Frac Sand Mining

Frac Sand

Frac sand is used as part of the natural gas extraction process known as hydraulic fracturing or "fracking." Mining for frac sand is controversial for the human health and environmental concerns that arise from the process.

Here is our continually updating list of stories about frac sand and frac sand mining:

Sand Land: Frac Sand Mining in Western Wisconsin - Video Report by DeSmogBlog

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Mon, 2013-02-25 10:26Steve Horn
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Sand Land: Minnesota Mayor and Fracking Industry Lobbyist Resigns

Usually "revolving door" connotes a transition from a stint as a public official into one as a corporate lobbyist or vice versa.

In the case of Red Wing, MN - a southeastern Minnesota town of 16,459 located along the Mississippi River - its Mayor Dennis Egan actually obtained a gig as head lobbyist for the frac sand industry trade group Minnesota Industrial Sand Council while serving as the city's Mayor. The controversy that unfolded after this was exposed has motivated Egan to resign as Red Wing's Mayor, effective April 1. 

Without the fine-grained silica frac sand found within "Sand Land" (or manufactured ceramnic proppants resembling it), there is no hydraulic fracturing ("fracking") for the oil and gas embedded within shale rock deposits. In other words, frac sand mining is the "cradle" while burning gas for home-heating and other purposes is the "grave." 

Egan is also the former head of Red Wing's Chamber of Commerce and the public relations firm he runs, Egan Public Affairs, is a Chamber member both at the Red Wing- and state-level. One of his other lobbying clients is Altria, which Big Tobacco's Phillip Morris renamed itself in Feb. 2003 during its rebranding process with the help of PR powerhouse, Burson-Marsteller. 

Read more: Sand Land: Minnesota Mayor and Fracking Industry Lobbyist Resigns
Fri, 2012-07-06 03:00Steve Horn
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EOG Resources: The Gas Corporation That Does It All From Cradle to Grave

DeSmogBlog, on multiple occasions, has reported that the damage caused by hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" in the unconventional oil and gas industry goes far beyond water contamination, put in the spotlight by the documentary film "Gasland." The multi-pronged harms were tackled in a comprehensive manner in our report, "Fracking the Future."

One corporation in particular, EOG Resources, epitomizes the shale gas lifecycle from cradle to grave and the damage it is causing in communities worldwide. 

Who is EOG? The Artist Formerly Known as Enron

EOG Resources -- owned by CEO Mark Papa -- is the born again sibling of the now disgraced corporation, Enron Oil and Gas, hence "EOG." It is headquarted in Houston, TX.

Former President and Chief Opearing Officer of Enron, Richard Kinder, recently referred to by The Wall Street Journal as "The Luckiest Ex-Enron Employee," now co-owns oil and gas industry pipeline giant, Kinder Morgan. 

After the fall of Enron, Kinder Morgan purchased Enron's pipeline assets and built up the Kinder Morgan behemoth into what it is today, the corporation with the most extensive array of pipelines in North America.

Read more: EOG Resources: The Gas Corporation That Does It All From Cradle to Grave
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