The latest in Wisconsin frac sand. See our in-depth stories since 2011 on our frac sand project page.
Eleven minor earthquakes in Oklahoma over the course of one weekend renewed concerns that hydraulic fracturing is to blame. RT July 14
New numbers from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show U.S. natural gas output at a record high, due mainly to more hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus shale. Bloomberg Businessweek July 15
Pennsylvania-based Preferred Sands is planning to open a new frac sand facility in 2015 that will “extend our current geographic reach to service every major basin in North America,” according to president and CEO Michael O’Neill. The company has not yet said where it will be. Preferred Sands has five locations in Wisconsin. Progressive Railroading July 16
Winona’s Board of Adjustment tabled a request from shipping company CD Corp. to increase the maximum amount of frac sand barges shipped per year. Winona Daily News July 17
With little regulation of the fracking industry, a Michigan State University professor and former Michigan Department of Environmental Quality employee says citizens usually end up doing the government’s job. M Live July 17
A yearlong air monitoring study by the Wisconsin Industrial Sand Co. found that ambient air quality near its underground sand mine in Maiden Rock is not negatively impacted. Red Wing Republican Eagle July 18
The Buffalo County Board of Adjustments approved a Buffalo White Sands sand-washing plant in Mondovi; the approval includes authorization to transport 225 truckloads of frac sand per day. Winona Daily News July 18
Superior Silica has renewed efforts to build a frac sand loading facility in Taylor Falls, leading the county to initiate a new traffic study and reigniting citizen concerns: “I don’t care if the trucks are hauling frac sand, frozen pizzas or water. The volume of trucks is just unacceptable.” Star Tribune July 22, and Post Review July 24
Two Philadelphia middle-schoolers debate the merits of fracking. Newsworks calls their letters “a sample of what 12-year-olds are thinking about a difficult topic at a time when they are forming opinions of the world around them.” Newsworks July 24
The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
