new scientific research project financially sponsored by the Wisconsin Farmer's Union

 Dear Readers of the Frac Sand Sentinel.

I am pleased to announce a new scientific research project financially sponsored by the Wisconsin Farmer's Union.  A tremendous volume of preliminary research work has been done by Dr. Ron Koshoshek, Professor Emeritus,  University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, in order to transform his findings into an action research project that could impact the health conditions of current and future generations to come.

I urge you to consider a gift to the Wisconsin Farmer's Union so as to develop and sustain this project.

Thank you much for your concern, your continuing efforts, and your diligent work in keeping your communities and rural areas healthy and safe from harm.  I urge you to spread this message to the members of your groups and friends, family and neighbors throughout your region via email, face book pages and websites!

Sincerely,
Pat Popple

A MESSAGE FROM RON KOSHOSHEK:

Greetings:

 

         I have attached the announcement of a partnership scientific research program for sampling indoor air quality near mining facilities in willing homes, businesses and other places where humans gather such as schools, hospitals, clinics and daycare facilities. The equipment used is approved by both OSHA and WOHL. WOHL’s analysis will measure the concentration of respirable crystalline silica PM 2.5 in the samples collected rather than just measuring the volume of dust. It is a sampling program, not a monitoring program.  It has a scientific, not a regulatory purpose.  Since respirable crystalline silica has not been added to the list of air pollutants, there is no standard for respirable crystalline silica.  Thus, in the absence of a standard, regulation by any public agency in Wisconsin, including DNR, is legally impossible.

 

        The partners in the program include the non-profit foundation of the Wisconsin Farmer’s Union, the County Health departments who choose to join the program and conduct the research, Dr. Tom Peters and his research group at the University of Iowa, and the Wisconsin Occupational Health Lab. The WOHL will analyze the samples for the concentration of quartz PM 2.5.  The program can also be expanded to interested communities in Minnesota and Iowa, although its initial implementation is here in Wisconsin.

 

        As you know so well, there is a major effort in the legislature to prevent the gathering of scientific information about air quality impacts of the frac sand industry.  The four “top tier” companies that make up WISA (Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association) have been instrumental in drafting the legislation abolishing local control as well as any monitoring by local governments.  Despite this group’s repeatedly expressed desire for policy based on science rather than speculation and scare-tactics, they support the abolition of scientific investigations regarding air quality.

 

        I suspect that the county health departments may need some help and support in counties with county boards that oppose science based knowledge of air quality impacts.  Please send this announcement out on your list serves, websites, and face book pages! Will keep you informed regarding future developments.

 

Ron Koshoshek

Professor Emeritus, UWEC

 

Community Partnership for Indoor Air Sampling

 

A project to establish a partnership for indoor-air sampling between county Public Health Departments, medical and scientific professionals and the WI Farmers Union Foundation

 

                There is a widespread concern among citizens and officials in our rural communities (including our Farmers Union members), as well as professionals within the medical and scientific community about the lack of monitoring for the level of respirable crystalline silica (RSC) in close proximity to frac-sand mining operations, including near mine sites themselves, processing and trans-loading facilities, and along the routes on which frac sand is frequently transported.   

 

                We realize there are financial and legal obstacles faced by government at any level to monitor for RSC in the ambient air near mining operations, even if they wish to do so.  However, the outside air does enter into the homes and businesses located near these operations.   A program of sampling indoor air is not faced with these obstacles and can be conducted by health care professionals who are already in place in the Public Health Departments of county governments, and already experienced in sampling indoor air quality for a variety of pollutants.  

 

                The non-profit Foundation of the Wisconsin Farmers Union is proposing to coordinate a partnership with county Public Health Departments to establish a program of sampling indoor air quality for the concentration of respirable crystalline silica in the homes, businesses and other buildings of willing owners at sites located near frac sand mining operations.   The Foundation’s role in this partnership will focus on two elements: (1) providing local health departments with the use of very high quality sampling equipment free of charge, and (2) coordinating the sharing of data from county sampling efforts for review and analysis by a nationally recognized scientific investigator.    

 

                The County Health Departments will have control of the on-the-ground aspects of the program, including choosing the sites it will sample, and the operational process for placing instruments and gathering samples. Information on sites and participants will be retained confidentially within the county. All collected samples will be independently tested by the WI Occupational Health Lab. Counties will be responsible for costs associated with sampling and WOHL testing of  the results.

 

                Because of the serious interest in studying health impacts shown by your county moratorium, we are here this evening to offer your county  the opportunity to be an initial participant in a trial run of this program.  We hope offer the same opportunity to several other county health departments at their November regional meeting.  If your use of the samplers shows promise, we intend to expand the program to other interested counties as well.

 

                After much consultation with leading experts, we have discovered that the equipment needed for a study such as this is far more sophisticated and much more expensive than the personal air samplers commonly used for OSHA sampling of indoor air quality. The WFU foundation has agreed to provide funding to purchase the initial equipment for the project and to provide this equipment free of charge to selected county health departments for their use in the trial period. If successful in providing useful data, we will solicit additional funds to expand the program. Project funding will consist of donations to our non-profit Foundation, and will come from our members and other local sources in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa, including  members of the medical, scientific and business communities. Our goal is provide a scientifically valid study at a cost that is affordable to local governments and which can be managed by existing professional staff.

 

                In order to provide a scientifically valid framework and analysis for the project, the Foundation will be partnering with Dr. Tom Peters, PHD, MS, CIH.   Dr. Peters is an Associate Professor in the University of Iowa’s Dept of Occupational and Environmental Health and is a certified environmental engineer and a national leader in air quality research.  He also leads a team of scientists including toxicologists that make up the University of Iowa Laboratory Research Group.    

 

                Dr. Peters has agreed to provide continuing counsel to the Foundation and participating counties regarding any special issues that may arise in the project.  In exchange for his expertise, the Foundation has agreed to provide Dr. Peters with the results of the WOHL’s lab analysis of each sample.   Dr. Peters will evaluate the significance of the numerical data and use the data for his own research and publication purposes. The Foundation understands that the numerical data are open to the public,but that the location of the sampled site and its owner are confidential matters that must be shielded from public view both by the Foundation and the County.

 

                The Foundation also wants to express its appreciation for the advice and counsel of  Stephen Klafka, a board certified environmental engineer and President of Wingra Engineering in Madison WI, who has contributed greatly to the selection of the appropriate sampling equipment and to understanding the various issues associated with both ambient and indoor air sampling.    Mike Cavanaugh, Director of Consultation at WOHL, has also been instrumental in setting the stage for cooperation with WOHL over the entire course of this program.

 

Tom Quinn      

Executive Director

Wisconsin Farmers Union

 

Ron Koshoshek

Professor Emeritus, UWEC