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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: Jerah Sheets at 515-313-8909 or Jerah.Sheets@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES – June is always the contract meeting for the Environmental Protection Commission, and this year is no exception.
The June 16 meeting will be held by video conference at 10:30 a.m. To join by video, connect with https://meet.google.com/rqw-nksu-aak. To join by phone, call 405-701-9543, and enter the conference code of 871 528 followed by the pound (#) sign when prompted. The meeting is open to the public. 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.
At the top of the meeting, Daniel Andersen, Ph.D., will highlight successes from the manure applicator certification program.
Then commissioners will be asked to approve nine contracts, as follows:
- Iowa State University for Manure applicator certification training.
- A grant amendment with Region XII Council of Governments and a contract with a program at University of Northern Iowa which aids in matching unwanted goods with new owners, annually diverting 100,000 pounds of materials from landfills.
- Iowa Air Emission Assistance Program at University of Northern Iowa to assist small businesses in understanding and complying with air quality requirements.
- Separate contracts with Linn County and Polk County Air Quality Divisions to decrease, control and prevent air pollution in Linn and Polk counties, fulfilling federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
- Three contracts with University of Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory for audits of analytical laboratories, and air and water quality monitoring.
- Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to reduce sediment and phosphorus delivery to Easter Lake.
At 11 a.m. commissioners will hear a referral to the Attorney General of JDog Junk Removal and Hauling and owner Justin Pollard for solid waste disposal and open burning violations.
Also up for approval, the Intended Use Plan for the Clean Water and Drinking Water state revolving funds.
Find the complete agenda at http://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/Boards-Commissions.
Commissioners include: Ralph Lents, Menlo, chair; Harold Hommes, Windsor Heights, vice chair; Bob Sinclair, Sigourney, Secretary; Stephanie Dykshorn, Ireton; Amy Echard, Farmersburg; Lisa Gochenour, Logan; Rebecca Guinn, Bettendorf; and Howard Hill, Cambridge. Kayla Lyon is the DNR director.
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, Iowa DNR, 515-725-8298 or Tim.Hall@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES — While rainfall was about normal in May for the state, on average, a wide band across the central part of the state was drier than normal, while the north, south, and eastern edges were wetter, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
The U.S. Drought Monitor still shows areas of abnormal dryness in west central Iowa, and groundwater levels are stressed in that part of the state. Average streamflow levels are normal across much of the state.
"Although there are some areas that received above normal precipitation and some areas that received below normal precipitation, May ended up about normal for rainfall for the state,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources. “Overall hydrology conditions for the state are about where they should be for this time of the year."
Pockets of above and below average precipitation were reported across Iowa during May. Western Iowa received between one and two inches less than normal rainfall, while other sections of the state reported above normal rainfall of one to two inches. When taken together, the preliminary statewide average precipitation was 4.5 inches, only 0.06 inches below normal. Monthly precipitation totals ranged from 1.83 inches at Sioux Center to 7.55 inches in St. Ansgar.
Iowa experienced cooler than normal conditions statewide during May with a preliminary average temperature of 57.7 degrees, 2.4 degrees below normal. This ranks May 2020 as the 38th coldest in 148 years of statewide records; a colder May occurred just last year.
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: Tamara McIntosh, DNR, at 515-725-8242 or Tamara.Mcintosh@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.
For copies of the orders below, contact Kelli Book at Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov. Older actions can be found 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.
Floyd County
Tres M, LLC
Operate in compliance with relevant laws and develop a standard operating procedure for the land application of manure and submit it for approval to DNR.
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 air quality. DNR’s permitting staff review each permit application to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality requirements. We encourage public comments on draft permits, providing help on how to make effective comments. Submit written comments to the assigned permit writer before 4:30 p.m. on the last day of the comment period. DNR considers public comments before finalizing the permits.
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
John Deere Des Moines Works – 825 S.W. Irvinedale Drive, Ankeny.
The Title V renewal application was submitted to operate their existing Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing facility (SIC 3523). The public comment period ends July 4.
Hardin County
Cargill, Inc. – Iowa Falls – 602 Industrial Road, Iowa Falls.
The application was submitted to operate their existing Soybean Oil Mills facility. The public comment period ends July 4.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is working with state and local officials to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and has transitioned employees to work remotely. DNR offices are closed to the public during this time and only available by appointment.
In another effort to further reduce the spread of COVID-19, the DNR is encouraging the use of the online services for submitting applications, payments and other daily tasks and interaction with DNR staff.
We thank you for your patience and flexibility during this time. If you need to contact DNR staff you can reach them by email or phone or by calling 515-725-8200.
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