This is a regional page for the Public Lab Community in the midwestern United States and Canada. North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio.

Organizers in the Midwest

• Pat Popple (Chippewa Falls, WI)
• Anita Chan (Champaign-Urbana, IL and Lima, Peru)

Existing chapters in the Midwest

Discussing on the Midwest mailing list:

Discussing on the Chicago mailing list:

• http://publiclab.org/wiki/chicago

• Chapter in formation: Ohio http://publiclab.org/wiki/ohio

Midwest Projects

The Frac Sand Issue

Groups working on the Frac Sand issue:

Buffalo County Defenders Buffalo County residents who work to preserve their community in the fight against frac sand mining and transloading facilities.

Citizens for Environmental Stewardship a group of citizens residing in the towns of Bridge Creek, Lincoln, Otter Creek, Drammen, Cleveland, and the cities of Augusta and Eau Claire. The group was formed by citizens concern about the onslaught of the frac sand mining industry. The vision of Citizens for Environmental Stewardship is to be an educational group who is willing to research, inform and provide assistance to the public wherever we can in order to promote good stewardship of our environment.

Concerned Chippewa Citizen works to provide information and resources to those fighting the rapidly proliferating Frac Sand Mines and Processing Facilities.

Concerned Citizens of Bridge Creek

Crawford Stewardship Project works to protect the environment of Crawford County and neighboring regions from threats of polluting and extractive industries, to promote sustainable land use, environmental justice, and local control of natural resources.

Frac sand Frisbee A blog about frac sand mining in the Driftless Area of the upper Midwest posting useful information, good ideas, updates on events, and background information about the fast moving frac-sand mining conversation. Geographic focus on the blog is Buffalo County, WI.

Frac Sand Weekly News and Opinions about the Minnesota and Wisconsin Frac Sand Boom, and its Environmental Health Implications. Intended to gather perspectives about a new potential environmental health risk mining, processing, railroading, barging, and trucking its way through Minnesota and Wisconsin. Part of the Environmental Illness Network Minnesota ei Network a community for Minnesotans with environmental sensitivities and the people (and organizations) that care about them.

Hale No to Frac Sand Mining in WI a regional facebook site that posts updates on the fight against Frac Sand Mining.

Penokee Hills Education Project - A project of the Mining Impact Coalition of Wisconsin, Inc.The PHEP has been formed to educate the public about the risks to the Bad River watershed and the Penokee Hills should large scale taconite mining be permitted; share relevant information about the impact of mining on our economy, health, and environment;and connect with citizen led groups locally, statewide, and nationally.

Preserve Trempealeau County Working to preserve and protect the environment and quality of life in Trempealeau County.

Save our Knapp Hills Alliance A group of concerned residents and property owners in (Frac-Sand Mining Concerns in Western Wisconsin - Knapp, Lucas, Menomonie, Stanton, Glenwood City, Downing, Boyceville area) responding to the recent upsurge in silica-sand mining and processing in our area. We are also striving to connect with other local groups researching and raising public awareness about this issue.

Save the Hills Alliance A group dedicated to protecting the natural environment and the long-term health and safety of the community by promoting the ecologically sound use of land and natural resources through public awareness, education and advocacy.

Vally Stewarship Network works to promote a balance between a healthy environment and strong communities in the Kickapoo Valley.

Wisconsin Watch a new source produced by the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism that provides insight on the frac sand issue. Their goals are to protect the vulnerable, expose wrongdoings and seek solutions.

Wisconsin Farmer’s Union a member-driven organization, is committed to enhancing the quality of life for family farmers, rural communities, and all people through educational opportunities, cooperative endeavors, and civic engagement.

Minnesota::

Citizens Against Frac Sand Mining a group of citizens in the City of Winona and in Winona County, Minnesota who are concerned about frac-sand mining and related operations in our region.

Citizens Against Silica Mining - Save the Bluffs Silica Sand Mining in Hay Creek, Red Wing, Frontenac and Lake City Minnesota

Land Stewardship Project works to foster an ethic of stewardship for farmland, to promote sustainable agriculture and to develop sustainable communities.

Sand Point Times Advocating solutions to protect Southeast Minnesota from frac-sand mining.