US Silica proposes transload facility near Plaza
By Edna Sailor
A small group of people met in Plaza recently to talk with officials from US Silica and their partner, Barr Engineering about their proposal to develop a silica rail transloading facility four miles southeast of Plaza along the Mountrail and Ward County line.
If eventually approved by relevant stakeholders, the facility would be located on the east side of the intersection of 61st Avenue NW and North Dakota Highway 23 on Canadian Pacific property. It would also align to nearby railroad tracks. According to officials at the meeting the proposed operation would provide about 20 jobs to the area.
US Silica representatives, Tanner Rice, Transload Operations Manager and Mike Ruttle, Senior Project manager were on hand to share the corporate plans. Lori Stegink, Vice President and Shanna Braun, Project Manager of Barr Engineering, partners to US Silica, were also present to share information.
"We are here tonight to be proactive and discuss issues with people who live here. We do not want to get down the road and run into surprises. We want to address concerns as they are expressed up front," Stegink said.
Company officials termed the Plaza meeting as an "open house" for an "important first step in gaining input from community members." Members of the Plaza Township Board and Plaza City Council attended the meeting. Other businessmen in the area also attended. Most of those present expressed an interest in learning more about the company and obtaining information from them.
