Winona County Makes It Official – No More Fracking

WINONA, Minn. (AP) — Winona County has become the first Minnesota county to ban frack sand mining.

County commissioners on Tuesday voted 3-2 to ban mining of the sand used in hydraulic fracturing, a method of oil production.

Supporters of frack sand mining in Winona County said it could create jobs and boost the economy. Opponents worried about health risks, environmental problems and the volatility of the oil business.

Commissioner Marie Kovecsi voted for the ban. She told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that her constituents would have faced noise, dust and road safety problems.

Commissioner Steve Jacob voted against the ban, saying a better solution would have been to regulate the number of sand mines in the county. He says it boiled down to a "rural versus city issue."