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Commission adds water‑testing condition to amended frac‑sand permit; approves expanded mining area
Summary
The planning commission approved an amendment adding lands to an existing conditional use permit for Ramsey Hill/Grama Exploration’s frac sand facility and added a condition requiring an initial and ongoing plan for water-well testing for nearby residents to address contamination concerns.
Williams County’s Planning Commission on April 15 approved an amendment to Ramsey Hill Exploration’s conditional use permit to add lands north of 50 Second Street Northwest for continued frac-sand mining and adopted an amendment requiring a water-testing plan for surrounding residences.
The applicant (recorded in the packet as LUDash0012Dash25; presented by Mike Chino / Ramsey Hill Exploration) asked to add additional lands north of 50 Second Street Northwest to prolong mining and avoid expanding on the south side near lakeshore residences. Michelle (county planning staff) explained the added lands would provide approximately 35–40 acres of mineable area on the newly proposed portion and that the overall project previously approved by the Board of County Commissioners included larger acreage and an approved processing/load-out area to the north.
Public comment included detailed concerns about potential contamination of private well water. Jim Freeburg, who owns property and a residence in the Red Mike area, said the reclaimed material returned to mined pits contains “clarifying thickeners and flocculants” used in processing and argued that with pits up to 50 feet deep “the bottoms of those pits will be within feet of the water table,” requiring more evidence that well water will remain safe. Freeburg requested baseline sampling and ongoing periodic testing and asked for specifics about the chemicals and their concentrations being returned to pits.
Commissioners questioned regulatory oversight for chemicals and reclamation. Mike (Ramsey Hill representative) said similar facilities had not been required by other states to perform the requested monitoring but indicated he could provide the list of chemicals used and that the company follows state regulations where applicable. Commissioners noted the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) oversees stormwater and discharges but that internal, closed-loop handling of materials may not trigger the same permitting. MSHA oversight for worker safety was discussed but commissioners clarified MSHA does not regulate chemical usage rates.
After discussion, the commission considered a motion to approve the amendment with staff comments and an added condition. Commissioner Shrill (moved as part of discussion) proposed adding a requirement that the applicant develop a plan for initial baseline well testing and ongoing testing at six-month intervals for affected residences, with results provided to the county. The amendment to require a testing plan carried on roll call. The main motion to approve the amended CUP with staff comments (including the newly added water-testing plan and requirement to provide results to the county) then passed on roll call; commissioners recorded a single no vote.
Votes on the amended CUP were recorded as: Mark — yes; Dan — yes; Cheryl — yes; Eric — yes; Brett — yes; Barry — yes; George — yes; Tate — no. The motion carried.
The approval adds lands to the previously approved permit and requires the applicant to provide a written plan for initial baseline well sampling for affected residences and ongoing testing every six months during mining and reclamation, with copies of results shared with the county. The planning office will incorporate the testing plan and reporting requirements into the CUP conditions and monitor compliance.
