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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2019
MEDIA CONTACT: Jerah Sheets at 515-313-8909 or Jerah.Sheets@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES – The Environmental Protection Commission will meet at 10 a.m. Feb. 19 in the auditorium of the Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St. in Des Moines.
At the start of the meeting, Commissioners will be asked to approve or deny a petition for rulemaking that would set numeric water quality standards for nutrient levels in some public lakes.
Next on the agenda, at 11 a.m., commissioners will hear two referrals to the Attorney General’s office. The DNR recommends referring Phoenix Investors, LLC, and JB2 Environmental concerning alleged asbestos violations that occurred during an asbestos abatement project in Newton.
Following lunch, commissioners will hear a Demand for a Hearing from Story County on the Longview Pork, LLC, construction permit for an animal feeding operation.
The meeting is open to the public and time for public comment is scheduled for the petition and the Demand for a Hearing. To sign up to speak, contact Jerah Sheets prior to the start of that topic. To submit written comments or sign up prior to the meeting, contact Jerah Sheets at Jerah.Sheets@dnr.iowa.gov or by calling 515-313-8909 or mail to Jerah Sheets at the Iowa DNR, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319. Please submit supporting materials by noon on Feb. 18.
Also on the agenda in the afternoon, DNR will present the fiscal year 2018 annual report and budget for the Environmental Management System Program—projects that leverage local funding with grants to improve solid waste stewardship. Commissioners will hear success stories from two of the 13 participants.
Commissioners will also be asked to approve a contract with the city of Clear Lake for a watershed project in Cerro Gordo and Hancock counties.
Finally, revised air quality rules are up for approval, followed by general discussion.
The complete agenda and item briefs are available on the DNR website and summarized below:
- Petition for Rulemaking – Numeric Water Quality Standards for Nutrients in Significant Public Recreational Lakes in Iowa
- Referrals to the Attorney General
- Demand for Hearing – Story County – Longview Permit
- Environmental Management System Program Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Report
- Contract with City of Clear Lake for the CLEAR Watershed Project
- Final Rules: Air Quality Regulatory Certainty Rules Part 3 - Chapters 20, 22, 23 and 25
Commissioners include: Ralph Lents, Menlo, chair; Joe Riding, Altoona, vice chair; Rebecca Guinn, Bettendorf, Secretary; Mary Boote, Des Moines; Nancy Couser, Nevada; Lisa Gochenour, Logan; Howard Hill, Cambridge; Harold Hommes, Windsor Heights; and Bob Sinclair, Sigourney. Bruce Trautman is the acting director of the DNR.
Any person attending the public meeting who has special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments should contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Kelli Book at 515-725-9572 or Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES – In January 89 of Iowa’s 99 counties notified DNR that they plan to evaluate construction permit applications and proposed animal confinement locations by using the master matrix.
With few exceptions, most counties will use the matrix during the next 12 months. The following counties will not use the matrix in 2019: Davis, Des Moines, Keokuk, Lee, Mahaska, Osceola, Plymouth, Wapello, Warren and Washington.
Animal producers who need a construction permit before building in these counties must meet stricter requirements than confinement producers planning to construct in other counties. Producers qualify by choosing a site and using practices that reduce impacts on air, water and the community.
Counties that adopt the master matrix can provide more input to producers on site selection, and proposed structures and facility management. Participating counties score each master matrix submitted in their county and can recommend to DNR to approve or deny the construction permit. They can also join in DNR visits to a proposed confinement site.
While all counties may submit comments to DNR during the permitting process, counties that adopt the master matrix can also appeal a preliminary permit to the state Environmental Protection Commission.
The deadline for enrolling in the program is Jan. 31 of each year.
Find more information, including a map of participating counties by searching for Master Matrix at www.iowadnr.gov/afo or directly on the master matrix web page.
The master matrix applies to producers who must get a construction permit to build, expand or modify a totally roofed facility. Generally, these are confinement feeding operations with at least 2,500 finishing hogs, 1,000 beef cattle or 715 mature dairy cows.
MEDIA CONTACT: Lori Hanson, DNR, at 515-725-9525 or Lori.Hanson@dnr.iowa.gov for Title V permits; or Sarah Piziali, DNR, at 515-725-9549 or Sarah.Piziali@dnr.iowa.gov for construction permits.
DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and the air where we live. DNR’s permitting staff review the applications to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality standards. The public has the right and is encouraged to comment on draft permits. DNR considers public comments before finalizing the permits. Submit comments in writing to the assigned permit writer before 4:30 p.m. on the last day of the public comment period.
Title V Operating Permits
Title V Operating permits are reviewed and re-issued every five years. Facilities with a Title V permit have the potential to emit large amounts of air pollutants compared to other facilities. The five-year reviews are a federal requirement and ensure adequate monitoring is included in the permit. The DNR plans to issue Title V Operating Permits for the following facilities. Find permit details at www.iowadnr.gov/titlev-draft.
Polk County Magellan Pipeline Co., LP – Des Moines Terminal – 2503 SE 43rd St., Des Moines. The Title V renewal application was submitted to operate their existing Gasoline Terminal / Refined Petroleum Pipelines facility. The public comment period ends March 9.
Construction Permits
DNR engineers review and issue construction permits to facilities before they build new or modified sources of air pollution. The public may review the following air quality construction permits available online at www.iowadnr.gov/airpermitsearch.
Scott County Linwood Mining & Minerals Corp. – 401 E. Front St., Davenport. Project No. 18-366, Modification of multiple existing air construction permits to revise potential particulate matter (PM10) emission limits, control measures and enforceable operating limits. The public comment period ends March 11.
MEDIA CONTACT: Kelli Book, DNR, at 515-725-9572 or Kelli.Book@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/EnforcementActions.
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.
Black Hawk County
21st Century Equipment Company and John Baker
Pay $9,000 in SWAP contract settlement.
Dallas County
Hawkeye Auto Salvage of Desoto, L.L.C
No further open burning; comply with open burning and solid waste regulations; and pay an administrative penalty of $3,000.
Dallas County
Charleston Enterprises, inc. and Mr. Doug Charleston
No further open burning; comply with composting regulations; and pay an administrative penalty of $2,500.
Administrative Orders
Responsible parties have 30 days to appeal the order or 60 days to pay the penalty.
Polk County
Rescinds the Administrative Order associated with the following.
- Elite Fuel Four, Inc., Iowa Gas Group, Inc.. USA Gas Depot Corporation, Kavya Corporation, and Ish Oberoi - Administrative Order (UT) (rescinds Administrative Order No. 2010-UT-19)
- Elite Fuel Four, Inc., Iowa Gas Group, Inc., Liberty Mart and Ish Oberoi - Administrative Order (UT) (rescinds Administrative Order No. 2010-UT-18)
- Iowa Gas Group, Inc., Elite Fuel Two, Inc., Ish Oberoi, MK Fueltime, and Mark Kramer - Administrative Order (UT) (rescinds Administrative Order No. 2010-UT-17)
- Iowa Gas Group, Inc., Elite Fuel Four, Inc., Gas Depot & Minimart Inc., and Ish Oberoi - Administrative Order (UT) (rescinds Administrative Order No. 2010-UT-16)
- Elite Fuel Six, Inc., Iowa Gas Group, Inc., Ish Oberoi, and United Mini-Mart, Inc. - Administrative Order (UT) (rescinds Administrative Order No. 2010-UT-15)
- Elite Fuel Six, Inc., Iowa Gas Group, Inc., United Gas Supply Corp., and Ish Oberoi - Administrative Order (UT) (rescinds Administrative Order No. 2010-UT-14)
- Elite Fuel Six, Inc., Elite Fuel Two, Inc., and Ish Oberoi - Administrative Order (UT) (rescinds Administrative Order No. 2010-UT-13)
- Elite Fuel Eight, Inc., Iowa Gas Group, Inc., Sekon Brothers, L.L.C., and Ish Oberoi - Administrative Order (UT) (rescinds Administrative Order No. 2010-UT-12)
- Elite Fuel Eight, Inc., Iowa Gas Group, Inc., USA Gas Supply, Inc., and Ish Oberoi - Administrative Order (UT) (rescinds Administrative Order No. 2010-UT-11)
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