Wisconsin county slaps haulage charges on frac sand miners

摘要

Wood County in Wisconsin, US, has hit three frac sand companies operating within its boundaries with non-negotiable haulage charges.The county highway commissioner's office said CARBO Ceramics, Completion Industrial Minerals and Panther Creek Sand would be required to pay for roadwork and highway upgrades effective from August 2012.A boom triggered by shale exploration has made the county's Marshfield area a hotbed for frac sand mining, a mineral vital for shale prospection, but the move has received a mixed reaction.Those in favour of the move say frac sand companies should pay for the additional inconvenience caused to residents and wear and tear of the county's road infrastructure.However, critics say the measure represents an unfair penalty on a single industry.