Destructive Frack Sand Mining in WI, MN, IL, etc.

From an Issue by Patricia Popple, Editor, Frac Sand Sentinel, December 1, 2021

First hand experience with silicosis and respirable crystalline silica dust is not too common of an event with lawmakers, politicians and governmental officials and others when it comes to issuing permits and sanctioning industries wishing to blast out and mine silica. A Michigan friend sent this video of Michigan Senator Tom Ward as he tells his personal story on YouTubeabout his experiences with silica and dust dangers.

He feels the need for greater oversight and avoiding practices that create the harms done by some industries which are polluting the air we breathe. He feels additional health and safety measures in the industry with regulatory standards would not only improve the health of workers but also that of people living near silica dust producing industries.

https://youtu.be/z-xqWByL_ew

The old film on silicosis entitled “Stop Silicosis” produced by the federal government and the work of many researchers including Frances Perkins, Secretary of the Department of Labor is still available for viewing. It is well worth taking the time to see this film produced in 1938 as 83 years have passed since silicosis has been identified and many states including Wisconsin have not studied nor listed silica dust as a carcinogen. Neither have they introduced standards for respirable crystalline silica dust. While appeals from citizens in Northwest Wisconsin were made at the onset of silica mining in Wisconsin, the rationale listed by the Department of Natural Resources indicated that the priority for study of this chemical was lowest on the list of concerns and that it would be too expensive to do.

Take a look at the film on YouTube. I think you will enjoy seeing this old film but also determining how relevant it is to practices still being used today…83 years later!

Stop Silicosis (US DOL 1938) : US Dept. of Labor 1938 : Free Streaming : Internet Archive

https://archive.org/details/StopSilicosis

In 1938, the US Department of Labor released this film aimed at preventing the occupational disease of silicosis. It was produced in response to the national outcry over the death of more than 500 workers at Union Carbide’s Hawks Nest Tunnel project near Gauley Bridge West Virginia in the early 1930s. That overexposure to silica dust caused this deadly disease had been known for more than 100 years, but many employers ignored workplace dust control methods. Sadly, almost 70 years later, hundreds of workers each year still develop this preventable lung disease. The current OSHA exposure limit for silica dust is based on science from the mid 1960s. Most of the information and prevention measures in this film are still relevant today.

>>> FRAC SAND SENTINEL | 561 SUMMIT AVENUE, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

Extensive frac sand mining is damaging thousands of acres

Public Announcement from FracTracker, Public Lab, & Save the Hills Alliance, February 8, 2021

“Undermined,” is an audio story featuring interviews with three residents impacted by the Hi-Crush Mine in Augusta, Wisconsin.

Christine Yellowthunder, Tom Pearson, and Terence O’Donahue give first hand accounts of their struggles for clean air and water, healthy farmland, and sustainable livelihoods amidst broken promises from frac sand companies.

Listen here: “UNDERMINED: VOICES FROM THE FRONTLINES OF FRAC SAND MINING”

The perils of fracking are well documented, but the impacts from mining frac sand are less widely known. In this OpenHour, we speak with the people fighting for clean air and water, fertile farmland, & sustainable livelihoods in fenceline communities from across the midwest.

Fracking is an extractive technology that has spread across massive landscapes and unzoned, small towns in the USA as industry has purchased up land rights to conduct operations. Mining for silica sand, use of chemicals, and local water all are pumped into the ground to release small pockets of oil & gas. We will hear directly from community members who have been bringing their communities together to unite in the struggles for healthy homes and justice amidst broken promises from frac sand companies.

About Frac Sand Mining in Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas, etc.

To learn more about frac sand mining, see FracTracker’s collection of aerial imagery, and explore the collection of articles and interactive maps, please visit our informational page below:

Get the Scoop on Frac Sand Mining

Chieftain Sand & Proppant Operation in Wisconsin

Facility Description: Piranha Proppant LLC, located at US Highway 53 and County Highway SS, Dovre Township, Barron County, Wisconsin, FID 603107010

SUBMITTED application, including plans and specifications for the construction of a sand dryer and a rail loadout and the operation of a dry sand processing plant.

Air pollution control construction permit no. 18-POY-007

Air pollution control operation permit no. 603107010-F01

Application Review.

DNR has made a preliminary determination that the application meets state and federal air pollution control requirements and that the permit should be approved.

You can review the permit application, the DNR’s analysis and draft permit prepared by the DNR at the Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Air Management Headquarters, Seventh Floor, 101 South Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin, 53703; and at West Central Region Headquarters, 1300 W. Clairemont Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54701; This information is also available for downloading from the Internet at:

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/AirPermits/Search.html

For questions on the permit application, the DNR’s analysis and the draft permit prepared by the DNR, or to make arrangements to review the documents at a DNR office, please contact Paul Yeung at (608) 266-0672 or by e-mail at paul.yeung@wisconsin.gov

The department has made the determination under ch. NR 150, Wis. Adm. Code, that this type of proposal normally does not have the potential to cause significant adverse environmental or secondary effects. This is a preliminary determination and does not constitute a final approval from the Air Management

DNR published a public notice on June 30, 2018. On June 27, 2018, DNR e-mailed the public notice to the interested parties who have requested to receive the public notices via e-mail, with the information that the public notice would be published on June 30, 2018. DNR received a request on June 28, 2018 for a public hearing for the project.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to ss. 285.13(1), 285.61(7), and 285.62(5) Wis. Stats., DNR will hold a public hearing to receive public comments on the air pollution control permit application for the proposed project.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the public hearing will be held:

Monday, July 30, 2018 at 6:00 PM
Chetek City Hall Chamber
220 Stout Street,
Chetek, Wisconsin 54728

All comments received by the DNR at the public hearing, and during the public comment period will be considered prior to making a final decision regarding the proposed project. The comment period ends July 30, 2018.

After the public hearing and the close of the public comment period, a final decision will be made on whether to issue or deny the air pollution control permit. Information on the public commenting and hearing process is available at

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/AirPermits/Process.html

Reasonable accommodation, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

STATE OF WISCONSIN
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
For the Secretary By /s/ Susan Lindem
Environmental Engineer Supervisor

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NOTE: It is critical there be a good representation of the public at this meeting. If you feel you can’t comment on the permit, you can raise questions. I learned a great deal at the SSS permit hearing this past week. Only 2 citizens (one representing Sierra Club and I) were present.

Mark your calendar for: Monday, July 30, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. at the
Chetek City Hall Chamber and/or submit comments by mail or email.

>>> Patricia Popple, 715-723-6398, sunnyday5@charter.net

Editor of the Frac Sand Sentinel, a newsletter highlighting resource links, news media accounts, blog posts, correspondence, observations and opinions gathered regarding local actions on, and impacts of, the developing frac sand mining and processing industries.

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: CCC-WIS.COM and CLICK HERE for panoramic views of frac sand mines, processing plants, and trans-load facilities.

PM-2.5 Airborne Particulates Near Frac Sand Operations

By Kristin Walters, Jeron Jacobson, Zachary Kroening, and Crispin Pierce, PhD, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire

Abstract

The rapid growth of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas extraction in the U.S. has led to 135 active “frac” sand mines, processing plants, and rail transfer stations in Wisconsin. Potential environmental health risks include increased truck traffic, noise, ecosystem loss, and groundwater, light, and air pollution. Emitted air contaminants include fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and respirable crystalline silica. Inhalation of fine dust particles causes increased mortality, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and lung cancer. In the authors’ pilot study, use of a filter-based ambient particulate monitor found PM-2.5 levels of 5.82 to 50.8 micro-grams per cubic meter in six 24-hour samples around frac sand mines and processing sites. Enforcement of the existing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency annual PM2.5 standard of 12 μg/m3 is likely to protect the public from silica exposure risks as well. PM2.5 monitoring around frac sand sites is needed to ensure regulatory compliance, inform nearby communities, and protect public health. 

See the full report here:
http://files.ctctcdn.com/e5446506501/99b2f2d3-fb0f-437d-b362-32f62bc4e360.pdf

Conclusion

With rapidly increasing frac sand mining, processing, transportation, and use in hydraulic fracturing, health departments and elected officials face unanswered questions about potential health risks. This research, together with other data of a similar nature we have collected, is suggestive of an increase of ambient PM2.5 levels as a result of these activities. We propose the establishment of longer-term PM2.5 monitoring with both direct reading and FRM particulate samplers, as well as silica- specific monitoring efforts, to ensure regulatory compliance, inform nearby communities, and protect public health.

Source: Journal of Environmental Health, Volume 78, Number 4, pp. 8 – 12, November 2015

See details on the frac sand industry in Wisconsin at:
http://www.ccc-wis.com

Risks of Living Near Ground Zero

Public health advocates push for Marcellus Shale registry

From an Article by Marie Cusik, NPR State Impact (Pennsylvania), May 20, 2015

More than seven years into the drilling boom, health advocates continue to push the state to track drilling-related complaints.

Public health advocates continue to urge the state to do a better job of tracking health complaints related to natural gas development. The state Department of Health and Department of Environmental Protection are discussing ways to work together to better monitor Marcellus Shale related health issues. But so far, there’s no money for those efforts.

Governor Wolf has proposed $100,000 to the health department in his budget plan, but it’s not guaranteed to make it through the legislature. Acting DEP Secretary John Quigley says he takes the issue seriously. “If that doesn’t pass, we’ll have to look for Plan B. This is an issue that’s not going away,” he says. “There are questions. They need to be dealt with in a transparent way.”

Health advocates say $100,000 is not enough money to fund a health registry, but they’re encouraged the state is taking steps to investigate complaints.

Raina Rippel directs the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project, which tracks drilling related complaints. She spoke to DEP’s Citizens Advisory Council Wednesday about the benefits of monitoring health issues. “We truly believe this is a timely, urgent issue,” says Rippel. “We want to see action on this as soon as possible. We understand the political machine is such that it could take some time to see this fully up and running.”

In 2012, when Pennsylvania updated its oil and gas law, $2 million was set aside for the health department to track the issue—but the funding was ultimately cut from the legislation.

As StateImpact Pennsylvania has previously reported, some people who live near gas infrastructure believe their ill health is linked to drilling, but doctors say they simply don’t have the data or research – from the state or other sources – to confirm that.

Over the past four years the PA state health department says it has received 86 complaints from people who believe their symptoms are associated with gas development.

See also: Southwestern Penna. Environmental Health Project

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See also the “List of the Harmed” being compiled by the Pennsylvania Alliance for Clean Water & Air. This list currently counts 16,220 individuals that have been harmed as of May 18, 2015. And, this list is incomplete, very much so!

Diesel Trucks on WV Country Road

Nanotoxicology: An Emerging Discipline Evolving from Studies of Ultrafine Particles (2005)

From a Scientific Article by Günter Oberdörster (Dept. of Env. Medicine, Univ. of Rochester), Eva Oberdörster (Dept. of Biology, So. Methodist Univ.) and Jan Oberdörster (Toxicology Dept. at Bayer CropScience, Research Triangle Park, NC) in 2005

ABSTRACT — Although humans have been exposed to airborne nanosized particles (NSPs; < 100 nm) through-out their evolutionary stages, such exposure has increased dramatically over the last century due to anthropogenic sources. The rapidly developing field of nanotechnology is likely to become yet another source through inhalation, ingestion, skin uptake, and injection of engineered nano-materials. Information about safety and potential hazards is urgently needed.

Results of older bio-kinetic studies with NSPs and newer epidemiologic and toxicologic studies with airborne ultrafine particles can be viewed as the basis for the expanding field of nanotoxicology, which can be defined as safety evaluation of engineered nanostructures and nanodevices. Collectively, some emerging concepts of nanotoxicology can be identified from the results of these studies. When inhaled, specific sizes of NSPs are efficiently deposited by diffusional mechanisms in all regions of the respiratory tract.

The small size facilitates uptake into cells and transcytosis across epithelial and endothelial cells into the blood and lymph circulation to reach potentially sensitive target sites such as bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and heart. Access to the central nervous system and ganglia via translocation along axons and dendrites of neurons has also been observed. NSPs penetrating the skin distribute via uptake into lymphatic channels.

Endocytosis and biokinetics are largely dependent on NSP surface chemistry (coating) and in vivo surface modifications. The greater surface area per mass compared with larger-sized particles of the same chemistry renders NSPs more active biologically. This activity includes a potential for inflammatory and pro-oxidant, but also antioxidant, activity, which can explain early findings showing mixed results in terms of toxicity of NSPs to environmentally relevant species.

Evidence of mitochondrial distribution and oxidative stress response after NSP endocytosis points to a need for basic research on their interactions with subcellular structures. Additional considerations for assessing safety of engineered NSPs include careful selections of appropriate and relevant doses/concentrations, the likelihood of increased effects in a compromised organism, and also the benefits of possible desirable effects.

An interdisciplinary team approach (e.g., toxicology, materials science, medicine, molecular biology, and bioinformatics, to name a few) is mandatory for nanotoxicology research to arrive at an appropriate risk assessment.

Reference: Environ Health Perspect 113:823–839 (2005). doi:10.1289/ehp.7339 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 22 March 2005]

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NOTE: Diesel exhaust contains toxic air contaminants and is listed as carcinogenic for humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer ( IARC ) in group 1. Diesel exhaust contains fine particles which are harmful. Diesel exhaust pollution was thought to account for around one quarter of the pollution in the air in previous decades, and a high share of sickness caused by vehicle pollution.

Examples of Ultrafine Dust Particles

WVU Researcher Warns About Toxic Ultrafine Dust in West Virginia

From an Article by Glynis Board, WV Public Broadcasting, April 15, 2015

When we hear about the danger of dust exposure, we are usually talking about coal dust underground, or silica dust. But that’s not the only dust that can make people sick. Apparently almost any dust can, if it’s fine enough.

Much research has surfaced over the past decade demonstrating clearer and clearer evidence that surface mining creates environmental hazards for communities in the vicinity. Epidemiologist Michael Hendryx has published a lot of research that demonstrates how life expectancy in the southern coalfields, for example, is much shorter than just about anywhere else in the country. But Michael McCawley says that’s not all we know.

“We also know they have a much increased rate of lung disease and also death from lung disease, much higher than in the rest of Appalachia and much higher than in the rest of the country in general.”

Michael McCawley is Interim Chair of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences at West Virginia University. He’s been studying some aspects of air pollution that might shed new light on some of the human health disparities that seem to be abundant around surface mining operations, including lung and cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure. His passion these days: ultrafine particle pollution.

Health Effects

By ultrafine, we are talking about dust small enough to pass right into the smallest parts of you.

“So your cell is kind of like Jell-O with a harder outside casing but the harder outside casing has pinholes,” McCawley explained, “and these particles are smaller than the pinholes. So they can move into the inside of the cell where the exposure results in inflammation. And inflammation is the beginning of a huge number of diseases.”

McCawley explains that there is a substantial body of literature that demonstrates the toxic effects of these particles. He says exposure to ultrafine particles emitted from diesel engines in Europe is associated with exacerbated asthma in young children as well as lung and cardiovascular diseases.

“They get into the lungs. In the lungs they can affect the nervous system. And the nervous system has an effect on the entire body including the arteries in the body. So you can get an increased blood pressure due to exposure just in the lungs.”

McCawley says it matters to some degree what the dust is made from, but all ultrafine particles are probably toxic.

“One of the ways we know that,” McCawley said, “they’ve done experiments with titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is the white pigment in paint. Generally it’s known to be fairly nontoxic.”

He says rats exposed to high concentrations of titanium dioxide dust at two, to four micrometers in size, has no effect on the animals’ health. But the same amount of exposure to ultrafine particles of titanium dioxide kills the rats.

Monitoring Ultrafine Particles

McCawley has been studying ultrafine particles in regions of West Virginia where surface mining is underway. In his research, he uses particle counters that indicate how many dust particles exist in the air. He has also been able to determine the sizes and distribution of particles. It’s a complicated metric system but McCawley says it provides much more accurate ideas of the doses of dust likely to be absorbed in human lungs.

He also looked at the makeup of the dust and was able to determine that it was, “crustal, in other words from dirt being disturbed,” McCawley said. “So that suggested to us that there was activity going on removing dirt and materials that would have aerosolized these crustal particles, so we assumed that would be associated with the mining activities.”

The Environmental Protection Agency does not have any rules on the books regulating ultrafine particle pollution. Rules do exist pertaining to larger dust particle exposure. But McCawley explains that EPA considers the overall mass of dust in the air for those rules. Ultrafine particles, he says, would need to be monitored and regulated differently.

McCawley recently gave a talk about ultra-fine particles to the Kanawha Forest Coalition, a group of Kanawha County residents concerned about a mountaintop removal site located near Charleston. He recommends that any community in the vicinity of surface mining or mountaintop removal test for ultrafine particle pollution.

But coal mining isn’t the only industry McCawley is concerned about. He says anywhere where there’s a lot of traffic or diesel generators (highways and horizontal gas drilling operations, for example) are major sources of ultrafine particle pollution. McCawley is also set to talk in Doddridge County, April 16th at 6 pm, at the Senior Center in West Union, to folks who live in the heart of West Virginia’s natural gas boom.

See also: www.FrackCheckWV.net