20201207_W-Gower

RECEIVED
Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources
DEC 0 7 2026
NC Department of Environmental Quality
LAND QUALITY
1612 Mail Services Center MINING PPOGRAM
Raleigh, NC 27699-1612
To who concern:
This is a follow up letter concerning the application made by Tim Morton Trucking, LLC for the mining
operation on Scott Farm Road in Jones County. I have raised my concern for the potential
environmental issues that could affect Scott Creek that flows into the Trent River with previous letters.
A second concern has come to view with there could be contamination to the ground water and if there
is any affects to the new well put in by Jones County just south of the mines location. I am including a
copy of a report from Wisconsin where they are questioning if sand mining is causing metal
contamination In ground water. I think you would agree that if this is a factor you would not want to be
responsible for the lawsuits going in places like Flint, Michigan.
I am very familiar with the good work by NC's Environmental with paper mills. I hope they will take a
look at this site.
Sincerely,
William A. Gower

Is Frac Sand Mining Causing Metal Contamination In Groundwater? i W.. https://www.wpr.orgifrac-sand-mining-causing-metal-contamination-gro...
WPR
Segments of a rock core collected just outside the City of Arcadia in Trempealeau County are cataloged by geologists with the
Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey.
Rich Kremer/WPR
Is Frac Sand Mining Causing Metal Contamination In
Groundwater?
DNR, UW-Extension, UW-Eau Claire Studying Connections Between Sandstone, Heavy
Metals And Groundwater
By Rich Kremer
Published: Thursday, October 13, 2016,10:05am
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Three years ago, water samples from ponds at Wisconsin frac sand mines showed concentrations of heavy
metals many times higher than state groundwater standards recommend.
Now, the Department of Natural Resources is planning a study to see if the metal from those ponds is
leaching from mines and polluting groundwater. But two similar studies are already underway aimed at
better understanding what's in the region's water and the sand that's mined there.
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Is Fmc Sand Mining Causing Metal Contamination In Groundwater? I W.. hops://www.wpr.org/frac-sand-mining-causing-metal-contamination-gro...
Areas like a section of land outside the city of Arcadia where the Tunnel City and Wonewoc sandstone
formations meet are especially rich in minerals containing heavy metals, according to Wisconsin
Geological and Historical Survey geologist Jay Zambito.
The minerals are what keep metals locked inside the rock formations, Zambito said. His theory is that
when miners break the rock up, the minerals might dissolve.
"You might be exposing minerals that can easily break down and those minerals — if they have trace
metals present and those trace metals get into the water — the surface water then becomes poor quality
and then it interacts with the groundwater, the groundwater then becomes lesser quality," said Zambito.
When the DNR sampled water used by companies to wash frac sand in 2013, it didn't answer the question
of whether metals from mines are contaminating water.
They found aluminum concentrations 178 times higher than state standards along with lead and
manganese levels four times what the agency recommends for groundwater. But the water was cloudy with
sediment and researchers couldn't tell if those metals were in the sediment or the water itself.
DNR fiac sand specialist Roberta Walls said that's why they're moving forward with a comprehensive
groundwater study next year, which could be finished in time for a review of sand mining water pollution
permits.
"Given the way studies are formulated and analyzed, it's likely that the study would be prepared and ready
to go for a review of the next permit issuance but we do have the ability to make changes to the existing if
necessary in between." Walls said.
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The next DNR review of industrial sand mining water permits is scheduled for 2021.
But for residents living near frac sand mines, that timeline offers little comfort. Midwest Environmental
Advocates attorney Sara Geers says she hears from residents that they're worried metals could be getting
into their well water now.
High concentrations of metals have been shown to cause brain and nerve damage. That's why she said
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Is Frac Sand Mining Causing Metal Contamination In Groundwater? I W... https://www wpr.org/frac-sand-mining-causing-metal-contamination-gro...
answers can't come soon enough.
"For the citizens who rely on groundwater for drinkin& for people who fish in the streams around these
facilities, its not good enough to say,'we're looking into it and we may tell you a few years down the road
that, indeed, this facility has been polluting water for the past several years,"' Geers said.
University of Wisconsin -Eau Claire geology professor Brian Mahoney, though, says worries about heavy
metals in groundwater may be overblown. For the past year he and his students have been sampling rivers
and municipal wells in western Wisconsin for heavy metals. So far, the levels are well below drinking water
standards.
"So, it doesn't seem as if ther6 a lot of material coming offthe rock, getting into the groundwater,"
Mahoney said. "Some certainly but not very much."
Mahoney wants to test the rock itself to see if exposing it to air and weather could cause metals to bleed
from exposed sandstone. But he said that kind of science is expensive and he's looking for funding.
"Ideally it would be the DNR. It could be the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, could be
the state Legislature, just to remove any appearance of industry influence on the project whatsoever," said
Mahoney.
This summer, the DNR began requiring some fiat sand mines to test for trace metals in water they
discharge into nearby streams. The Wisconsin Industrial Sand Association says that has cost operators tens
of thousands of dollars even though there's no proof what they do is causing metals to leach from the
state's hillsides into our groundwater.
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