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From DNR’s EcoNewsWire, 12/20/2018
“WINDSOR HEIGHTS – After five years in Windsor Heights, DNR’s Field Office 5, serving 18 counties in south central Iowa, will move to Des Moines.
Find field office staff on the fourth floor of the Wallace Building at 502 E. Ninth St. Visitors can check in at the reception desk. Park in the free parking ramp on Grand and Pennsylvania Avenues just west of the Wallace Building.
Staff phone numbers and emails will remain the same, including their main number of 515-725-0268, answered during normal business hours. For after hours, weekends and holidays, the 24-hour environmental emergency reporting number remains 515-725-8694.
The field office is one of six regional locations in DNR’s Field Services and Compliance Bureau. Field offices are local contacts for technical help in protecting Iowa’s air, land and water resources. “Coaching for compliance,” is the field staff approach to ensure industries, municipalities and citizens comply with Iowa’s environmental programs.”
The Lead and Copper Rule has a requirement to notify the people at the sites where the lead and copper samples are collected of the results for their site. The notice is called the “Consumer Notice.”
This is a reminder for all community and non-transient non-community systems that sampled for lead and copper between June 1 and September 30, 2018, to submit the certification form that the consumer notices were distributed. The certification and one copy of the consumer notice are due to DNR by December 30, 2018. If you aren’t sure about the requirements, or have other questions, please call or email your contacts in Water Supply Operations. Your specialist's name and phone number are listed on the cover page of your current operation permit.
We've received quite a few certification forms in the past two weeks, but there are still about 100 certification forms that haven't yet been received.
From DNR’s EcoNewsWire, 12/13/2018
“DES MOINES — The DNR is now accepting pre-application questionnaires for grant funding that helps locally-led groups develop water quality improvement efforts in Iowa communities.
Offered by the DNR’s Watershed Improvement Program, Watershed Planning Grants help local groups passionate about improving water quality create a nine-element Watershed Management Plan, which identifies problems in the watershed and proposes solutions for better water quality. Making changes in the watershed (the land that drains to a lake, river or stream) can reduce pollution reaching our waters.
Those selected through the pre-application process will then be invited to apply for grant funding to perform a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Nine-element Watershed Planning process, funded by EPA Clean Water Act Section 319 grants to the Iowa DNR Watershed Improvement Section.
“With the pre-application process, we’re looking to learn more about groups’ vision for water quality and identify applicants that are motivated and able to complete a nine-element watershed plan,” said Steve Konrady, who coordinates DNR Watershed Improvement grants. “We want to help Iowans put their plans in action.”
Planning grants will likely be awarded to successful pre-applicants by June 30, 2019. The Section 319 program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides DNR funding for nonpoint pollution programs, including Watershed Planning Grants.
The pre-application period remains open until close of business on Feb. 28. Pre-application documents are available at www.iowadnr.gov/watershed. Questions may be directed to Steve Konrady at 515-725-8388 or Steven.Konrady@dnr.iowa.gov.”
The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission approved the Clean Water SRF and Drinking Water SRF Intended Use Plan - Quarter 3 Update for fiscal year 2019, which began on July 1, 2018. The Commission took the action on December 18, 2018 at their meeting in the Iowa State Capitol.
Clean Water State Revolving Fund
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund
For more information, please contact Theresa Enright, SRF Coordinator, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 515-725-0498 or theresa.enright@dnr.iowa.gov.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting a refresher webinar for State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) program staff and SRF assistance recipients to discuss the details of the American Iron and Steel (AIS) requirements, including implementation of the requirement, project coverage, the waiver request process, and the national waivers.
Potential and current borrowers are welcomed and encouraged to participate in the webinar.
Date: Wednesday, January 16th, 2019
Time: 1:00-2:30pm (CST)
Registration Link
The webinar is free but please register in advance.
From DNR News Release, 12/17/2018
Media Contact: Alex Murphy, DNR Director of Communications, Alex.Murphy@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-729-7533.
“STORM LAKE, Iowa -- Mangold Environmental Testing (MET), in Storm Lake, has agreed to temporarily stop testing drinking water samples for nitrate, effective December 14, 2018, due to potentially inaccurate sample results. Forty-three public water supplies have been identified as potentially having inaccurate nitrate sampling results. MET has made arrangements to have nitrate tests performed by another certified laboratory.
The problem began when MET installed new equipment on October 2, 2018. Laboratories are required to notify the DNR within 15 days when new equipment is placed into service. MET did not notify DNR of the change until December 5, 2018. DNR inspected the laboratory on December 7, 2018, and asked MET to temporarily stop analyzing drinking water samples for nitrate.
DNR is working with MET to identify the cause of the problems and take steps to correct them. DNR and MET will each notify affected public water supplies by letter. At this time, DNR has no information suggesting any public water supply had unsafe nitrate levels in its drinking water.
DNR will also examine other data that MET has analyzed using this equipment to determine if any other sample results are incorrect.
MET has been cooperative during this investigation. DNR and MET are working together to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. DNR continues to investigate this incident and will determine if any enforcement actions are necessary.
Public Water Supply Operators: Please contact your regional field office if you have questions.”
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