Trempealeau County: Wisconsin's Sandbox

This video includes multiple views of sand-mining operations.



Sand turns a rural county upside-down.  (Marketplace, 1/15/2015)

Malone had seen plenty of sand mines. Mostly small and temporary – gravel pits – supplying local construction projects. 

But when she looked at the permit application for this mine, it was different. Most were a few pages long. This one was a few inches thick. 

In the next three years, the county approved 27 more permits like it. 

We go past that first site and many others: Giant silos, processing plants and huge piles of sand. All on land that used to be rolling hills, covered with trees.

Check out the aerial view starting at 1:10.



Other mining posts:
A new day's dawning for Wisconsin's frac sand operators.  (1/10/2015)
Trempealeau County officials hope for greatly expanded use of sand bunkers.  (1/3/2015)
What Do Chieftain Sand and Source Energy Have in Common? (12/24/2014)
Tom "Terrific-for-the-Frac-Sand-Mining-Industry" Tiffany.  (12/19/2014)
Trempealeau County Residents Wonder If Their Drinking Water is Contaminated.  (10/16/2014) 
2010: Scott Walker pledges to get government out of the way.  (9/30/2014) 
More hills posed to go away.  (9/27/2014)
A personal account of the impact of frac sand mining.  (9/26/2014) 
Report: Communities At Risk: Frac Sand Mining in the Upper Midwest.  (9/26/2014) 
Makes you wonder: Do campaign contributions pay for a license to pollute?  (9/15/2014)
Maybe it has something to do with the hardhat.  (8/9/2014)
In other words, Kevin, people don't want to live near a frac sand mining operation.  (8/7/2014) 
UPDATED: Scott Walker continues his "Thank You for Your Contributions" tour.  (8/3/2014)
What a mere $8,000 will buy you in the Scott Walker House of Favors,  (3/30/2014)
Frac sand mining and property values: Homeowners vs. landowners.  (3/30/2014)
Nevertheless, transparency would have been in the general pubic's best interest.  (3/15/2014)
Wisconsin Towns Association has second thoughts about that "gentler" frac sand mining regulation bill. (3/4/014)
Scott Walker likely to support Tom Tiffany's new mining bill.  (2/27/2014)
The vision of Trempealeau County as one big mining operation -- nipped in the bud.  (2/20/2014)
Glenwood City Council members defeat their recall challengers by a hair.  (12/18/2013)
Wyoming's Republican Governor has a message for Wisconsin mining industry's "Tom Terrific".  (11/24/2013)
The mining industry's "Tom Terrific" gets pushback from his Republican colleagues.  (11/18/2013)
In so many words: Dear Sen. Tiffany, Your bill sucks, Sincerely, Pepin County Board.  (11/13/2013)
Follow the Gogebic money.  (11/7/2013)
Sand mine industry leaders put our minds at ease.  (11/5/2013) 
Scott Walker donor promises jobs, permanence for Independence and Whitehall residents.  (10/29/2013) 
Sen. Tom Tiffany's sand mine bill a hot potato.  (10/28/2013) 
Another Walker campaign donor for SB349.  (10/25/2013)
Expensive to the Tune of $430,505.49 (as of June 30, 2013).  (10/25/2013) 
The Nipper Chronicles: The frac sand mining masters speak.  (10/18/2013)
Things aren't so tranquil in Glenwood City Wisconsin lately  (10/10/2013)