Letter: Address transporting of frac sand

To the Editor:

In Wisconsin, frac sand mining has transformed from a garter snake into a viper that now threatens to slither into Goodhue County.

A one-year moratorium is allowing the county some time to formulate a containment plan, but because of an oversight in the moratorium, we may soon see a new mass of trucks sliding in to off-load the highly debated sand onto barges at a city of Red Wing bulkhead.

Regrettably, the moratorium covers land use, but not transportation, and when I say trucks may be coming soon — I mean in a couple of days.

The bulkhead operator has the right to ship all commodities known as “aggregate.” Despite its cancer-causing capabilities, frac sand, currently falls under the aggregate category.

Saying no to digging but yes to transporting is hypocritical. If Red Wing becomes a frac sand transportation hub we do our community that disservice.

City of Red Wing commissions are working diligently to answer numerous frac sand questions, but as evidenced by the moratorium flaw, the work is tricky and if you don’t want to get bit precision is mandatory.

The ultimate answer to the question of frac sand mining, hauling, storing or transporting within Goodhue County is clear. Ban it.

Is it that easy? I think it is.

Billboards were banned to preserve the integrity of our landscape. Drug paraphernalia and flashing signs were banned out of concern for community health and well-being.

Given a future outlook of increased lung cancer rates, water pollution and blufftop removal, frac sand mining should easily be banned for the same reasons.

The Harbor Commission and Port Authority Board will meet May 1 at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. respectively at council chambers to discuss the transportation of frac sand at our bulkhead.

You, as a citizen have some choices. You can ask your city councilperson to advise the boards against the allowance of frac sand transportation.

You can attend the meetings and ask to speak for yourself. Or you can watch the viper strike.

Michelle Meyer

Red Wing

Tags: opinion, letters