By Jillian Ditch Anslow, B.S., M.A.T.
Sainte Genevieve county residents are gaining support in their efforts to protect Ste. Genevieve and stop the installation of a silica sand mine on US Highway 32.
Yard signs supporting the cause can be found around the county and in town. As the community is being made aware of what is happening, more people are beginning to take action to defend Sainte Genevieve against the installation of NexGen Silica’s mine.
The petition found at change.org/operationsand has gathered nearly 1,500 signatures.
This all started with a few nearby residents who were only informed of this potential mining operation by a certified letter a month ago on March 22, 2022. Since then, an organization has been formed by community members named Operation Sand LLC.
This organization is hosting a community informational meeting on Saturday, April 30th at 2:00 p.m. Note that the location for this meeting is at the Our Lady Help of Christians Church Banquet Hall in Weingarten.
Operation Sand can be messaged on Facebook to get a yard sign or T-shirt to support the cause. The people of Sainte Genevieve love their neighbors and their traditional agricultural values. Traditionally, this area has been nurtured by farmers for generations. These are the people who will be most affected by the installation of a silica sand mine. Their families, livelihoods, farms, and homes have all been built here. They do not want the things that they value to be put at risk by those who do not share those traditional values.
Residents are asking the County Commission and the County Health Department for help. They are hopeful to come together with county officials to protect the town. Community members have numerous reasons for not wanting a silica sand mine installed. Residents have expressed concerns regarding public health, water contamination, damage to the water table and aquifer, noise pollution, traffic, infrastructure, rail access, environmental impacts, air quality, and agricultural impacts.