Dear Senators and Representatives, This silica sand industry is here!

Thats what I hear from sand industry CEOs. No. Its not completely here. Its knocking on the door. Its the states choice to let them in. The EQB presented a long list of unanswered questions regarding the impacts of silica sand mining on health and community. Yet silica sand mining is often spoken of as if its just a fact of life. As if were just going to open another bakery down the way. If frac sand mining was as benign as a bakery no one would have traveled hundreds of miles to plead for a moratorium and a GEIS on an industry that has proven multiple times over to be toxic to neighborhoods, farmland, water, health and the environment as a whole. Should we be forced to suffer the consequences of 16-24 hour per day operations of noise and lights and destruction just because we are unlucky enough to live near a potential site? Should I sacrifice my lungs and acquire asthma for someone elses job? We need somebody on our side. Counties have no money or staff to monitor air and water quality. Citizens arent getting paid to fight or research or meet or testify, yet fighting has become a full time job for many who attended the hearing. We are asking to be represented. We are asking to be considered. We are asking that greed and big money and lobbying not trump our health and our lives and our communities. Im writing because I care about my community and how we will be affected as a unit. I care about the effect on people who sat in the hearing room, most of whom I didnt know. I care about the jobs that will be LOST as a result of this industry. The industry likes to talk about jobs created. What about jobs LOST? Family businesses lost. Has that even been considered? We can create other jobs in our state. What we need right now is for someone to be brave enough to stand up and say, Dear Frac Sand mining industry, No we will not compromise the health and welfare of our citizens and our environment in the name of industry profit. You will answer to us, we do not answer to you. A Moratorium is necessary in order to assess pros and cons. Sincere Regards, Michelle Meyer 1233 Phelps Street Red Wing, MN 55066