Post 1: Sand Mining in Western Wisconsin Overview

What is frac sand mining? Where is it in Wisconsin?

Sand minding has been a practice in Wisconsin for over 100 years. The recent growth in the petroleum industry establish a high demand for alternative petroleum production products. This includes sand that can be used for hydraulic fracturing which involves extracting natural gas and crude oil from rock formations. Wisconsin contains a large quantity of this resource. Industrial sand is sometimes called “frac” sand or silica sand. (WI DNR 2016) Processing of the sand comprises of washing and separating the sand into grain sizes that can be capable for hydraulic fracturing. Then, the sand is shipped out for its gas and oil field uses for fracturing. The material removed during this process can be sold as a byproduct or it can also be returned to the mine site as part of the reclamation process. (WI DNR 2016) This process happens after the mining for a particular site is completed. The total number of Industrial Sand Facilities (Mines, Processing & Rail Loading) is 128; there locations are shown in Figure 1. The number of Active Facilities is 92, along with 32 Inactive Facilities, and 4 Facilities Reclaimed or are in Process of Final Reclamation. (WI DNR 2016)

Figure 1. An interactive map from the Wi DNR website that shows the locations of the mining sites.   http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Mines/ISMMap.html (WI DNR 2016).

Frac sand is silica sand or silicon dioxide (SiO2), also referred to as quartz. Silica sand has been mined for thousands of years for its man uses such as paving roads or filtering drinking water. “It is also used in the hydrofracking process: fluid pressure fractures the rock and opens natural fractures and pores that would normally be closed due to the weight of the overlying rock, the sand grains are then carried into these fractures and prop them open after the fluid pressure is released” (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2012). Not all silica sands are suitable for hydrofracking. Frac sand needs to be practically pure quarts in order to meet the industry specification. The well rounded and tight size gradation are also part of the standards. The sand needs have a high compressive strength, generally between 6,000 psi and 14,000 psi. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2012) Wisconsin has an abundant resource of sand that is derived from Quaternary glacial deposits or even marine sandstones of the Cambarian age (Figure 2), which is 500 million years ago. Sand that meet frac sand regulations found in the Cambrian include:

Figure 2. Outcrop areas of Cambrain quartz sandstones from the USGS Geologic map of the U.S. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2012).

sand regulations found in the Cambrian include: Jordan; Wonewoc; and Mt. Simon Formations; and in the younger Ordovician-age St. Peter Formation. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2012) The prominent areas for sand mining in Wisconsin are in central and western counties including: Baron, Chippewa, Trempealeau, Jackson and Monroe County (Figure 3). Baron and Chippewa  

Figure 3.  Counties in Wisconsin that contain Mining Facilities and the number of facilities in them. (US Census) (WI DNR 2016).

Counties have a higher concentration of mining Jordan Sandstone from the exposure on hilltops and Wonewac Sandstone on the lower hillsides. “A conservative estimate of Wisconsin frac sand mining capacity based on existing mines, mines under construction, and processing plants would be in excess of 12 million tons per year” (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources 2012). In Figure 4, it shows a photograph of just one of the many mining facilities in Western Wisconsin. 

Figure 4. The sand mining facility operated by Tiller Corp. in Grantsburg, Wis., near the St. Croix River, as photographed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on April 26, 2012. (Photo courtesy Wisconsin DNR)

Issues Associated with Frac Sand Mining in Western Wisconsin

When the rock is drilled, the fractures are created by pumping in a mixture of water, chemicals, and sand. The cracks remain open while the oil and gas are released. Frac sand mining is known to generate air pollution. This is due to the emissions of tiny dust particles. It is said that is these particles are inhaled in the lungs it could lead to cancer in the lungs. This brings up the controversial issues of neighboring communities not wanting frac mines near them because of the health risks. (Earthworks 2017) Frac sand mining also constructs dangers to water sources. Miners use chemicals such as flocculants to clean, wash, or remove unwanted minerals in the sand. These chemicals can infiltrate into the groundwater. (Earthworks 2017) Because of the exposure risks, the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued draft regulations to reduce these health issues. (Earthworks 2017)Along with the many environmental hazards from fracking, a less known effect is the destruction of farmland in the Midwestern areas. Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota known to have some of the richest agricultural land. Much of this land sits on top of silica such as the St. Peter sandstone. One of the most valued silica sands in the fracking industry. By the end of 2015, there was 129 industrial sand facilities operating in Wisconsin. The New York Times comments:

“In the jargon of the fracking industry, the farmland above the sand is ‘overburden.’ Instead of growing crops that feed people, it becomes berms, walls of subsoil and topsoil piled up to 30 feet high to hide the mines” (Loeb 2016).

Mines are destroying rural communities along with farmland. The small towns are disturbed by the mine blasting, diesel trucks speeding down the rural roads, and 24-hour operations within a few hundred feet of homes and farms. (Loeb 2016)This is forcing many farmers to sell their land and move way. Those that stay have to adjust to the burden of the disturbing and polluting mines. 

With all of the new issues that have arisen due to the increased industry in frac sand mining, the WI Department of Natural Resources is working to protect the natural resources through permits, regulations and compliance. Mining companies must follow state requirements to protect public health and the environment. This includes getting necessary air and water permits from DNR and following state reclamation laws. (WI DNR 2016) The DNR uses permits to cover responsibilities to regulate air quality to control silica and fugitive dust, water permits for storm water, high capacity wells, and wetlands/surface waters (where applicable). Table 1 demonstrates the different regulation policies. 

Table 1. Permitting sand mines in Wisconsin (Hart, Adams and Schwartz 2013).

By not following the laws and regulations legal action at the state level would be reinforced. (WI DNR 2016) At the federal level, the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) enforces safety and health procedures and policies. (Hart, Adams and Schwartz 2013) After the completion of the mining process, a reclamation plan must be finalized using Wisconsin Administrative Code NR135. Alternative land uses are constructed then to the old site. Potential land uses include green spaces, wildlife habitats, agriculture, or lakes and ponds. Many of these decisions for the new land use options are influenced by the local and county governments. 

References 

Earthworks. 2017. Frac Sand Health and Environmental Impacts. Accessed February 22, 2017. https://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/frac_sand_health_and_environmental_impacts#.WK3TrjsrKM9.

Hart, Maria V., Teresa Adams, and Andrew Schwartz. 2013. "Transportation Impacts of Frac Sand Mining in MAFC Region: Chippewa County Case Study." Mid-America Feight Coalition. Accessed February 20, 2016. http://midamericafreight.org/wp-content/uploads/FracSandWhitePaperDRAFT.pdf.

Loeb, Nancy C. 2016. "The Sand Mines that Ruin Farmland." NY Times. May 23. Accessed February 22, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/23/opinion/the-sand-mines-that-ruin-farmland.html?_r=0.

US Census Bureau. 2017. American Fact Finder. Accessed February 20, 2017. https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t.

WI DNR. 2016. "Industrial sand mining overview." WI DNR. July 5. Accessed February 20, 2017. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Mines/Sand.html.

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2012. "Silica Sand Mining in Wisconsin." Wi DNR. January. Accessed February 20, 2017. http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Mines/documents/SilicaSandMiningFinal.pdf.