Badger Mining Co. and its sister company Atlas Resin Proppants plan to build a frac sand transportation facility just outside Douglas, Wyo., according to the Douglas Budget. The companies are working with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad to locate operations along the railroad’s main line right of way northwest of the city.
Badger has had a smaller operation in Casper for the last 25 years, representatives told the Converse County commissioners. This plant would be north of the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy and reach almost to Fourth Street, with road access coming down Twin Bridges Road.
The proposed facility, expected to be operational by this time next year, will consist of a series of new rail sidings of up to 7,169 ft. in length to accommodate trains loaded with sand from Wisconsin. Plans factor in the potential to add other sidings over time as needed, according to the companies’ plans.
The material is shipped in covered hopper cars. Two of the sidings planned for the project would have pits underneath where the sand would be dumped, then carried by a conveyor system to 125-ft.-tall silos, from which trucks would load to take the sand into the field.
Badger Mining’s Tom Gonyo told Converse County commissioners last week that there should be minimal dust associated with the operation.
“There’s a piece of equipment called a boot lift that seals the bottom of the car as you open door,” he said. “All the conveyors are enclosed, as are the bucket elevators and other equipment. The system will be designed with dust collection, including at the rail load out and the transfer point.”
The operation will require a DEQ air quality permit.