Dear Friends and
Neighbors,
Public Clamor is not usually adequate to make
change in the long term. We need large
numbers of people to be engaged for informed citizen input to make a difference.
The Minn. Environmental Quality Board is creating
“model standards and criteria for mining, processing and transporting silica
sand” for local government to use if they choose. The EQB is accepting public
comments on the Model Standards and
Criteria until only Nov. 12 (subtract Veterans Day holiday & we have only 5
workdays left).
So…
1. Write these people at the EQB:
Will.Seuffert@state.mn.us Executive Director
bob.patton@state.mn.us Commissioner
of Agriculture
a.
Identify yourself & state why you care about frac sand mining in SE
Minn.
b. Couple sentences what you want EQB to
do.
(Choose from list below or create your
own.)
c. Thank them for excellent “Report on
Silica Sand” (3/23/13) & say we need them to stand strong for protecting our environment and current economic engines
from the damaging impacts of the extractive industry of frac sand mining so our
region can have a healthy, sustainable future.
2. Write Governor Mark
Dayton (mn.gov/governor/contact-us/).
He is working from home for a couple of
months, so phone calls relayed through his office staff will not be direct
communication. He does Facebook, should
you wish to use that.
Push…so he can lead.
Emphasize that a legacy of a healthy,
sustainable future for our region depends upon his support. We need him to act to protect the fragile
karst geology of the Paleozoic Plateau area.
Ask what we can do to help him achieve
this.
3. Contact your friends in
other parts of the state.
If you need to, explain that this issue is
about frac sand mining, not metallic mining or other industrial sand mining – as
has been in the Mankato area for a long time.
Ask them to take the same actions. This may feel like a stretch, but we need to
increase numbers of engaged citizens. You can be ready to reciprocate when they have
an issue of concern with which you agree.
4. (This IS a stretch, but
important)
When we are not satisfied with just
chatting amongst ourselves, we must start connecting with people we do not know
well (yet) and ask them to join our efforts.
We each have the opportunity and choice to do
what we can – each day.
Wishing you
well,
Bonita
POINTS TO
SEND TO EQB
FOR MODEL ORDINANCES
Model standards must make
it possible for local organizing to maintain or enact strong ordinances,
including bans on frac sand mining.
Lay out standards and
criteria that cover a spectrum of goals which local communities may want to
achieve with a local ordinance, based on most restrictive ordinances in
effect. They would range from a ban to
strong local standards to protect specifically identified areas of concern such
as air quality, health, property values, roads, water quality.
Propose nothing weaker than
what has already been adopted.
Do NOT create weak model
standards that could undermine existing local ordinances or efforts to pass
strong ordinances, including bans.
Health Impact Assessments
must be done for every single mine site.
Conduct baseline
measurements of water, air, noise and traffic before mining begins.
Hard and firm 1-mile
setback from designated trout streams or Class 2A waters.
At least 25 feet of
undisturbed sand above the highest water table to retain effects of water
filtration.
Infrastructure damage: Hold industry responsible for all cost of
road damages. If they just pay a
portion, the taxpayers cannot keep up with accelerated rate of repairs for
shortened life of roads.
Truck Traffic: Speeds and frequency of trucks inconsistent
with local uses.
“Reclamation” is a joke. We
need honest assessment of what is possible use of land when mining eventually
ends.
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