STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. – A coalition of environmental groups including: Sierra Club, Friends of Hawn, and Operation Sand joined forces to challenge a water permit issued by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to Nexgen Silica, LLC for the proposed sand mining facility to be located in Sainte Genevieve County along Highway 32.
The permit would allow Nexgen to discharge pollutants from its proposed silica sand mine into the Establishment Creek watershed.
Establishment Creek, and connected waterbodies including Lake Ocie, Lake Wanda Lee, and Lake Ski, provide vital wildlife habitat and are used by local residents for recreational purposes.
Additionally, mine operations would detrimentally impact a variety of pristine natural areas including Hawn State Park, Hickory Canyons Natural Area, Pickle Springs Natural Area, and Horton Farms Conservation Area.
The proposed mine would also impact the sensitive St. Francois Mountains Groundwater Province, which serves as an important source of drinking water for local residents.
Sainte Genevieve residents opposed the proposed mine location from the beginning and have already successfully challenged the Missouri Mining Commission permit issued to Nexgen for the site preventing Nexgen from beginning its operations.
However, this fight is not over, the issuance of the Clean Water Commission permit to Nexgen indicates Nexgen has not abandoned its plans.
Many have actively stated their opposition by submitting comments expressing concerns about the proposed mine and the potential to impact the health of residents and the surrounding environment to the Department of Natural Resources and by voicing their concerns at a public hearing held on the mining permit last May.
Likewise, many expressed concerns in response to Nexgen applying for the water permit. Despite this robust public participation, as well as the potentially devastating effects of the proposed mine on the local environment, the Department issued the water permit to Nexgen without holding a public hearing and without adequately addressing the comments and concerns raised by the groups and local residents.
Sierra Club, Friends of Hawn, and Operation Sand have jointly submitted a complaint to the Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission challenging the legality of the water permit as well as the Department’s decision to forego a public hearing.
Sierra Club is represented by Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, Friends of Hawn is represented by Fox Smith, LLC, and Operation Sand is represented by the Jeffery Law Group, LLC.