Local officials and community members will have an opportunity to update themselves on the status of frac sand mining at a daylong workshop on Monday (Dec. 14) at the Plaza Hotel and Suites, 1202 W. Clairemont Ave. in Eau Claire.
The workshop is sponsored by the Wisconsin Farmers Union and the Wisconsin Towns Association. Its goal is to enable local officials and citizens to learn about both emerging issues in regard to frac sand mining and tools for managing mining developments in their communities. The workshop will include presentations from independent professionals who are working with local governments, as well as sessions where local officials and citizens can share experiences and information. Registration for the workshop is available on site, starting at 9 a.m., at a cost of $30. Anyone interested in attending can call the Wisconsin Towns Association at 715-526-3157 to find out if space is still available. Topics to be covered Monday morning will include local government’s role in frac sand mine development, public health concerns, and legal tools that towns can use to deal with frac sand mining development. An afternoon session dealing with the economic costs and benefits of frac sand mining will feature Prof. Steven Deller of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, whose specialty is agricultural and applied economics. A session on the reclamation of mined areas and a panel where town board members and citizens will share experiences related to frac sand mining are also on the schedule. Breakout sessions on annexation and environmental considerations will conclude the program.
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