Residents Petition DNR To Conduct Comprehensive Study On Frac Sand Mining

More than 1,100 citizens from western Wisconsin are submitting a petition to the Natural Resources Board on Wednesday that asks for an in-depth study on how frac sand mining is impacting Wisconsin.

The petition asks the board to direct the Department of Natural Resources to do a comprehensive analysis of how the industry is affecting, water, land, air and the quality of life for nearby residents.

Sarah Williams is an attorney for Midwest Environmental Advocates, which organized the petition. She said the DNR hasn’t taken a close enough look since frac sand mining exploded in 2011.

“The DNR hasn’t done a comprehensive study or any really environmental assessment or environmental impact statement of one of these facilities since that time,” Williams said.

This isn’t the first time citizens have asked for a study of the frac sand industry. In 2011, 25 citizens from western Wisconsin asked the DNR to change regulations on silica dust coming from mines. The DNR denied that request, saying more study was needed. Williams says that this comprehensive analysis would meet that need.

“What we want them to do now is to develop that information to do appropriate studies so it can look at its own regulations and make an appropriate determination about whether they’re sufficient,” said Williams.

Ken Schmitt plans to speak at the Natural Resources Board meeting. He’s hopeful the board will order the study and begin to answer many questions related to frac sand mining.

“To me, there is no bigger, more widespread issue in the state than this issue of frac sand mining because of its proliferation and density,” Schmitt said.

The Natural Resources Board does not have to act on the petition.