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Commission approves Asgard Resources frac-sand permit with dust control and local speed limit condition
Summary
After Planning and Zoning initially recommended denial, the county commission approved Asgard Resources' conditional use permit for a frac sand operation in Golden Valley Township with required dust suppression, a 35 mph speed limit on the nearby roadway called "January" and setbacks and reclamation provisions.
The Williams County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 7 approved a conditional use permit for Asgard Resources to construct and operate a frac sand facility in Golden Valley Township, adding conditions for dust control and a reduced speed limit on an adjacent local road.
Planning and Zoning had voted 8–0 to recommend denial of the project before the commission hearing. At the commission meeting Asgard representatives and the site landowner presented letters from nearby residents and described proposed mitigations, including a 1,000-foot setback from occupied dwellings, dust mitigation near the closest homes and an agreement with the landowner on reclamation. Troy Cooper, speaking for the family landowner, said the company had agreed to setbacks and would coordinate with the county on dust control and road concerns. The applicant told the commission the operation is similar to typical sand and gravel pits and that only 20 acres would be open at a time before reclamation of previously worked areas.
Commissioners moved to approve the permit with staff comments and to add conditions that require dust control in front of nearby houses and a 35-mph speed limit on the roadway identified in testimony as “January.” The motion was seconded and passed by roll call (yes: Chris; Barry; Steve; Corey; others — motion carried). Planning and Zoning staff listed typical conditions: adherence to county zoning and subdivision regulations, building permits through the county building division, working with the county highway department to bring 60 Ninth Street Northwest up to county standards, approval from the county water resource district, compliance with state and local codes, and beginning construction within 18 months.
Asgard's representative described the processing steps they plan to use, including washing out fines and returning clay and fines to the topsoil as part of reclamation. The company said a percentage of the excavated material (fines and clays) would be blended into topsoil and placed on edges after mining and that only a portion of on-site material would meet oilfield gradation specs and be hauled away. County staff and the applicant both said reclamation agreements with the landowner are part of the proposal; Planning and Zoning previously denied the application in part because letters from nearby residents were not available at that earlier hearing.
Commissioners discussed safety, dust and cattle health questions raised at Planning and Zoning and in public comment; they concluded the applicant had addressed the immediate concerns by agreeing to setbacks, a dust plan and the local speed-limit condition. The board’s approval carries the usual staff conditions and the added dust-control and speed-limit requirements.
Votes at a glance: Asgard Resources (LUDash0091Dash24) — conditional use permit to operate frac sand facility; approved with staff conditions plus dust control and 35 mph speed-limit on “January” (as identified in hearing); roll call vote: unanimous; outcome: approved.
