Des Moines, IA—The Iowa House Environmental Protection Committee today voted to approve a bill that will protect Iowa’s air and water quality and rural quality of life from the livestock industry. The many new protections in the bill, House Study Bill 267, such as increased separation distances between new livestock operations and places like residences and tourism areas as well as more protections for Iowa’s waterways.
“Iowans are very concerned about the impact of the livestock industry on our streams and rivers,” said Nathaniel Baer, policy advocate with Environment Iowa. “This bill adds important protections from the environmental impacts of this industry.”
The proposals in the bill are the result of seven weeks of public hearings held by the House Air and Water Quality Subcommittee, a standing subcommittee of the House Environmental Protection Committee. During the public hearings, the subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Frevert (D-Emmetsburg), heard testimony from the Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, livestock producers, academic experts, and other parties.
The bill adds new areas to the list of ‘benefited objects’ that merit a separation distance from a proposed livestock confinement, including tourism destinations. The Department of Natural Resources will adopt rules to designate the tourism destinations.
The bill adds increased protections to waterways. For example, the bill expands the types of wetlands that deserve a separation distance to include wetlands owned by cities and counties. Under current law, only state and federal wetlands qualify.
Minimal separation distances apply to all confinements under the bill. Under current law, many livestock operations with fewer than 1,250 hogs (500 animal units) are exempt from minimum separation distances to residences, businesses, schools, churches, and public use areas.
House Study Bill 267 strengthens the master matrix, which is the permit application for larger confinements. The master matrix application is intended to address the potential impact of a proposed livestock operation on nearby air, water and communities. According to Environment Iowa’s analysis in its recent report, Failure of the Master Matrix, the permit application is a rubber stamp that does not protect the environment or nearby communities.
This bill requires all counties to use the matrix application and to hold a public hearing to hear comments about the proposal. The bill allows for the deduction of points in the matrix application for unsatisfactory answers, which could require applicants to adopt more environmentally beneficial practices.
The bill also strengthens rules regarding the application of manure to land. The bill prohibits using spray irrigation equipment to spread liquid manure and requires producers to either inject liquid manure or incorporate it into the soil the same day it is applied.
“For too long, policy makers have looked the other way when it comes to air and water pollution from the livestock industry,” said Baer. “This bill is a step in the right direction, so we can restore balance in public policy to protect our environment.”
“Representatives Kuhn, Frevert, and Olson demonstrated leadership and a genuine commitment to Iowa’s environment in bringing this bill forward. We now call on House leadership to bring this bill to the floor,” continued Baer.
Please see www.environmentiowa.org for a copy of our recent report on the failure of the master matrix permit to protect our environment from the livestock industry.
Environment Iowa is a non-profit, non-partisan statewide environmental organization that advocates for clean air, clean water, and open spaces.
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