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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2019
MEDIA CONTACT: Jerah Sheets at 515-313-8909 or Jerah.Sheets@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES – The Environmental Protection Commission will welcome new commissioners and elect officers at the May 21 meeting.
Contracts dominate the agenda when the meeting begins at 10 a.m. in Room 116 of the Iowa State Capitol, 1007 East Grand Avenue in Des Moines. The meeting is open to the public.
Contracts for watershed projects, monitoring and laboratory analysis, geographic information services systems, archaeological investigations and drinking water training are up for approval.
Commissioners will be asked to approve final rules for stream reclassifications as part of a Water Quality Standards rule chapter.
They will also consider recommendations for the Derelict Building Grant Program.
There is no scheduled public participation. Written comments may be submitted up to one day before the meeting to Jerah Sheets at Jerah.Sheets@dnr.iowa.gov or to DNR, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319.
The complete agenda follows:
- Approval of Agenda
- Oath of Office
- Election of Officers
- Approval of the Minutes
- Monthly Reports
- Acting Director’s Remarks
- Contract with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) for Iowa Great Lakes Watershed Project
- Contract with Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA) at the University of Iowa
- Contract with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)
- Contract with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS)
- Contract with Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
- Contract Amendment #1 with Iowa State University GIS Facility
- Contract with the University of Iowa on behalf of the State Hygienic Laboratory, for the contract titled, IDNR-SHL Environmental Monitoring & Laboratory Services
- Final – Chapter 61 – Water Quality Standards (Stream Reclassifications via Use Assessment and Use Attainability Analyses – Batch #5)
- Derelict Building Grant Program – Grant Recommendations
- Contract with the University Of Iowa on behalf of the State Hygienic Laboratory (SHL) for Laboratory Services provided to the Iowa DNR Land Quality Bureau
- Contract Amendment #3 to Contract 16ESDLQBGOLD1 with Region XII Council of Governments
- Contract Amendment #3 to Contract 15ESDLQBLGOLD with Gresham Smith (Formerly Gresham, Smith and Partners)
- Contract with Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU)
- General Discussion
- Items for Next Month’s Meeting
- June 18 – EPC Business Meeting – Des Moines
- July 16 – EPC Business Meeting – Des Moines
Find the complete agenda at http://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/Boards-Commissions.
Commissioners include: Ralph Lents, Menlo, chair; Rebecca Guinn, Bettendorf, Secretary; Stephanie Dykshorn, Ireton; Amy Echard, Monona; Lisa Gochenour, Logan; Howard Hill, Cambridge; Harold Hommes, Windsor Heights; Tim Kaldenberg, Albia; 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 CONTACT: Tim Hall, 515-725-8298, Tim.Hall@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES – While most stream flows continue to drop and April had below-average rainfall, the past 12 months set records for the wettest May to April period in Iowa’s history. Surrounding states have also experienced record wet years.
Although snowpack melting is not expected to cause significant flooding in the Missouri River basin, annual runoff is expected to be 170 percent higher than normal, enhancing the risk for flooding in the eastern part of the basin.
“We are entering the three rainiest months, so wet conditions could continue,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources. “There is lots of water in the soil and groundwater which could result in flash flooding.
“Iowans should monitor conditions carefully in the months ahead,” he added.
Streamflows in the interior streams have dropped from March levels except in northwest Iowa where they are still above normal or much above normal.
Major flooding has occurred along the Mississippi River, especially south of Dubuque. Davenport set a preliminary, but not official, record high flood crest of 22.7 feet on May 2. The previous crest of 22.63 feet was set July 9 in 1993.
Preliminary statewide precipitation in April totaled 2.96 inches or 0.55 inches below average, with a wide variation in local levels. In Montgomery County, rainfall in Red Oak was 2.61 inches below average for the month. While in Clinton County, the city of Clinton received 3.12 inches above average.
Iowa temperatures averaged 49.2 degrees, or 0.3 degrees above normal, ranking April as the 72nd warmest among 147 years of state records. Clarinda reported the month’s high temperature of 87 degrees on April 21.
For a thorough review of Iowa’s water resource trends, go to www.iowadnr.gov/watersummaryupdate.
The report is prepared by technical staff from Iowa DNR, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering, and the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Department.
MEDIA CONTACT: Melinda McCoy, DNR, Melinda.McCoy@dnr.iowa.gov, 515-725-8402.
DES MOINES – The Iowa DNR will hold a public stakeholder meeting to answer questions and collect public comments on the renewal of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater general permit for pesticide discharges.
The stakeholder meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 21 in Room B at the Urbandale Public Library, located at 3520 86th St. in Urbandale.
The Pesticides General Permit (GP7) will expire on May 17, 2021. The Iowa DNR proposes to initiate rulemaking to renew the permit for a third five-year term. A draft showing the proposed changes is available online at https://www.iowadnr.gov/Environmental-Protection/Water-Quality/NPDES-Wastewater-Permitting/NPDES-General-Permits/GP7-Pesticides.
People may ask questions on the proposed permit and make oral comments at the public meeting, or may submit written comments through May 28 to Melinda McCoy, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 502 E. Ninth St. Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034; fax at 515-725-8202; or by email, including the commenter’s name, to Melinda.McCoy@dnr.iowa.gov.
MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Hieb, DNR, at Wendy.Hieb@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-725-8405.
DES MOINES – The DNR will hold a public hearing to collect public comments on the renewal of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater general permit for water well construction and service discharges.
The stakeholder meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. on May 28 in Conference Rooms 4 East and West on the fourth floor of the Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St. in Des Moines.
Well Construction and Well Service Discharges General Permit 6 (GP6) will expire on Feb. 28, 2020. The Iowa DNR has initiated rulemaking to renew the permit for a third five-year term. The proposed GP6 is nearly identical to the current general permit except for some clarifications and changes to comply with existing rules.
A draft showing the proposed changes is available online at www.iowadnr.gov/Environmental-Protection/Water-Quality/Private-Well-Program/Construction-Discharge-GP6.
People may make oral comments at the public hearing or may submit written comments through June 7 to Wendy Hieb, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 502 E. Ninth St. Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034; fax at 515-725-8202; or by email, including the commenter’s name, toWendy.Hieb@dnr.iowa.gov.
MEDIA CONTACT: Lori Hanson, DNR, at 515-725-9525 or Lori.Hanson@dnr.iowa.gov for Title V 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.
Linn County
Cargill, Inc. – 1710 16th St. S.E., Cedar Rapids. The application was submitted to operate their existing corn wet milling facility. The public comment period ends June 7.
Cedar Rapids Water Pollution Control Facility – 7525 Bertram Road S.E., Cedar Rapids.
The application was submitted to operate their existing municipal wastewater treatment facility. The public comment period ends June 7.
Marion County
Vermeer Corporation – 1210 Vermeer Road E., Pella.
The application was submitted to operate their existing Construction Machinery and Equipment facility. The public comment period ends June 8.
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