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Frac Sand Mining in W isconsin: Understanding Emerging Conflicts and Community Organizing
Author(s) -
Pearson Thomas W.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
culture, agriculture, food and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.308
H-Index - 12
eISSN - 2153-9561
pISSN - 2153-9553
DOI - 10.1111/cuag.12003
Subject(s) - grassroots , sand mining , hydraulic fracturing , commodity chain , drilling , petroleum industry , commodity , key (lock) , oil sands , geography , mining engineering , engineering , geology , petroleum engineering , political science , archaeology , business , computer science , economics , environmental engineering , law , mechanical engineering , computer security , finance , asphalt , production (economics) , politics , meteorology , macroeconomics
Abstract Over the past few years industrial sand mining has expanded rapidly in western W isconsin, driven largely by the use of sand in hydraulic fracturing, itself a controversial technology widely deployed in natural gas and oil drilling throughout the U nited S tates. A unique geological history combined with existing railroad networks has positioned W isconsin as a major supplier of “frac sand” and thus a key link in a wider hydrocarbon commodity chain. The unprecedented growth of frac sand mining, however, has raised new social and environmental concerns, becoming the target of grassroots organizing. This article reports on ongoing ethnographic research focused on frac sand conflicts, providing an overview of the main areas of contention, the trajectory of community organizing, and the response of the mining industry.