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A presentation from Catherine Emmanuelle (Family Living Educator) and Patricia L. Malone (Community Development Educator) on the health hazards that may arise from sand mining.
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A Health Impact Study of Industrial Sand Mining in Trempealeau County
Catherine Emmanuelle, Family Living Educator Patricia L. Malone, Community Development Educator
UW-Extension
Welcome to Wisconsin! (circa 520-480 MYA)
A long time ago, in a county Far, far away….
Our sand is easy to mine -- surface mining, little overburden to remove.
Transportation – Rail, road, and river
The Situation
● Sand mine permitting stopped in the county
● Pause to research
● Gather data for
county board &
community
What are the potential impacts of frac sand mining?
Getting Started
“If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck,
we have at least to consider the possibility that
we have a small aquatic bird of the family
Anatidae on our hands.”—Douglas Adams
(science fiction writer, 1952–2001).
The Research Project
● Ambient air quality
● Radon release
● Sound pollution
● Radioactivity/Radon
● Ground and surface water quality
● Stable communities
“Of course we
don’t know
what we’re
doing, that’s
why it’s called
research.”—
Albert Einstein.
Facilitation – The art and science
of bringing people
together to engage
in discussions and
problem-solving
Methodology
Health
Impact
Assessement
In a stable community, the
demands of society,
business, education and
natural resources are
balanced, while allowing
individuals or groups to
realize aspirations and satisfy
needs and to change or cope
with the environment.
One research example/quandary: Community planning, labor, workforce, housing & transportation
Jobs in Trempealeau County Where is the housing stock?
The Need For Indicators
● Where is work force?
● Where does work force live?
● Who provides housing stock?
● Who collects the taxes for the housing units?
● What happens to housing stock/surplus if industry
expires?
● What happens to shared revenue formula and school
district funding?
● What happens to these revenue streams if industry
expires?
The Challenge With Indicators
The data is in it’s
infancy, need to
set a benchmark,
collect data, then
compare against
the benchmark.
Sustainable benefits and how to measure/Challenges to sustainability
Example: Synthesize comprehensive plan 1. Protect drinking water (90%)
2. Protect environment (87%)
3. Natural beauty (78.9%)
4. Preserve scenic views and undeveloped areas (66%)
How to balance?
In a stable community, the
demands of society, business,
education and natural
resources are balanced, while
allowing individuals or groups
to realize aspirations and
satisfy needs and to change or
cope with the environment.
The Likely Policy Needs/Next Steps
1.) Ordinance changes to increase safeguards for public
health along with the permitting and presence of sand
mines
2.) Continued research questions
3.) Form a standing committee to monitor & review the
recommendations
Report back to:
-Citizens and Trempealeau County Board
-Trempealeau County Board of Health
-Trempealeau County Environment and Land Use Committee
“I have discovered with
advancing years that few things
are entirely black or white, but
more often different shades of
grey.” ― Jeffrey Archer, A Prisoner of Birth
Future. That period of time in which our affairs
prosper, our friends are true and our happiness is
assured. Ambrose Bierce
For more information:
tremplocounty.com
Questions?
