|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 18, 2021
MEDIA CONTACTS: Kelli Book at 515-725-9572 or Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES – Once again, 89 of Iowa’s 99 counties notified DNR in January 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 2021: Davis, Des Moines, Keokuk, Lee, Mahaska, Osceola, Plymouth, Wapello, Warren and Washington.
Additional requirements are required for animal confinement producers who need a construction permit before they can build in counties which use the matrix. 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 that DNR 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, on DNR’s AFO webpages under Master Matrix.
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: Kelli Book, DNR, at Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-210-3408.
DES MOINES -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will host a virtual public meeting on March 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. to gather public comment on the Supreme Beef, LLC Nutrient Management Plan (NMP).
The Supreme Beef, LLC facility will be located in Giard Township in Clayton County. To request an electronic copy of the NMP, contact Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov.
Per the administrative rules, comments should be limited to the following topics: 1) that the NMP was submitted according to procedures required by the DNR and 2) that the NMP complies with the provisions of 567 Iowa Administrative Code 65.
To register for the virtual meeting and obtain the virtual meeting instructions for Zoom, please email or call Kelli Book at Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-210-3408 with your name, email, and phone number by noon on March 1. Please also state if you will be making a comment during the meeting.
During the virtual meeting, a moderator will provide a tutorial of how to use the virtual meeting features and the DNR will provide an introduction to the process and the facility. Supreme Beef, LLC will be given the opportunity for a brief statement at the beginning of the meeting. Comments from the public will be limited to 3 minutes per person.
If you are unable to attend the virtual meeting or have items to submit such as photographs or presentations, you may submit the written comments and other documents to Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov by 4:30 p.m. on March 8.
If you are new to Zoom, please visit http://zoom.us/test to test the video and audio features of your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone prior to the meeting.
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. 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.
Shelby County
Gary Nielsen
Submit a manure management plan and a construction design statement with supporting documentation to the Department; submit required filing and indemnity fees and pay overdue compliance fees for 2017 through 2020; and pay a $1,500 administrative penalty.
Administrative Orders
Responsible parties have 60 days to appeal the order or 60 days to pay the penalty.
Polk County
Tyler Investments Co., Inc. d/b/a Oakwood Heights Mobile Home Park
Maintain and operate all wastewater treatment and collection systems (systems) under its control in a manner that complies with applicable laws; cease all non-permitted discharges; obtain a professional evaluation of the integrity and operational capacity of its systems; timely complete any professionally-recommended improvements to the systems identified in the evaluation; and pay a $10,000 administrative penalty.
MEDIA CONTACT: 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 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.
Construction Permits
DNR engineers review and issue construction permits to facilities before they build new or modify existing sources of air pollution. The public may review the following air quality construction permits available online at www.iowadnr.gov/airpermitsearch OR through the EASY Air Public Inquiry Portal and then click the Public Notice tab.
Pottawattamie County
Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy – 10868 189th St., Council Bluffs.
Project No. 21-024, Add two grain silos. The public comment period ends March 20.
|
