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Minnesota River Valley landowner Don Swoboda owns says he should be able to sell the mining rights on his land if he wants to. But environmental groups say hard rock mining in the area is scarring a beautiful part of the state. (MPR photo/Mark Steil)

A showdown over mining rock in the Minnesota River Valley is expected to come to a head soon. Environmental groups have sparred with construction interests in the past year over the issue. Environmentalists say the rock mining ruins the beauty of the valley. But construction companies that use the rock say the it's needed to build roads. The mining company at the center of the debate will ask Renville County to extend its mining permit.

Redwood Falls, Minn. — The Duininck Brothers company has been taking rock from a quarry bordering the Minnesota River near Redwood Falls for about 5 years. Many state officials say the original permit allowing Duininck's to operate in that area was a mistake.

Company President Harris Duininck says he's made a big investment in the quarry. He says he will ask the county for the right to continue mining the 20 acre site until all the accessible rock is taken.

"We don't know for sure what the county board is going to do with this but we will be asking them for additional years until this thing is gone," says Duininck. Because we feel the impact is not significant at all."

Duininck made the announcement as he was showing the quarry site to a group of officials from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The Duininck quarry has become an environmental issue because it's located in a portion of the Minnesota River valley which the state legislature designated wild and scenic. The designation allows only limited economic activity.

State officials initially approved the operation. But when Duininck asked for a permit extension two years ago they took a closer look at the wild and scenic rules. They reversed their position, saying the Duininck's rock operation was not allowed. Renville County approved a permit extension anyway. It's set to expire at the end of the year.

Among the DNR officials touring the quarry was Commissioner Gene Merriam. At a public meeting on the issue later in the day, Merriam said the Duininck announcement could bring the issue to a head.

"We've got to figure out a couple of things. What's happening, what's been told in the past. What does the law provide. What authority, responsibility do we have under the current statute, rules and laws. And what may need to be changed. I wouldn't want to foreclose or endorse anything at this time," says Merriam.

At the public meeting there were plenty of comments on both sides of the issue. Don Swoboda owns land in the river valley. He says he should be able to sell the mining rights if he wants to.

"We got to get going on this, please. Because we need it," says Swoboda. I feel like I'm getting my rights violated here, as a property owner. I mean I'm the owner, don't I get a right to make some money off of this?"

People with environmental concerns told the DNR it's impossible to heal the scars left by rock mining. Patrick Moore is with a clean river group called "CURE". He told the meeting CURE and other groups have joined together to fight against mining in the Minnesota River Valley.

"We represent thousands of members. We are speaking as one voice on this issue,"Moore says. "Our basic goal is to have a region where the economics of the region are balanced with the enhancement and restoration of its natural resources. So we think there's need for more dialogue."

Construction companies say the state is running out of good quality rock for road building and other needs. They say it's time to use the rock in the Minnesota River Valley. Moore says that's short-sighted, the state should first figure out what's best for the Minnesota River Valley.