Sand County Revisited: Impacts and Responses to the Frac Sand Boom Emmett Doyle*, Dr. Jean Lavigne, and Dr. Derek Larson Environmental Impacts Socio-Economic Impacts Abstract– The sand range of western Wiscon- Air Quality Job Creation sin and southeast Minnesota has, since 2008- -Silica dust is known to cause silicosis -Each frac sand mine, in operation, 09, been the site of a dramatic expansion of sil- and other lung diseases. can provide on average 10 jobs, ac- ica sand mining, driven by the demand for the -No regulation in MN or WI currently cording to the Wisconsin Economic sand as proppant in the national boom in hy- addresses silica dust specifically. Development Corporation. draulic fracturing. In Wisconsin alone, where -Concentrations around mines are like- -A sand processing plant can provide there were ten mines or processing facilities in ly to be higher than the 3 micrograms 50-80 jobs. 2010, there are now approximately 90 in oper- per cubic meter suggested by the MN -Ripple effects stimulate the local ation or construction. This thesis aims to ana- MPCA as a limit. economy, creating more jobs. lyze the environmental and social-economic Groundwater -Jobs may be at risk, as mining indus- tries are historically unstable. impacts of the frac sand boom in order to -Use of water to process sand could re- equip local residents and governments the sult in overdrawing of water tables. Road Damage necessary tools to respond to the boom in the -Carcinogenic acrymalides could es- -Towns may see roads degrade by a best interests of their communities. cape holding ponds. factor of 10 from truck traffic– a 20- year road would require repair in 2 Surface Water years. -Sand spills from holding ponds have -Townships have used fees to help been recorded. cover costs. -Spills are non-toxic but can temporari- MN-WI frac sand mining as of September 2012 Boomtown Effects Methods – To provide a useful tool for local resi- ly disrupt aquatic ecosystems. -Influx of labor, particularly young dents and governments, I sought to research Biosphere Conclusion– This thesis concludes that, at the state lev- men, can lead to housing shortages, several key areas: the environmental impacts of -Streams and wetlands may be impact- el in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, it would be appro- imbalanced sex ratios, increases in sand mining, the social and economic impacts, ed by groundwater and surface water property crime and violent crime, and priate to institute a one-year moratorium in order to damage. the relevant stakeholders and political climate increased sexual harassment and as- perform a state-wide assessment of environmental im- -The Karner blue butterfly may be im- at the state level, existing regulations at the sault. pacts, and to allow local communities time to deliber- pacted. state and federal level, and local regulatory op- -These trends are not universal and ate on their interests. Further, this thesis strongly urges Aesthetic Impacts are dependent in part of the degree tions. I gathered in formation about these pri- the adoption in each state of a state-wide air quality -Parts of the frac sand range, such as to which hiring is local. marily through reviewing state, industrial, and standards for crystalline silica pollution. On a local level, the Driftless Area, are known for their Other conservationist documents on the issue, as well this thesis urges communities to assess the known aesthetic -Tax revenues as journalistic sources. I supplemented these qualities. costs and benefits in the context of their own commu- -Historical and cultural sites sources with original interviews, and with a per- nity’s conditions and needs, and to adopt protective -Tourism sonal week-long immersion in the west Wiscon- regulations as needed. -Amish objections sin sand range. Finally, I analyzed and ordered this information into an accessible review. Image sources: Boswell, Mark. "Where Frac Sand Mining Has Taken off." Star Tribune. September 29, 2012. Accessed April 22, 2013. http://www.startribune.com/newsgraphics/171928181.html. King, Hobart. "What Is Frac Sand?" A Durable Sand for Hydraulic Fracturing. Accessed April 22, 2013. http://geology.com/articles/frac-sand/. Seitz, Greg. "Proposal Rejected to Expand Frac Sand Mine next to River | St. Croix 360." St Croix 360 RSS. October 11, 2012. Accessed April 22, 2013. http://www.stcroix360.com/2012/10/proposal-rejected-to-expand-frac-sand-mine-next-to-river/. .