Former Minn. Gov. Pawlenty joins board of frac sand company

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has joined the board of directors of Smart Sand, a Pennsylvania company building a large silica sand plant in Wisconsin.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty addresses convention attendees during the 2012 Michigan Republican State Convention at the Cobo Center in Detroit on May 19. Pawlenty has joined the board of directors of a company building a silica sand plant in Wisconsin. (AP Photo/Detroit News,Todd McInturf)

Smart Sand’s 1,100-acre plant is in Monroe County in Oakdale near Tomah, Wis.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the plant expects to process more than one million tons annually of special silica sand, used by oil and gas companies for hydraulic fracturing because of its uniform size, strength and round shape.

Frac sand mining has grown fast in western Wisconsin, from five mines to 63 in the past two years, but it’s drawn opposition on environmental grounds. Wisconsin regulators last week took steps to prosecute two companies for pollution violations.

Pawlenty is frequently mentioned as a potential vice presidential pick for Republican Mitt Romney.

Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press, http://www.twincities.com