Exploring Environmental Impacts Related to Frac Sand Mining and Processing - Minnesota Focus

Jim Aiken, P.G.
Senior Environmental Consultant
Barr Engineering Company
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Introduction

Minnesota’s economic minerals history took a turn in 1683 when Pierre Le Sueur excavated some bluegreen clay from the banks of the Blue Earth River, believing he had found a valuable copper deposit. As it turned out there was no copper, but the aggregate industry in Minnesota was born. Sand and mineral processing on a commercial scale dates back to the 1800s and has provided the basic ingredients for infrastructure for over 100 years.

Over this period, conflicts with land use from this activity have been relatively rare and managed satisfactorily under local rule and ordinance. Environmental and health issues have been nearly nonexistent. The methods and management of frac sand operations are essentially similar to those of historic aggregate mining. In many ways they are less impactful to the environment due to lower need for noisy and dusty crushing equipment, and a greater reliance on rail for larger mines. Obviously the level of public attention given to frac sand operations is far greater than for traditional sand and gravel mining. This is a function of the number and scale of projects being much greater than in the past. It is hard to ignore the public perceptions of mining, particularly as they have evolved in Wisconsin (which does not have a mandatory environmental review category for non-metallic mining). The result is that greater attention has been focused on the methods and potential impact of non-metallic mining, including frac sand. This presentation explores some of the factors related to frac sand mining and evaluates the potential environmental impacts due to frac sand mining and processing in Minnesota.

Summary

The impacts associated with frac sand mining are similar to other types of mining and center on air, water, and land included in the proposed mine property — and in some cases — the adjacent land. Air and water require the most extensive permitting, regardless of the location of the site. However, the local jurisdiction typically has the most control over the project and will most often form the point of the spear when it comes to turning the right to mine into profits.

The two required ingredients for assessing environmental impacts include details on the mining/operations that will be performed and data on the site that can predict how those operations will result in changes that might constitute a significant impact. The results of this process does more than merely inform, it can be used to develop permit conditions that provide for safe and profitable development of the frac sand site.

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