Dr. Steven Cook speaks in Eau Claire in this undated file photo.
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Too many questions about safety remain for the Canadian Sand and Proppants, Inc. sand plant in Chippewa Falls to be built, a letter signed by 30 physicians says.
The letter pleads with the Chippewa Falls City Council and the city’s Plan Commission to put a hold on the plant, which would process sand mined from the town of Howard. The processed sand, mixed with water, is used in extracting oil.
Canadian Sand and Proppants first proposed the plant in May 2008.
Dr. Steven Cook of Chippewa Falls read the letter to the council Tuesday night. It says the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is studying, but has not set standards for, crystalline silica emissions, which the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration says is a basic component of soil, sand, granite and other minerals.
“We ask that the conditional use permit (for the plant) be rescinded until such time that these studies are completed,” the letter states.
“Crystalline silica has been identified as a known human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the National Toxicology Program, American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, and OSHA.”
The physicians said the DNR failed to include all “fugitive dust” in predicting how much particulate matter the plant would generate.
“The (DNR prediction) underestimates the volume of particulate matter to which our patients, and the citizens you are mandated to protect, will be exposed,” the letter says.
The council took no action on the letter. Council member Mike Dahlby asked how the council or a city committee could take up the issue.
Another council member, C.W. King, said Mayor Greg Hoffman could be asked to place the item on the council’s next agenda or a council member could request the chairman of a city committee to look at the issue.
The Plan Commission issued the conditional use permit for the project, and has the final say on it.
Posted in Local on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 10:00 am Updated: 10:13 am. | Tags: Dr. Steven Cook, Chippewa Falls City Council, Plan Commission, Mike Dahlby