|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: Kelli Book at 515-210-3408 or Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov
DES MOINES –Most 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: Benton, Davis, Des Moines, Guthrie, Grundy, 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 using the matrix. Producers qualify by choosing a site and using practices that reduce impacts on air, water and the community.
When a county adopts the master matrix, the board of supervisors 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 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 only to producers who must get a construction permit to build, expand or modify a totally roofed facility. Generally, these are confinement (totally roofed) feeding operations with at least 2,500 finishing hogs, 1,000 beef cattle or 715 mature dairy cows.
MEDIA CONTACT: Tim Hall at 515-452-6633 or Tim.Hall@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES — The new year has started colder and drier than normal, as Iowa ended January with an average of 0.68 inches of moisture, and an average temperature of 14.7 degrees, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Rainfall was 0.29 inches less than normal and the temperature 4.8 degrees below normal. Drought conditions remained steady in January, but deteriorated in early February, with more than 70 percent of the state now in some form of dryness or drought.
"A drier than normal January is not really problematic, since January is normally the driest month of the year. However, the trend toward dryness is not encouraging,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources. “With the normally wettest months of April to June right around the corner, there is plenty of time for improvement of conditions."
Shallow groundwater conditions remain normal, benefiting from low water demand during the winter months.
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. 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.
Muscatine County
Newt’s Cafe LLC
Submit all required monthly operation reports; conduct nitrate testing of the finished drinking water and provide results to the DNR; conduct monthly coliform bacteria testing of the finished drinking water; provide public notice of the violations in this consent order; retain a certified drinking water operator to manage the public water apply system; reply promptly to all communications from DNR related to the operation or management of the public water supply system.
Administrative Orders
Responsible parties have 60 days to appeal the order or 60 days to pay the penalty.
Dubuque County
Lawler Family Dairy
Operate and maintain all animal feeding operation structures in compliance with law; submit a Plan of Action for approval to ensure there is adequate manure storage and proper manure land application; implement the Plan of Action upon approval; pay $1,138.38 in fish restitution and investigative costs; and pay a $10,000 administrative penalty.
Jackson County
Jeff Lynch
Pay a $3,000 administrative penalty.
MEDIA CONTACT: Marnie Stein, DNR, at 515-725-9525 or Marnie.Stein@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.
Cerro Gordo County
IPL–Emery Generating Station–11295 230th St., Clear Lake.
The application was submitted to operate their existing electric services facility. The public comment period ends March 12.
Union County
Central Iowa Power Coop/Summit Lake Facility—1632 REA Road, Creston.
The application was submitted to operate their existing electric services facility. The public comment period ends March 12.
Woodbury County
Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P.–Sioux City Terminal—4300 41st St., Sioux City.
The application was submitted to operate their existing refined petroleum pipelines facility. The public comment period ends March 12.
|
