Only 20% of Wisconsin's Frack Sand Mines Inspected
Thursday, October 2nd, 2014 -- 8:15 AM
-A report says only 20 percent of active frack sand mine operations have been inspected by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to ensure compliance with air pollution rules.The mining company needs an air permit from the DNR before beginning operations. Then it's up to the agency to do a full compliance evaluation to determine if the company is following the rules.
The number of frack sand mining operations in Wisconsin grew more than tenfold from 2010 to 2013 and the DNR wasn't able to keep up.
Since July of last year, 29 of 135 active sand mine operations have had a full inspection.
Environmental engineer Jeff Johnson says that even with the addition of two staffers, the agency is still behind at the end of September.
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