Broad Minnesota industrial sand mining study requested

Minnesota's top environmental officials are being asked to conduct a broad study on frac sand mining. Frac sand is silica sand used to make glass and abrasives, and more recently, to force oil and gas out of the earth. . . . Several Minnesota counties have imposed moratoriums, and the state Environmental Quality Board is considering whether to do a generic study of the potential health, environmental, and socioeconomic effects of frac sand mining. A comprehensive study could take several years, and it's unclear how the study would be paid for.

Read more at Minnesota Public Radio.