http://www.environmentiowa.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news http://www.environmentiowa.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/house-committee-approves-bill-to-protect-air-water-and-communities 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. ###### http://www.environmentiowa.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/house-committee-approves-bill-to-protect-air-water-and-communities Sat, 17 Nov 2007 11:54:18 -0600 http://www.environmentiowa.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/new-data-shows-statewide-livestock-standards-fail-to-protect New Data Shows Statewide Livestock Standards Fail to ProtectWater, Air and Nearby CommunitiesDes 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.   http://www.environmentiowa.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/new-data-shows-statewide-livestock-standards-fail-to-protect Sat, 17 Nov 2007 11:54:18 -0600 http://www.environmentiowa.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/on-the-clean-water-acts-35th-anniversary-polluters-continue-to-contaminate-iowa-waterways For Immediate Release:October http://www.environmentiowa.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/on-the-clean-water-acts-35th-anniversary-polluters-continue-to-contaminate-iowa-waterways Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:48:03 -0600 http://www.environmentiowa.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/funding-for-iowas-water-land-and-wildlife-wins-in-iowa-house http://www.environmentiowa.org/newsroom/clean-water-news/clean-water-news/funding-for-iowas-water-land-and-wildlife-wins-in-iowa-house Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:16:19 -0500