Earth Day conference in St. Croix Falls to focus on frac sand mining

The third annual event will feature presentations about ordinances which can be used by local communities to regulate mining.

Greg Seitz

April 16, 2013

2 minute read

Via the St. Croix Scenic Coalition:

Frac sand mine in Grantsburg, WI near the St. Croix River

Sunday, April 28 from 1-4 p.m. at the St. Croix Falls Public Library, four regional experts will present local Minnesota and Wisconsin ordinances that work to protect communities from the impacts of frac sand mining.

Presentations by Pat Popple, Chippewa Falls, WI, Melanie Kleiss Boerger, Grantsburg, WI and David Williams, Fillmore County, MN will illustrate important elements in local ordinances that are working in communities. A panel discussion session with Q & A moderated by Tom Triplett, Scandia, MN, will follow the presentations.

St. Croix Valley Earth Day Conference 2013
Sunday, April 28, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
St. Croix Falls Public Library—230 South Washington Street, St. Croix Falls, WI
Admission Free – Please send us an email to register at: conference@stcroixsceniccoalition.org

Pat Popple is a retired elementary school administrator who for the past five years has been involved in the study of silica sand mining, heading up the Concerned Chippewa Citizens and the transition to Save the Hills Alliance, Inc. She is also editor of the Frac Sand Sentinel.

Melanie Kleiss Boerger is an attorney with a background in public interest environmental law. She co-owns and runs a mechanical engineering company in Grantsburg, WI. For the past year she has coordinated for the St. Croix River Association the development of model frac sand mining ordinances.

David Williams is a retired business lawyer living in Fillmore County, MN. He is an elected township supervisor of Preble Township and former Chair of the Minnesota Environmental Partnership. He drafted the Fillmore County mining ordinance that strongly regulates silica sand mining and processing, and the Florence Township land use ordinance that prohibits mining and processing of silica sand.

Tom Triplett is an attorney who lives in Scandia, MN. He is the founder of Friends of Scandia Parks and Trails and is on the board of the St. Croix River Association. He is a past Commissioner of Finance for the State of Minnesota and former Chairman of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board.