Letter to the Editor: Industrial sand mining has been going on for years

(From Jim Maloney of Decorah):

I have noted many stories of late on the now controversial process of silica sand mining.  My main point is this:  Silica sand mining is not new.  Silica sand has long been mined for use in glass making, golf course sand traps and vertical oil drilling.  The current controversy is due to the increase in demand for silica sand to be used for the newer process of fracking for oil and natural gas.

The key to eliminating the land degradation potential is ensuring there are stringent permit regulations in place for the sand mining process. Counties/Cities in Minnesota and Wisconsin require conditional use permits with reclamation plans to provide for the ultimate establishment of an acceptable, desirable landscape when finished with sand mining operations. I understand Winneshiek County is reviewing a typical sand mining ordinance during the current moratorium.   It is prudent for Iowa counties/cities to do their homework and get the necessary strict sand mining laws and ordinances in the books.

I assisted with a silica sand mine reclamation plan in the mid90's when I worked in Mankato, Minnesota.  This plan was very detailed and required a storm water management plan and erosion control through each 5-yearphase of the 50+ year mine site.   The reclamation plan showed the   ultimate, final layout of site amenities after the mining work was finished. I know of one current sand mine site in SW Wisconsin that will be annexedto a community and will ultimately be a residential subdivision.  Anothersite will be a designated park with  pond/wetland amenities.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources must be set up to provide the necessary enforcement of the any future silica sand mining permit regulations.   If the ordinances were not enforced, there would be ultimate permanent scars on the land.  I see more impact to our area now from limestone quarries which are not as controversial, but still leave major cavities in the landscape.

I am middle of the road guy on this topic, although I consider myself an environmentalist.  I don't want to see our landscape in our area stripped clear and degraded to extract this product. I love mother earth. I also drive my internal combustion, gas powered car to work every day and use natural gas for heat. The current silica sand mining argument is very one-sided and seems to attempt to scare those who are not fully informed. The link below provides a lot of information on the subject.

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lands_minerals/silicasand/faq.html#1

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Industrial Silica Sand FAQs

Frequently AskedQuestions and Answers

The information provided on this webpage is current as of October31, 2012. A fact sheet of this information isavailable for download here.

What is industrial silica sand (Frac Sand)? Answer

Where is industrial silica sand found? Answer

What is the current status of industrial silica sand mining inMinnesota? Answer

How is it mined? Answer

What types of industries use silica sand? Answer

What is "fracking"? Answer

Is fracking for oil and gas occurring in Minnesota? Answer

Why here? What makes our sand so unique? Answer

Who regulates industrial silica sand mining? Answer

Who are the other regulating authorities? Answer

What is IndustrialSilica Sand (Frac Sand)?

Industrial silica sand refers to sand having the composition andgrain-size distribution required for industrial applications. Specifically,industrial silica sand consists of well-rounded, sand composed of almost purequartz grains. Quartz, or silicon dioxide (SiO₂) is the commonmineral found on the Earth's surface and is found in rocks like granite, gneiss,and sandstone. The value of industrial silica sand is significantly higher thansand and gravel used in the construction industry.

Where isindustrial silica sand found?

Status Map

Click to enlarge

Industrial silica sand is mined from sandstones occurring inportions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois. In Minnesota, glacialdrift and other bedrock layers commonly exist on top of the sandstone. Threesandstone formations in Minnesota have potential for producing high qualityindustrial silica sand. The Jordan and Wonewoc sandstones are the most soughtafter sources followed by the St. Peter sandstone. Natural aggregates minedfrom sand and gravel deposits do not meet the specification for frac sand.*

*Dustman, J.E., Gulbranson, B., Bell, P., Gregg, W., 2011:Characteristics of high quality frac sand, and where to find it in the upperMidwest., Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 43, No 5.

What is thecurrent status of industrial silica sand mining in Minnesota?

Industrial silica sand is found in the southeastern portion ofthe state. Eight mines are currently known to extract industrial silica sand.Mines may or may not process the sand on-site. Off-site processing plants thatreceive silica sand from various mining operations in Minnesota and Wisconsinare also found in Minnesota. To date, four counties, Goodhue, Wabasha, Houston,and Fillmore, have moratoria on new permits for industrial silica sand mining.

How is it mined?

In Minnesota, all industrial silica sand mines operate assurface quarries. However, both surface quarries and underground mines exist inother states.

What types ofindustries use silica sand?

Industrial silica sand has been mined in theUpper Midwest for over a century. Uses for thisresource include a variety of products and applications like glass-making,abrasives, golf course sand traps, and frac sand. Over the pastdecade, a sharp increase in demand for industrial silica sand corresponded witha rapid expansion of shale oil and gas development. An extraction method calledhydraulic fracturing is used to produce oil and gas from oil/gas producingbedrock which can require approximately 10,000 tons of industrial silica sandper well. Due to increased demand, there is interest to develop new industrialsilica sand mines and expand existing operations in certain counties insoutheastern Minnesota.

What is"fracking"?

"Fracking" is slang for hydraulic fracturing. Developed in 1947,hydraulic fracturing is a method used to increase the production of a well. Thehydraulic fracturing process for oil and gas takes a mixture of proppant(usually frac sand), water, and chemicals and injects this mixture into a wellunder very high pressures. Small cracks form in the bedrock, frac sand "props"open the fissures, and conduits form that increase the flow of fluids and gaswithin a well. The average depth of an hydraulically fractured oil/gas well isbetween 6000-9000 feet below the surface.

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Is fracking foroil and gas occurring in Minnesota?

No. Sand used for hydraulic fracturing is mined and/or processedin Minnesota. The sand is then transported out of the state by rail or barge tooil and natural gas producing regions (e.g. Western North Dakota, Pennsylvania,and Texas). However, a method of hydraulic fracturing is used in Minnesota toincrease production of water wells screened in certain types of bedrock.

Why here? Whatmakes our sand so unique?

Even though sand is found all over the world, the sandstones ofthe Upper Midwest have several unique physical properties (listed below). It isone of a few known places on Earth where this resource occurs, making it aglobally desired commodity.

• Composition: Sand usually contains many different rock types; however, silica sand consists of nearly 95% quartz.
• Strength: Quartz is a very hard mineral and able to withstand high pressures produced during the hydraulic fracturing process without breaking.
• Shape: The sand grains are shaped like little ball bearings allowing for oil and gas to flow between individual grains without clogging the fractured rock. It is very important that the round, unbroken grain shape is preserved throughout mining, processing, and transporting the sand to the market.
• Size: The sand grains are fairly uniform in size. When washed and screened, the sands meet a precise grain-size distribution required for frac sand (specified by the American Petroleum Institute, Recommended Practice 56):

Table: American Petroleum Institute, Recommended Practice 56

Note: Ninety percent (by weight) of the total product must fallwithin the specified range of grain sizes. Washing significantly reduces siltand clay sized particles (less than 62.5 microns in diameter) so to not exceeda turbidity threshold of 250 FTU (Formazin Turbidity Units).

Who regulatesindustrial silica sand mining?

Counties, townships, or municipalities are the responsiblegovernmental unit (RGU) for administering permits to mine for industrial silicasand. Conditional land use permits, sometimes called special use permits, maybe required from local planning and zoning offices.

Who are the otherregulating authorities?

Depending on size and scope, the proposed mining operation maybe subject to the following state and federal permits and regulations:

• Department of Natural Resources (DNR): Water Appropriation Permit; Public Waters Work Permit; Burning Permit; and Endangered or Threatened Species Taking Permit.
• US Army Corps of Engineers: Section 404 Permit (discharge of dredged or fill material or excavation within waters and wetlands may require approval of the US Army Corps of Engineers).
• Environmental Quality Board (EQB): Requires environmental reviews in the form of an Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW) for operations excavating 40 or more acres of land at a mean depth of 10 feet and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for operations exceeding 160 acres.
• Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR): Wetland Conservation Act.
• Pollution Control Agency (MPCA): Section 401 Certification; Water Quality, and Air Quality Regulations.

More information

• Minnesota Public Radio News Primer: Frac sand mining