New Data Shows Statewide Livestock Standards Fail to Protect
Water, Air and Nearby Communities
Des Moines, IA—Iowa’s regulations for industrial livestock operations are failing, according to analysis of new data by Environment Iowa, the new home of the environmental work of the Iowa Public Interest Research Group (Iowa PIRG). The data, recently released by the Department of Natural Resources to Iowa House and Senate subcommittees, highlights the failure of current regulations to address pollution problems from the location and siting of new livestock confinements. The key regulation is the Master Matrix application used to obtain a permit to build certain confinements.
“A 50% score is usually a failing grade, but on the Master Matrix application it is enough to pass. Iowa’s air and water deserve much more,” said Nathaniel Baer, policy advocate with Environment Iowa.
The Master Matrix is a list of questions used to evaluate the environmental and community impacts posed by a proposed livestock confinement. These questions could help to ensure that proposed confinements do not pose problems with regard to nearby waterways, air quality, or the quality of life in nearby communities.
Under current rules, applicants using the Matrix application obtain a satisfactory by answering as few as 13 of the 44 questions—or only 50% of the possible points that matrix awards. Given the weaknesses in the regulations, applicants are not adopting the many practices that would protect air and water quality or nearby communities.
“Our current approach is out of balance. The Matrix was intended to be a useful tool to protect communities and the environment, but this data shows that many loopholes make it useless,” continued Baer. “Iowa policymakers now have the opportunity to make a real difference to our environment by improving the matrix and other state regulations related to the livestock industry.”
According to Environment Iowa’s analysis, applicants are skipping the same group of questions that would protect air and water quality. Among the key findings of the report:
- No applicant has built an emergency containment area to help protect against fish kills;
- Fewer than 2% of applicants have adopted beneficial practices such as installing air filters to reduce odors, allowing groundwater monitoring, or obtaining the written consent of nearby community members.
- Over 90% of applicants score too many easy points by building a formed manure storage structure, the industry standard, or having a place for trucks to turn around.
To address these problems, and better protect air and water quality, Environment Iowa is calling on policymakers to:
- Require applicants to answer all questions on the matrix;
- Give the DNR authority to strengthen the matrix, such as allowing for point deductions and weighting questions more appropriately;
- Increase separation distances between confinements and the areas for spreading manure and places like streams and river and schools and hospitals;
- Allow counties to have real decision-making authority over the location of proposed confinements.
Environment Iowa is a non-profit, non-partisan statewide environmental organization that advocates for clean air, clean water, and open spaces.
