Through reports obtained through open records requests, we can report that while the mine in Bridgeport is currently inactive, the loading site in Prairie du Chien is shipping out more sand than ever.

The international market is hungry for gas, and the price is recovering to the point where more fracking rigs are being started up again, with predictions of record oil production in the next years. With increased use of sand per well, and Wisconsin providing roughly 1/3 of all frac sand used, this means more demand for our hills again.

So, good news for the mine neighbors in Bridgeport, but this could be short-lived. As for the people of Prairie du Chien, living with an industrial sand loading site in the middle of a residentially zoned riverfront area, we stand in solidarity, we are here to help, and encourage all to keep reporting issues as they arise to keep this on the radar of our overextended regulators.