Author, researcher talks at UWL about frac sand mining

Michelle Bamberger: Follow the trends of your pets

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) — As frac sand mining becomes more of a talking point in our region many are questioning just how safe the mines are.

To help better understand the potential negative impacts researcher and author Michelle Bamberger was at UW-La Crosse Monday to talk about some of the health issues that come along with the sand mines.

Bamberger recently co-wrote the book called “The Real Cost of Fracking: How America’s Shale Gas Boom is Threatening Our Families, Pets, and Food.” At the conference she talked about how if you follow the trends of your pets you’ll see just how dangerous mining can be.

“An animal’s sense of smell is so much better than ours is they can actually detect that in water. So we’ve had that. In some cases some people told me that my animal saved my life, because when they stopped drinking the water I had it tested and I knew something was wrong,” said Bamberger.

Some supporters of frac sand mining say activists are using scare tactics when it comes to the potential negative health impacts. Wisconsin sand mines must follow the same requirements as other mining operations, including getting the necessary air and water permits.