Sand Mining in Western Wisconsin Overview

Frac sand mining is an industry that has been present in Wisconsin for over 100 years.  There is a huge demand for the sand because it is used for hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", as well as some manufacturing.   The sand that is sought after is quartz and has to have a very specific grain size and shape.  According to the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, frack sand must be "nearly pure quartz, very well rounded, extremely hard, and of uniform size". 

The sand can be found in certain sandstone formations in western and central Wisconsin (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Locations of frac sand mining sites in Wisconsin,
Courtesy of the Wisconsin Geological and natural history Survey

Frac sand mining has been very controversial due to the implications that are associated with it.  In western Wisconsin, there are issues surrounding what mining will do to the natural environment, as well as to people that live near the sites.  The Wisconsin DNR has had to invoke several regulations to ensure the protection of natural resources while still allowing the sand mining industry to flourish.  According to the DNR, "Industrial sand mines and other related operations must follow the same state requirements to protect public health and the environment as other nonmetallic mining operations in Wisconsin".  They go on to note that the permits for sand mining carry regulations pertaining to storm water, air quality, wetlands, high capacity wells, solid/hazardous waste, drinking water, and endangered/threatened species.  

Whenever a new mine is planned to be opened, there is often a lot of controversy surrounding it, especially for the community in which the mine will be near.  One recent example of this is with the controversial sand mining company Pattison Sand Co.  They plan to expand their underground mining operation in Clayton County, Iowa.  According to an article in Urban Milwaukee from May, 2016, since 2005 this company has "racked up more workplace violations than any other industrial sand mine in the United States".

One tool that can assist in exploring the issues surrounding sand mining is Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Through using this tool, one can analyze the spatial trends associated with fracking.  This will be helpful when examining the regulations, as well as being able to look at geological information. It can be a tool to help give a visual perspective to some of these issues in order to potentially help find a solution.

Works Cited:

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Mines/Sand.html

http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2016/05/08/frac-sand-mine-is-nations-worst-violator/

http://wcwrpc.org/frac-sand-factsheet.pdf