Aerial Fracking Photos
We
need aerial pictures to expose the truth to governmental and other decision
makers who seem not to be aware of the undesirable heavy industrial footprint
being irrevocably created by the Gas/Oil/Mining Corporations. We are funding
an aerial photo platform from which to take these pictures. If you know of
anyone who is mad enough at their local Mining or Hydraulic Fracking operation
to help financially or by publicizing this effort, please let them know and ask
them to contribute in any amount. http://igg.me/p/618034/x/400441
Landsmans Handbook: some of you have already encountered the strategies
found in this handbook. What does the industry think about having their
practices revealed?
Mon Dec 30, 2013 16:46 from Zero Hedge by Tyler Durden
*NO
INJURIES REPORTED FROM BNSF TRAIN FIRE IN NORTH DAKOTA
Wind is taking
toxic smoke towards areas southeast of Casselton, ND, after train derailment. Residents
urged to stay indoors
A train has derailed west of Casselton, North Dakota just before 2:20
p.m.
Monday. As Valley News Live reports, several area emergency teams are
on scene and are setting up an incident command center. Emergency crews are
urging people to stay inside and a code red alert has been sent out to
residents in a two mile radius of the accident. The Casselton Fire Department
says a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train is involved.
An unknown number of cars derailed,
but Valley News Live reports is told one bulk oil car is on fire and toxic black smoke is
being released
Fiery Oil Train Crash in
Raging Shale Oil Boom State of North Dakota
CRUDE BY RAIL SAFE?
Warning issued about oil shipped
from the Bakken oil shale patch
http://m.billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/warning-issued-about-oil-shipped-from-the-bakken-oil-shale/article_262d70e0-29f8-5a97-9a68-1d81f6427442.html?mobile_touch=true
Industry Related Site so BEWARE! Frac
Sands Mines and Related Facilities
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 Peter Moskowitz,
News Report: Environment Canada researcher Jane
Kirk recently presented the findings at a toxicology conference in Nashville, Tenn. The revelations add
to growing concerns over the environmental impact of mining the tar sands.
Many environmentalists charge that extracting oil from the sands will lead to
an increase in carbon emissions, the destruction of the land, water
contamination and health problems for Canadians. The debate over the tar
sands crossed over into the U.S. when energy company
TransCanada proposed building the Keystone XL pipeline to transport crude oil
to the southeastern U.S. for refining and
distribution.
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Land Stewardship
Project Citizens' Frac Sand Summit
Registration begins at 9 a.m. Conference from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m.
Cost is $10 (pay at the door) & includes a lunch
of local foods
We
will build our power to keep frac sand mining out of our region and to
create vibrant sustainable communities. The summit will bring citizens
from around the region together to share strategy, learn from experts as well
as each other and strengthen the movement to keep frac sand mining from
destroying our communities. Local government officials are welcome to
attend and this is an opportunity for them to learn more about the negative
impacts of the frac sand industry.
Topics and workshops include: Frac sand mining’s
impact on farmland ("Farmland, not Frac Sand!"), frac sand mining’s
role in extreme energy extraction, ensuring that state regulations put public
health and well-being before corporate profits, understanding the threat to
human health from exposure to silica dust, using township rights to control
frac sand mining, and more.
Featured speakers include:
- John Linc Stine, Commissioner of the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency
- Jennifer Krill, executive director of EarthWorks.
EarthWorks focuses on protecting communities and the environment from the
impacts of irresponsible mineral and energy development while seeking
sustainable solutions.
- Michael McCawley of the School
of Public Health
at West Virginia University.
McCawley is a leading expert on ambient air quality monitoring and
assessing risk to human health.
- Crispin Pierce, director of the Environmental
Public Health Program at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Pierce is conducting cutting-edge research on monitoring silica dust at
frac sand facilities.
Volunteers needed. We need help with getting
materials ready, processing RSVPs, working sign-in tables at the event, handing
out programs and materials, and more. If you can volunteer e-mail LSP's Bobby
King at bking@landstewardshipproject.org.
Directions to Tau
Center (Hilbert
St, Winona): From
Hwy 14/ 61 in Winona turn east onto
Gillmore Avenue. Take a
left onto Vila St. Take the
second left onto 10th St.
Take the next left onto Hillbert St. The Tau
Center is on the right. A map
is HERE.
A LETTER TO THE
EDITOR BY DR. JOHN DROST: Mines-DNR Partners?
In an article published by The Chippewa Herald (October
10, 2013), the DNR indicates
that it is making a strong effort to be more business friendly. Charlie Walker stated that this new approach
helps attract industries to the state. DNR
water administrator Russ Rasmussen stated:
“Without a good, healthy economy we can’t protect our water,
either.” In DNR’s new lead on frac sand shares enforcement
strategy, it states: “The DNR does
provide oversight and enforcement in some areas, most notably, the water:
wastewater discharges and storm water runoff.”
(WQOW clip, Oct. 8, 2013)
True, Great Northern Sand (GNS), near New Auburn had a
discharge of wastewater. (Early November 2012)
“Months later, there was another alleged violation by GNS.” Pictures, water samples and mine reports
indicate that at least six discharges occurred between the two discharges noted
in the article. For the two discharges
which GNS was cited, pictures clearly show that GNS was the point source of the
discharges.
The DNR says it doesn’t
test for residual acrylamide in water. DNR
agent Debra Dix indicated that acrylamide has numerous uses, including use in
drinking water treatment plants.
However, the concentration used in drinking water plants must be ½
part/million or less. Whereas, mine
wastewater discharges most likely contain 6-20 parts/million. These levels may be lethal to wildlife.
GNS was given a “wastewater discharge permit.” Thus, silica silt, clay and whatever else
continues to be discharged into Beaver Creek.
Silica sand from the discharges has been found more than 5 miles
downstream. Silica silt and clay have a
deleterious effect on waterways and wetlands.
The relationship between “a good healthy economy” and “clean
water” does not appear to be positive.
Does the relationship between the DNR
and businesses protect our water or is it a ruse?
John P. Drost
1710 Hoover Ave.
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Phone:
715-835-5093
Big
News: The Army Corp of Engineers won’t be working with the WI DNR!
ALEC calls for
penalties on “free rider” solar-panel owners | Grist
13 major clean
energy breakthroughs of 2013 | Grist
Trempealeau
Co. now 24/7
NEWS FROM PRESERVE WAUPACA COUNTY FOLKS: CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU!
The citizen’s group Preserve Waupaca County was presented with the Jan Moldenhauer
Environmental Award from the Fox Valley Sierra Group at its October 10 meeting
in Appleton.
The Sierra Club group serving northeastern Wisconsin gives an award each year to honor a person or
organization in the area that has achieved significant benefits to the
environment through their efforts and contributions, or has demonstrated
environmental leadership.
During the past year Preserve Waupaca County has demonstrated an incredible amount of
dedication and courage in their exhaustive effort to stop industrial sand mines
from coming into Waupaca County. They formed and led a coalition that
researched the impact of sand mining. They knocked on doors, wrote letters,
signed petitions, met with lawmakers, provided people with signs, spoke
eloquently at meetings, and educated neighbors in order to stop a Town of Union
sand mine or at least make sure that appropriate restrictions were in place.
The award is named in honor of Jan Moldenhauer,
a Sierra Club leader devoted to the environment. Jan was involved
with Preserve Waupaca County. She died in July.
In the photo from left to right: Alan Lawrence
(Fox Valley Sierra Group Chair), Kelly Ramstack, Tania Wadzinski, Donna Simons,
Bob Phelan, Coleen Phelan, Cy Simons
Ethanol loses friends and influence as reform movement grows
Corn ethanol's EROI is about
1.1 - meaning as much carbon is emitted producing it as when it is combusted in
the engine - resulting in twice the emissions.
Fracking EROI is probably low
enough that we can make the same argument, but so far no one has really come up
with an EROI number for fracking.
Karen Gaia Pitts, Motherlode Chapter
Truly strange
political allies on this issue.
Here
are 2 resources for you:
West Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
http://wcwrpc.org/Frac_Sand/frac_sand.html
Hay creek township zoning docs and flow charts --
https://sites.google.com/site/haycreektownship/services-fees
A Letter and a Slide Show from Mary:
I took some of the google photos and put together a 6 slide
presentation.
I like ppts because you can get pictures up on a big screen
cheaply.
I hope the title, "Landslide?" isn't too
melodramatic-but sometimes you have to clobber politicians with the obvious.
I'm sending a link to the presentation.
I downloaded it, but it's 5.84 MB and I didn't know if your ISP
carried attachments that big.
So here's the url, and anyone who has the address can look.
Click your way through this one!
NOTE:
The comment period on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on
Occupational Exposure to Crystalline Silica ends Jan. 27 and the deadline
for submitting notices of intention to appear at DC hearings March 18-19 is
December 12 :
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 Rebecca
Leber, News Report: BP has sought to cut down on payments for the 2010
Deepwater Horizon disaster by asking that local businesses prove the link
between their economic losses and the oil spill. A federal judge halted BP’s
effort to skip payments on Tuesday, ruling that BP cannot reverse its
interpretation of the settlement simply because the cost is higher than what
the oil g
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Message from the Wood County, Marshfield Area: Big Time
Violations
State wins pollution control judgment against frac sand company
: Madisondotcom
Honor the Earth Video: Triple Crown of Pipeline Rides
Solar Beats Natural Gas in Game-Changing
Court Ruling
Acid fracking in Florida proposed, just outside Naples city limits
Transatlantic Trade Agreement Threatens Environment and Health
in US and Europe | Common Dreams
Crystalline Silica Rulemaking
Obama delayed regulations until after the election, but that’s just a
symptom of the problem
http://grist.org/politics/obama-delayed-regulations-until-after-the-election-but-thats-just-a-symptom-of-theproblem/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Daily%2520Dec%252017&utm_campaign=daily
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Allamakee, Winneshiek
counties to benefit from University of Iowa grant - The Waukon Standard -
Waukon, IA
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Prevail in PA Supreme Court on Act 13, Municipal
Preemption Law
Gas Industry Takeover Law thrown out by State’s
Highest Court
Pittsburgh
PA - The PA Supreme
Court has ruled Act 13 is unconstitutional on the grounds that it violates the
Environmental Rights Amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution. Notably,
the Court stated, ““As the citizens illustrate, development of the natural gas
industry in the Commonwealth unquestionably has and will have a lasting, and
undeniably detrimental, impact on the quality of these core aspects [life,
health, and liberty: surface and ground water, ambient air, etc.] of
Pennsylvania’s environment, which are part of the public trust.” Opinion at
117.
Additionally, the Court stated, ““By any responsible
account, the exploitation of the Marcellus Shale Formation will produce a
detrimental effect on the environment, on the people, their children, and
future generations, and potentially on the public purse, perhaps rivaling the
environmental effects of coal extraction.” Opinion at 118.
MN Environmental Quality Board “Tools to Assist Local Governments in
Planning and Regulating Silica Sand Projects”
Hi all,
The temptation to draw the comparison between Wisconsin
and Minnesota on this issue is
overwhelming. Here in Buffalo County
we cheerfully approve mines like the Segerstrom mine pictured above (which
later went broke, leaving this hillside as a reminder). In Minnesota,
they’re being a little more thoughtful.
Here’s the “Introduction” section of Minnesota’s
draft “Tools” handbook. Click HERE
to download the whole document. Very useful material if you’re dealing
with a sand mine in your area. It’ll be harder for your opponents to make
those “Google educated” “radical fringe” “global conspiracy” wisecracks they’re
so fond of.
Minnesota
Environmental Quality Board
Tools to Assist Local Governments
in
Planning for and Regulating Silica Sand Projects
DRAFT DECEMBER 13, 2013
INTRODUCTION
In May 2013 the Minnesota Legislature adopted Laws 2013, chapter 114,
commonly referred to as HF 976, now codified in Minnesota Statutes chapter
116C. Minnesota Statute 116C.99, sub division 2 requires the Environmental
Quality Board (EQB) to develop model standards and criteria that may be used by
local units of government (LGUs) in developing local ordinances regarding the
mining, processing, and transporting of silica sand. This Tools to Assist Local
Governments document fulfills this legislative requirement.
Authority to plan for and regulate land use activities rests primarily with
local government. The EQB supports good local planning that articulates the
future vision of a community. This should be supported with the adoption of
sound local ordinances as the means to implement the planning. This document
provides information that may be useful for LGUs when discussing issues related
to silica sand.
The EQB strongly encourages each individual local unit of government to seek
the advice of legal counsel in connection with the use of this document and its
contents. The recommendations, standards, criteria, and considerations included
in this document are not substitutes for local government planning and the
contents of this document are not a substitute for legal advice.
The document is organized by topic. Each topic section or subsection
discusses potential impacts from silica sand activities. Considerations for
addressing potential impacts are discussed and then suggestions are provided on
how to address the impacts.
This document is essentially a box of tools available for consideration by
local governments. In some situations, there are several tools that may be
chosen or used in conjunction with other tools to address a particular concern.
The toolbox also includes instructions on how to use the tools themselves. As
with any box of tools, the user should decide what is to be built before
selecting a tool.
Two regions of the state were the focus of the statute: the Minnesota
River Valley and
southeastern Minnesota. These two
regions are the areas most likely to experience the greatest effects of silica
sand operations because they are where most of the sand exists. However, the
toolbox can be applied to other areas of the state, where an LGU could compare
its own circumstances to the geology, hydrology, and other characteristics
discussed in this document.
This document is the work of staff from the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota
Department of Transportation, Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota
Department of Agriculture, and the EQB itself.
Local units of governments are not required to adopt any elements of this
document and Minn. Stat. 116C.99 does not authorize the EQB or any other state
agency to impose or enforce anything on local governments. The EQB and its
member agencies are not enforcing or attempting to enforce the suggestions in
this document as if they are duly adopted state rules.
It also is important to note that this document does not represent legal
advice or legal opinions. The EQB assumes and recommends that an LGU will obtain
appropriate legal advice before making any decisions to adopt or amend its
official controls.
For reference, Minn. Stat. 116C.99 is included below in its entirety.
116C.99 SILICA SAND MINING MODEL
STANDARDS AND CRITERIA.
Subdivision 1. Definitions. The definitions in this subdivision apply to
sections 116C.99
to 116C.992.
(a) “Local unit of government” means a county, statutory or home rule charter
city, or town.
(b) “Mining” means excavating silica sand by any process, including digging,
excavating,
drilling, blasting, tunneling, dredging, stripping, or by shaft.
(c) “Processing” means washing, cleaning, screening, crushing, filtering,
sorting, processing,
stockpiling, and storing silica sand, either at the mining site or at any other
site.
(d) “Silica sand” means well-rounded, sand-sized grains of quartz (silicon
dioxide), with very little impurities in terms of other minerals. Specifically,
the silica sand for the purposes of
this section is commercially valuable for use in the hydraulic fracturing of shale
to obtain oil and natural gas. Silica sand does not include common rock, stone,
aggregate, gravel, sand with a low quartz level, or silica compounds recovered
as a by-product of metallic mining.
(e) “Silica sand project” means the excavation and mining and processing of
silica sand; the washing, cleaning, screening, crushing, filtering, drying,
sorting, stockpiling, and storing of silica sand, either at the mining site or
at any other site; the hauling and transporting of silica sand; or a facility for
transporting silica sand to destinations by rail, barge, truck, or other means
of transportation.
(f) “Temporary storage” means the storage of stock piles of silica sand that
have been transported and await further transport.
(g) “Transporting” means hauling and transporting silica sand, by any carrier:
(1) from the mining site to a processing or transfer site; or
(2) from a processing or storage site to a rail, barge, or transfer site for
transporting to
destinations.
Subd. 2. Standards and criteria. (a) By October 1, 2013, the Environmental Quality
Board, in consultation with local units of government, shall develop model
standards and criteria for mining, processing, and transporting silica sand.
These standards and criteria may be used by local units of government in
developing local ordinances. The standards and criteria shall be different for
different geographic areas of the state. The unique karst conditions and
landforms of southeastern Minnesota
shall be considered unique when compared with the flat scoured river terraces
and uniform hydrology of the Minnesota
Valley. The standards and criteria
developed shall reflect those differences in varying regions of the state. The
standards and criteria must include:
(1) recommendations for setbacks or buffers for mining operation and
processing, including:
(i) any residence or residential zoning district boundary
(ii) any property line or right-of-way line of any existing or proposed street
or highway (iii) ordinary high water levels of public waters
(iv) bluffs
(v) designated trout streams, Class 2A water as designated in the rules of the
Pollution
Control Agency, or any perennially flowing tributary of a designated trout
stream
or Class 2A water
(vi) calcareous fens
(vii) wellhead protection areas as defined in section 103I.005
(viii)critical natural habitat acquired by the commissioner of natural
resources under
section 84.944
(ix) a natural resource easement paid wholly or in part by public funds
(2) standards for hours of operation
(3) groundwater and surface water quality and quantity monitoring and
mitigation plan
requirements, including:
(i) applicable groundwater and surface water appropriation permit requirements
(ii) well sealing requirements
(iii) annual submission of monitoring well data
(iv) storm water runoff rate limits not to exceed two-, ten-, and 100-year
storm events
(4) air monitoring and data submission requirements
(5) dust control requirements
(6) noise testing and mitigation plan requirements
(7) blast monitoring plan requirements
(8) lighting requirements
(9) inspection requirements
(10) containmentrequirementsforsilicasandintemporarystoragetoprotectairandwater
quality
(11) containment requirements for chemicals used in processing
(12) financialassurancerequirements
(13) road and bridge impacts and requirements
(14) reclamation plan requirements as required under the rules adopted by the
commissioner of natural resources
Subd. 3. Silica sand technical assistance team. By October 1, 2013, the
Environmental
Quality Board shall assemble a silica sand technical assistance team to provide
local units of government, at their request, with assistance with ordinance
development, zoning, environmental review and permitting, monitoring, or other
issues arising from silica sand mining and processing operations. The technical
assistance team may be chosen from representatives of the following entities:
the Department of Natural Resources, the Pollution Control Agency, the Board of
Water and Soil Resources, the Department of Health, the Department of Transportation,
the University of Minnesota,
the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities, and
federal agencies. A majority of the members must be from a state agency and all
members must have expertise in one or more of the following areas: silica sand
mining, hydrology, air quality, water quality, land use, or other areas related
to silica sand mining.
Subd. 4. Consideration of technical assistance team recommendations. (a)When
the technical assistance team, at the request of the local unit of government,
assembles findings or makes a recommendation related to a proposed silica sand
project for the protection of human health and the environment, a local
government unit must consider the findings or recommendations of the technical
assistance team in its approval or denial of a silica sand project. If the
local government unit does not agree with the technical assistance team’s
findings and recommendations, the detailed reasons for the disagreement must be
part of the local government unit’s record of decision.
(b) Silica sand project proposers must cooperate in providing local government
unit staff, and members of the technical assistance team with information
regarding the project.
(c) When a local unit of government requests assistance from the silica sand
technical assistance team for environmental review or permitting of a silica
sand project the local unit of government may assess the project proposer for
reasonable costs of the assistance and use the funds received to reimburse the
entity providing that assistance.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.
PHONE: 651-647-6109, FAX: 866-280-2356, WEB: www.haven2.com, HANDLE: OConnorStP (ID for
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
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Emily
Atkin, News Investigation: Exxon Mobil Corp. subsidiary XTO Energy will have to
face criminal charges for allegedly dumping hydraulic fracturing waste at a
Marcellus Shale drilling site in 2010, according to a Pennsylvania judge’s ruling on
Thursday. Following a preliminary hearing, Magisterial District Judge James
G. Carn decided that all eight charges against Exxon—including violations of
both the state Clean Streams Law and the Solid Waste Management Act—will be
“held for court,” meaning there is enough evidence to take the fossil fuel
giant to trial over felony offenses.
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The First Frac Sand Congress Providing Perspectives From The Entire Supply
Chain
The explosive growth experienced by the frac sand industry may be leveling
off from the historic price-per-ton pricing highs of 2012, but with more than
half-million new wells due to be drilled by 2035, the demand for high quality
frac sand clearly presents a lucrative opportunity to stakeholders
across the supply chain.
However crippling transportation logistics costs remain a
significant bottleneck, exacerbated by limited rail access, terminals, freight
cars and unpredictable user requirements, contributing to substantial demurrage
and detention, especially in the last mile.
With this in mind, the Frac Sand Logistics Supply Chain 2013: Rail,
Trucking & Transloading Opportunities Congress has been designed to
bring together perspectives from across the entire supply chain to identify
long term market opportunities and solutions for reducing logistical costs as
well as optimizing timely delivery of product.
--
Welcome to the
Frac Sand Sentinel, a newsletter highlighting resource links, news media
accounts, blog posts, correspondence, observations and opinions gathered
regarding local actions on, and impacts of, the developing frac sand mining and
processing industries.
The content of this newsletter is for informational purposes only. The
editor of the Frac Sand Times does not accept any responsibility or liability
for the use or misuse of the content of this newsletter or reliance by any
persons on the newsletters contents.
You are receiving this newsletter because you have expressed an
interest in this information. We don't sell or loan your e-mail address to
anyone. You can subscribe for, or unsubscribe from, the newsletter at any time
by emailing the sender at sunnyday5@charter.net, noting your request.
715-723-6398
Pat Popple
