will be until after April 1, 2013. Egan should not be Mayor while a registered lobbyist for the frac sand mining industry. I believe there is a national conference in March that Egan is to attend representing the City of Red Wing, and if so, the City should send someone else.
Keep those emails coming to the Red Wing City Council members — tell them what you think of this situation, let them know whether you think Egan should remain in office until April Fools Day (in previous posts, I’d not copied the “j” of jsebion3@gmail.com — APOLOGIES — it’s correct below):
jsebion3@gmail.com, lisa.bayley@ci.red-wing.mn.us, deanhove@charter.net, michael.v.schultz@charter.net, peggy.rehder@ci.red-wing.mn.us, ralph.rauterkus@ci.red-wing.mn.us, marilyn.meinke@ci.red-wing.mn.us
Tonight — 7 p.m. February 25, 2013 at Red Wing City Hall. Be there or be square.