From: Marie Kovecsi <mariekov@gmail.com> Date: February 24, 2013 1:44:16 PM CST To: "sen.matt.schmit@senate.mn" <sen.matt.schmit@senate.

mn> Cc: chris meyer <c_m_meyer@msn.com> Subject: Senate File 786 Thank you, Sen Schmit, This legislation is a major step toward protecting the health and safety of citizens in Southeastern Minnesota. There are many parts in this proposal that will help. However, there are 2 key elements missing. First, we need a moratorium for new industries during the study period. The City of Winona is an example since it operates as a regional hub for processing and transport. Frac sand trucks already arrive from Wisconsin mines, as well as those in Fillmore and Houston Counties. Currently we have 7 active operations, many poised to expand. (2 Washing/Processing sites, 4 rail/barge transport sites and 1 currently blasting mine.) Attached is a map from our city website showing the locations of these sites. http://www.cityofwinona.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Active-and-ProposedFrac-Sand-Sites1.pdf One of the washing sites has never had any environmental review (it was grandfathered in) but is located on a floodplain for Gilmore Creek, one of the creeks that flooded in 2007, causing serious damage and home loss. One of the barge sites was approved in December to increase its number of barges from 24 per month to 48 per month. (The frac sand truck math to fill this number of barges is: 60 truck loads fill one barge x 2= 120 truck trips to and from the port to fill one barge. 120 truck trips x 48 barges per month= 5760 truck trips per month (filling 48 barges). 5760 divided by 30 days= 192 truck trips per day and divide this by a 10 hour workday and we have 19.2 trucks per hour or about one truck, loaded or empty every 3 minutes.) (The number of barges is different than offered by testimony from MN/DOT last week. He stated there were 30 barges per year being shipped out of Winona.) This is a serious number of trucks from just one operation allowed to operate within the City of Winona. The mine also has never had any environmental review as it recently began blasting through the bedrock for frac sand, even though it was grandfathered in as a decorative stone panel quarry. During the summer and fall of 2011they were blasting 2x a day, 4-5 days per week. My neighbor's window was broken after one of the blasts. The truck traffic from this mine enter Highway 14 at an intersection labelled "marginal" for sight distance. (Personal telephone conversation, MN/DOT, Rochester, January 2012). This intersection was the scene of a serious traffic accident involving a frac sand truck in January 2012.

Without a moratorium, these industries can expand even further. We are questioning the effects of diesel particulates from these trucks coming in our area. Winona County is 13th highest of all Counties in diesel particulates currently, before these additional trucks descend on our city. We are also in a valley, limiting the dismissal of these emissions. 24% of our population is below the poverty line and most of their residences are located along truck routes and transport loading facilities in our city. We definitely need a moratorium for the time period of any study done by the State. Several of our currently operating businesses have been grandfathered in and follow different regulations. If new businesses are allowed to operate before any research changes regulations, then there would be a new batch of industries operating under less strict policies. Second, the MPCA is charged with pollution control for our State. This should include strict protections for our air and water quality. We do not yet know the full impact of allowing this new industry to operate. Winona City and County have set different regulations and other Counties are currently considering regulations. We need a floor or limit to be set through resources that individual Counties do not have. This would be through our State agencies. MPCA should be active in the permitting process to ensure air and water quality. In an interview both our County and City officials asked for State assistance in regulating these businesses. (http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/02/16/politics/fracsand-mining-hearings) Please help us as these issues threaten our health, safety, welfare and quality of life in Winona. Thank you for all that you are doing to research this industry and our protections. I look forward to continuing this conversation as this legislation moves forward. Marie Kovecsi 133 Whispering Lane Winona, MN 55987 507-454-4193 mariekov@gmail.com