May 25 EcoNewsWire from the Iowa DNR

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 25, 2017

Missouri River group to meet June 13 in Mills County

MEDIA CONTACT: Sharon Tahtinen, DNR, at 515-725-8299.

MALVERN–The Iowa watershed approach, providing nearly $100 million to improve rural watersheds, is the focus of the June 13 meeting of the State Interagency Missouri River Authority (SIMRA).

Larry Weber will discuss the Iowa watershed approach and how adopting conservation practices reduces peak stream flows and improves water quality. As director of the University of Iowa’s IIHR Hydroscience and Engineering center, including the Iowa Flood Center, Weber will highlight how funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development can help reduce flooding by improving watershed resiliency. 

Other speakers will share progress from the Watershed Management Coalitions for the East and West Nishnabotna rivers, updates on Missouri River conditions and the Missouri River recovery program.

The meeting begins at 10 a.m. at the Classic Café, 317 Main St. in Malvern. Interested people can attend the meeting by conference call. Dial 866-685-1580 and follow the prompts. The conference code is 4510673319 followed by the pound (#) sign.

The complete agenda is available below and on the SIMRA website at www.iowadnr.gov/simra

10 a.m., Welcome and Introductions – Cara Marker-Morgan – Golden Hills RC&D; Bill Ehm, Administrator - Environmental Services Division, Department of Natural Resources

Business Items – Bill Ehm – DNR

·         Approve Agenda

·         Approve Meeting Summary – November 2016

10:10 a.m., The Iowa Watershed Approach:  A statewide partnership for a more resilient Iowa - Larry Weber, Director, IIHR Hydroscience and Engineering – University of Iowa

10:35 a.m., East & West Nishnabotna Watershed Management Coalition Update - Kyle Ament, Watershed Basin Coordinator, DNR

11 a.m., Missouri River Watershed Changes and Trends - Doug Kluck, Central Region Climate Services Director, NOAA's National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI), Kansas City

11:20 a.m., Missouri River Basin Conditions and Operations Plan - Jody Farhat, P.E. Chief, Missouri River Basin Water Management Northwestern Division, USACE, Omaha District

11:40 a.m., Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (RRIC) Update – Shawn Shouse, MRRIC Representative

Closing Comments

Next Meeting – Fall 2017

Noon Lunch, Classic Café ($12 cash preferred; receipts will be available; contact Sharon Tahtinen at Sharon.Tahtinen@dnr.iowa.gov if planning to attend)

1 to 3 p.m., Tours – Nishnabotna Watershed 

SIMRA includes representatives from the Governor’s Office, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Utilities Board, the Iowa Economic Development Authority, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Department of Transportation. 


DNR enforcement actions

MEDIA CONTACT: Ed Tormey, DNR, at 515-725-8373 or Ed.Tormey@dnr.iowa.gov. 

DES MOINES – DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws. This approach is very effective. In the few cases where compliance cannot be achieved, the DNR issues enforcement actions. The following list summarizes recent enforcement actions. Find the entire, original orders on DNR’s website at www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/AboutDNR/EnforcementActions.aspx. 

Consent Orders
A consent order is issued as an alternative to issuing an administrative order. A consent order indicates that the DNR has voluntarily entered into a legally enforceable agreement with the other party. 

Buena Vista County
Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.
Cease illegal discharges to waters of the state, comply with all conditions of NPDES permit and pay $8,500 penalty.

Dubuque County
Jeff Kintzle
Comply with Plan of Action to prevent future manure releases during manure application and pay $3,500 penalty for past manure discharge to a water of the state. 

Grundy County
Hoppe Airspray, LLC
Order issued to comply with pesticide application laws, and includes payment of $1,120 fish restitution and investigative costs, and pay $7,500 penalty for past aerial discharge to a water of the state. 

Howard County
Trent Linkenmeyer
Develop and implement Standard Operating Procedure for the land application of manure and pay $4,000 penalty and $356 in fish restitution and investigative costs for the purpose of resolving violations resulting from past manure discharge. 

Jasper County
A-Line Iron & Metals Kellogg, LLC
Cease illegal open burning and open dumping of solid wastes, properly remove remaining solid waste from property, and pay $4,150 penalty. 

Wapello County
Floyd Toomey
Cease illegal open burning and open dumping of solid wastes and pay $5,000 penalty.

Webster County
CertainTeed Gypsum and Ceiling Manufacturing, Inc.
Comply with air quality requirements, including compliance with emissions reduction plan, and pay $10,000 penalty.