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Wisconsin lawmakers should put future sand mines on hold, delay approval for large farms that could cause pollution and pull permits for high-capacity wells that damage state waters, an overwhelming majority of Conservation Congress spring hearing attendees told the group in its annual survey.

The congress is an influential group of sportsmen that advises the state Department of Natural Resources on policy. It holds annual spring hearings in all 72 Wisconsin counties. A highlight of the hearings is a survey asking attendees for their thoughts on dozens of outdoors and environmental topics. The survey is advisory only but offers insight into statewide public sentiment on some of the most pressing issues the DNR faces.

The congress held this year’s hearings Monday. The DNR released survey results Tuesday.

The questionnaire asked attendees if they would support legislation that would impose a moratorium on new frac sand mine permits until the agency completes a study of such mines’ environmental impacts. Seventy-one counties voted yes; the vote in the lone remaining county was a draw. The results didn’t indicate how individual counties voted. In all, 3,226 attendees statewide said yes and 783 said no. Seventy counties said they supported a sand mine moratorium in last year’s survey as well.