WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19
Northwest Community Center, 7:00 PM
Frac Sand Mining in Iowa
The Allamakee County Protectors have been working hard to stop the spread of the highly destructive practice of frac sand mining in the Driftless Region of IA, IL, MN, and WI. By involving themselves in efforts to prevent silica sand (also called frac sand) mining in Allamakee County in NE Iowa, they were successful in persuading the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors to impose an 18-month moratorium on frac-sand mining in the county. They also successfully encouraged mining interests to abandon a project that would have destroyed Native American burial mounds, and they have reached out extensively to the public and to public officials in their efforts.
Robert Nehman, Ric Zarwell and others of their organization will discuss threats posed by silica sand mining in NE Iowa--the same kind of sand sought by the hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” industry that has been so controversial in other parts of the country. Frac sand mining threatens to harm the tourism and scenic beauty of NE Iowa, impact water quantity and water quality, and impact the importance of this ecologically important landscape.
Central Iowa Sierra public programs are held at Northwest Community Center, 51st Street and Franklin Avenue in Des Moines. Contact Jane at 223-5047 or [log in to unmask] for more information about the program.