Protect American Communities From Sand Mining and Silica Dust
United States Congress, State Environmental Agencies, and United States Legislatures
Across the country, industrial sand mining is polluting the air, threatening drinking water, destroying wetlands, and exposing nearby families to dangerous silica dust. While mining companies profit, local residents are left with the health risks, environmental damage, and cleanup costs. [1]
Sand is the second-most extracted resource by volume on earth after water, yet little is understood about the extent of sand mining in America, and how sand mining impacts people and the environment from where it is extracted.
Silica dust is a known carcinogen that can cause silicosis—an incurable, irreversible lung disease—lung cancer and other illnesses. [2] It's not just sand miners who are at risk. Families living near mines, processing facilities, and truck routes can also be exposed to airborne silica and other fine particulates. [3]
The danger doesn't stop with the air we breathe. Sand mining strips away all vegetation, trees and topsoil that filters and protects underground aquifers. Mining also impacts hydrogeology: About x percent of the U.S. gets water from underground aquifers and sand mines in aquifer areas can pollute the water. [4] Mining often dredges directly in the aquifer itself, exposing it to contamination. It creates stormwater runoff that must be properly managed to prevent water pollution. [5] Despite the harms, sand mining in the US is unregulated or evades regulation and the protections for pubic health and the environment like air monitoring of dust emissions and groundwater protections.
We must protect our land, protect our water, and protect our communities. Because communities should never have to choose between clean air, safe drinking water, and corporate profits.
Add your name today to tell government officials to strengthen protections against silica dust, require comprehensive environmental protections for sand mining projects, and hold mining companies accountable for protecting public health and our natural resources.
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United States Congress, State Environmental Agencies, and United States Legislatures
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[Your Name]
We, the undersigned, call on Congress, state environmental agencies, and state legislatures to strengthen protections for communities impacted by industrial sand mining. We urge policymakers to establish stronger air quality standards for respirable crystalline silica, require emissions monitoring at all sand mining and processing facilities, regulate sand mining as a commercial industrial activity, assess impacts to Native American communities, protect drinking water through enforceable standards, require comprehensive environmental reviews for new mining operations, including biodiversity loss, and ensure mining companies are fully accountable for protecting public health, wetlands, waterways, forests, and nearby communities.
Protect our land. Protect our water. Protect our communities.
Join Community Land & Water Coalition (CLWC) in protecting our land, our water, and our communities. Add your name today to tell Congress, state environmental agencies, and state legislatures to strengthen protections against silica dust and irresponsible sand mining before more communities are put at risk.