Same Day Dissonance: Mining Bill Passage, Aldo Leopold Announcement

Hard to miss the ironies (sorry) yesterday, as the State Senate sacrificed the legacy of Wisconsin environmental champion Aldo Leopold on the same day that UW-Madison officials were announcing the annual event celebrating Leopold's environmental achievement and reputation.

Leopold's seminal work was A Sand County Almanac.

Most Wisconsin references to "sand" these days note the rapid export out-of-state of Wisconsin sand for fracking operations.

In 2010, the state had five sand mines. Today, 60, reports the LA Times.

The DNR under Scott Walker has declined to expand rule-making to govern such operations.

A recent sand spill into the St. Croix River by a mining operation that went undetected until citizen reporting suggests the need is there.