Bob Johnson rote this to the MPCA - an excellent reference to use when you write your letter

From: Bobby King bking@landstewardshipproject.org

Great letter. Thanks for sharing it.  There was a typo in my first action alert for the MPCA person. The correct email address is nathan.cooley@state.mn.us (I left out a "h".) So resend it to the correct email address.

 

 

Subject: Frac sand mining

  

     Frac sand is silica sand and long-term exposure to even low levels of

silica dust can cause severe health problems including silicosis, an

incurable disease that can kill.  Thus a "Silica Sand Ambient Air Quality"

permit must be created and required for all frac sand facililties (mines,

processing and loading facilities etc.)

     Requiring a permit to operate gives the MPCA leverage to enforce

compliance.  Without the threat of being able to shut down the operation by

revoking the permit, frac sand facilities can ignore rules and pay fines

while continuing to pollute. Meaningful setbacks from adjoining property

lines, residences, schools, nursing homes etc., should be required as part

of the permit.

     All frac sand facilities should pay for the installation and

maintenance of the state-of-the-art continuous air monitoring equipment that

is overseen by the MPCA. Facilities must not allow silica dust in the

ambient air at their property line to exceed the level of exposure

established by the Minnesota Department of Health.  Air monitoring reaults

should be available to the public in real time via the web.

     Violations must reault in substantial fines and scaling down of

operations to make them come into compliance.  Repeated violations must

result in revocation of the permit.  Permit costs should cover the cost of

regulating the industry.

 

     State regulations must also protect our water from frac sand mining

pollution.  The processing of frac sand can involve the use of harmful

chemicals and frac sand mining can open up conduits that allow surface

pollution to enter into ground water quickly.  This is especially true for

southeast Minnesota's sensitive Karst geology.

     Frac sand mines and frac sand processing facilities that use water

should require an individual water quality permit that requires public

notice and allows for public comment.  No permit should be allowed within

any wellhead protection area.  All chemicals used by frac sand companies

must be publicly disclosed.  Industry claims of "proprietary information"

should not be allowed to trump the public's right to know what chemicals  to

which they may be exposed.

 

     In the fractured limestone Karst geology of southeast Minnesota, strip

mining of frac sand can create many points of entry for surface pollution to

enter the groundwater.  This is why I agee with the Governor who has said he

supports a frac sand mining and processing ban in southeast Minnesota to

protect our water quality.

 

                      Robert K. and Joy Johnson  230 2nd St NE, Harmony MN

55939  507-886-3656