Speakers urge caution about planned sand plant in Chippewa Falls
| By Chris Vetter |
| Chippewa Falls News Bureau |
| CHIPPEWA FALLS - UW-Eau Claire assistant professor Crispin Hayes Pierce is concerned about the effects a sand plant and mine could have on the air quality near those facilities. Pierce, director of the Environmental Public Health Program, on Thursday night told a crowd of about 180 at Chippewa Falls Middle School about the dangers of silicosis. He noted that airborne pollutants could enter lungs and waterborne pollutants could be ingested. Symptoms of silicosis range from decreased lung function, aggravated asthma, the development of chronic bronchitis and even heart attacks, Pierce said. "We're talking about emissions that, in high doses, can cause these effects," Pierce said. The open forum was set up by a handful of area residents to allow people to find out more about the Canadian Sand and Proppant sand processing plant that is planned for the northeast corner of Chippewa Falls. In addition, a sand mine is planned in the town of Howard, west of the city. Sand from the mine would be hauled to the plant. Pierce went through a list of chemicals and possible carcinogens that could become problems if the sand plant opens. He noted that formaldehyde and ammonia could be used at the resin plant, where sand would be dried. Other chemicals that could be emitted include benzene, which is a carcinogen, and hexane, which affects the nervous system, Pierce said. No representatives from Canadian Sand and Proppant spoke at the meeting, but the company is offering an open house and forum Tuesday night. No one from the company could be reached for comment after the meeting. Only one member of the Chippewa Falls City Council - Brian Flynn - was readily visible in the crowd. Along with Pierce, other panelists who spoke about sand plant concerns were Richard Gauger and Jerry Lausted, who is a member of the Save Our Hills group from Menomonie that fought a sand mine there. One question to the panel was about the likelihood of more air quality alerts. Pierce believed the number of those alerts would climb. "The risks of having those 'high-particulate days' would certainly increase," Pierce said. Pierce acknowledged the state Department of Natural Resources has completed an analysis that shows the air quality still would be well below hazardous levels. However, one of Pierce's biggest concerns is that the DNR didn't factor in the effect of blowing sand piles and how that could affect air quality. Lausted said Chippewa Valley residents have a right to find out more answers about the sand facility than they've gotten so far. "Citizens often get answers that are myths, fantasies and occasionally facts," Lausted said. Lausted also questioned how many jobs would be created and how much the company would spend to built the facility. The company has stated it would spend $45 million to $50 million to build the facility and the plant would create 55 jobs. "CSP is a new company with no track record," Lausted said, adding that the owners of the company and members of its board of directors are still unknown. Lausted said he feared the national image of Chippewa Falls would change - from being known for computers, Leinenkugel's beer and Mason Shoes, to being known as a "dirty mining town." The company has submitted a reclamation plan to the county's land conservation department stating that it would like to start digging at the mine site by mid-March. However, Pat Popple, a Chippewa Falls resident who has been fighting the planned facility in the city, said the company is already cutting trees and preparing the site. Vetter can be reached at 723-0303 or chris.vetter@ecpc.com. |