Audubon Minnesota has made a BOLD statement about INDUSTRIAL SILICA SAND

To all regional groups, individuals, and organizations. Audubon Minnesota has made a BOLD statement about INDUSTRIAL SILICA SAND or silica or frac sand for their state members and others. I challenge state organizations, groups , individuals and others inside and outside of our Wisconsin borders to do the same! In many instances, people in the State of Wisconsin have not been allowed adequate time to state their views nor even time to have their questions answered. In other situations, moratoriums to allow additional study have been requested and denied! It is disconcerting because many examples demonstrating injustices from areas around the state can be cited. Groups feel defeated because their work and research is disregarded or trashed. Jim Tittle's film: The Price of Sand  serves to remind us all that what is happening around WI is truly a blight on our state and our people. No one should have to put up with these kinds of injustices! No one! According to information out of Jackson Co., over 7000 acres of agricultural land is now committed to mining silica. In Trempealeau Co, over 3300 acres with many more thousands are in the works for mining approvals. In Chippewa Co., 3200 acres are committed to mining. None of this includes the commitment to processing or transloading.............and many more counties are approving more frac sand mines around NW Wisconsin! There is no doubt that the loss of  clean air, clean water (quality and quantity) along with the lost of agricultural land are a few of the critical issues that are raising red flags that no one can deny but there are other impacts that can't be ignored either.

Audubon Minnesota offers some encouraging words to the people from Minnesota. Wisconsin folks were delighted to have the Ho Chuck Nation Leaders come forth with their endorsement. We are thankful for their leadership . I personally challenge other groups to come forth with statements of support!  They will be printed for all to view if you so desired!

Please read the Audubon statement below. Pass on the information to your favorite groups. Ask them to be sensitive to your needs if you are a member or if you have done something to assist one of their causes. Ask your religious groups to get involved, to learn more, to find out what the pluses as well as the minuses are, and to seriously consider the health risks, most of all to you, your children, your grandchildren, and future generations not yet born. Silica is a hazardous carcinogen. Are you living in close proximity or in the pathway of this air hazard? No one knows the impact fully on humans or animals living near mines, processing plants or the transport systems within close proximity of living, breathing organisms. Ask your group to write a statement! Ask them to take a leadership role with others involved. Many of you over these 60 months have asked how you can help. Here is a way............you can make a difference! Please get involved today.

Pat Popple
sunnyday5@charter.net
www.ccc-wis.com

From: Audubon Minnesota

Silica Sand Mining Update

SF786 and HF906/SF1018  

Industrial silica sand, also known as frac sand, is a type of sand with unique characteristics that make it ideal for industrial applications. Industrial silica sand has many uses including glass making, abrasives, and sand traps at golf courses. Uses expanded with an increase in demand for shale oil and natural gas. Due to its crush-resistant nature and strength, silica sand is ideal for hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” where it is injected deep underground in oil and gas fields. High quality industrial silica sand is found in the southeastern portion of Minnesota, as well as Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois.

Click here for Audubon Minnesota’s Statement on Silica Sand Mining

Legislative Action

Since 2010, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has been receiving complaints about existing and proposed silica sand mining projects in southeastern Minnesota. Residents living near these projects, and across the state, have become increasingly vocal, demanding to know more about silica sand mining’s effects on the human health and the environment. Audubon members have spoken up about impacts to streams and groundwater, air quality, noise and rare birds and rare habitats. We have joined with many other environmental groups, non-profits, and concerned citizens to voice our concerns to lawmakers… and they are listening.

The Senate is moving SF 786 (Schmit) through the hearing process, calling for a temporary statewide moratorium on silica sand mining in Minnesota, and all the other elements called for in Audubon’s statement on silica sand mining. The bill calls for a halt on all new silica sand mines until their impacts can be further studied. It requires a board be created to generate regional permitting standards, and a scientific advisory team be available to cities for consultation.

The House is supporting a weaker bill, HF 906 (Hansen) which offers a model ordinance and a technical assistance team to local governments, with whom the permitting and regulatory decisions remain. What is likely to occur is that each bill will pass their respective body, and will meet in “conference committee” where a blend of both will be worked out. This is not certain! Your statement today to your Senator and Representative is critical. Tell them that you support a temporary halt on permitting of new silica sand facilities, while impacts to groundwater, rare birds (mention the Loggerhead Shrike) and rare bluff habitats are studied, and protective ordinances are put in place.

For more information and updates on this issue and many others, visit our Public Policy page.

Who represents me?  

Click here to find out who your legislators are.

Take Action!

Please contact your Senator and Representative today! Send them an email voicing your support for a statewide moratorium on new silica sand facilities until we get regulations in place to protect our water, air, human communities, rare habitats and wildlife. Please refer to the statement below for an example.

I support a statewide moratorium on further permitting of silica sand facilities. It is critical that we have a GEIS to evaluate comprehensive, science-based information on the impacts of silica sand mining to our groundwater, rare bluff habitats, and threatened species such as the Loggerhead Shrike. As your constituent, I ask you to represent me, and the tens of thousands of Minnesotans who value their native landscapes and clean water by supporting a temporary halt to further permitting of silica sand facilities, until protective statewide standards can be put in place.