Frac sand mining has ability to provide economic benefits

Thank you for publishing the article "Plainview meeting fills in residents about frac sand rules" on Nov. 21. The article was well done and very informative.

However, those who wish to severely restrict frac-sand mining are doing a disservice to southwestern Minnesota and even the planet at large.

Many of the areas with the best frac-sand deposits are rural areas that rely heavily on agriculture for economic activity, and frac-sand mining would provide economic diversity to these communities.

Also, 36 percent of the total energy used in the U.S. comes from oil, and we will continue to need it whether we are pumping our own out of the ground. It is better to develop our own oil and employ our own people instead of exporting jobs and importing energy.

Isaac Orr

Waupaca