|
From: Patricia W. Mertes
Buffalo City, Wis.
If frac sand mining is allowed on our bluffs, a desert is what we will be left with. We are not talking about a polite hole in the sides of our bluffs but strip mining, blasting, and quick leveling. Strip means to remove and that’s just what will happen.
Oh, these groups coming in will make all sorts of promises that sound wonderful. I’ve seen them at work in states like Montana. They should be charged with hit and run. I was hoping it might take them a little longer to get here.
They come in ahead of time and set things in motion before the locals can find out what their intentions are. Getting permits with vague intentions but claiming grandfather rights later.
When the word gets out, they have all the arguments covered. They’ll have meetings set up to reassure you of their good intentions. They smoke screen.
They allude to the jobs they will create, when in reality they will bring in their own workers. They will hire some locals at big money to make the community believe when they arrive the money will roll. Appeal to the greed in human nature.
The domino effect! Buy certain properties at ridiculous amounts and wait for the rest to be unable to hang on, then move in!
After they contaminate everything in their path, they can afford to move on - you can’t.
Things you should consider:
How do they monitor air quality? What do they consider breathable air? It’s like asking the fox to watch the hen house.
They already admitted wetlands would be disturbed and called them of low quality (in whose opinion). You hunters can kiss fall hunting goodbye, and after they destroy the river you fishermen can kiss that goodbye too. Noise, constant activity on the roads and other destruction will cause any respectable wildlife to move elsewhere.
They promise to be good stewards of the land, but then they would want permits before discussing putting reclamation plans into effect. Why would it be necessary in the first place to replace or reclaim the land? How does someone replace drinkable water or bluffs? Kind of after the fact, wouldn’t you say?
Millions have been spent by the government already to improve wildlife habitat! Where is the Fish and Wildlife or DNR now? How will they handle floods? How will they protect the river when they aren’t going to protect some wetlands? How much water are they going to need and how will they replace our drinkable water if it becomes contaminated or during a drought?
What is their reputation in Texas for being good land stewards? Growing grass and selling real estate doesn’t impress me. Why did they sell the family frac sand business they owned from 2003-2011, but they say they plan to be a part of the community for decades? We are easy pickings. When they have used us up they’ll move on and we will have sold our souls to the company store.
I’m sure BP offered a lot of promises to do offshore drilling and look at the price the locals paid and will be paying for years to come. Maybe it seems like apples and oranges, but like oil or frac sand, it’s all big business.
As the old adage says, “If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.” Beware!
I don’t want to ever read, “Welcome to Wisconsin, Land of Deserts.”
|
