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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: Tim Hall at 515-452-6633 or Tim.Hall@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES — Last month was the sixth driest February on record for Iowa, and the lack of precipitation resulted in the expansion of drought conditions across the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update.
Precipitation for the month averaged only 0.27 inches, almost an inch below normal. Drought conditions expanded during the month, with more than 90 percent of Iowa in some form of dryness or drought at the end of February. Areas of concern for shallow groundwater supplies exist in parts of northwest Iowa.
"Precipitation totals in February were disappointing, so instead of steady or improving conditions, we saw expansion of drought conditions in the state,” said Tim Hall, DNR’s coordinator of hydrology resources. “However, the first week of March saw over twice the amount of rain as the entire month of February, so that is encouraging. Hopefully the normal rains of March and April and May will improve conditions as we head into the growing season."
Streamflow levels are also below normal in many locations across the southern half of the state.
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: Alicia Plathe at 515-313-8909 or Alicia.Plathe@dnr.iowa.gov.
ANKENY—The Environmental Protection Commission will meet at the State Hygienic Laboratory in Ankeny on March 15.
Commissioners will be asked to approve adding the planning area covered by Harrison County Landfill Commission to the 15 existing participants in the Solid Waste Environmental Manage System program. If approved, the area staff would receive support and training to meet six environmental goals.
In other business, an air quality rule, three contracts and the quarterly intended use plan for the State Revolving Fund are up for commission approval.
The business meeting starts at 10 a.m. in University of Iowa’s SHL conference rooms 207 and 208 at 2220 S. Ankeny Blvd. The public can also attend via video conference or by phone. To join by video, connect with https://meet.google.com/rzo-uidn-tvg. To join by phone, call 631-618-4607, and enter the PIN code of 484 733 354 followed by the pound (#) sign. The meeting is open to the public. Written comments may be submitted up to one day before the meeting to Alicia Plathe at Alicia.Plathe@dnr.iowa.gov or to Alicia Plathe at DNR, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319.
Commissioners will tour the laboratory immediately following the business meeting. Members of the public should RSVP to Alicia.Plathe@dnr.iowa.gov if they would like to tour the lab.
The complete agenda follows:
- Approval of Agenda
- Approval of the Minutes
- Monthly Reports
- Director’s Remarks
- Solid Waste Environmental Management System Program—Designation of Applicant
- Air Quality—Fiscal Year 2023 Draft Budget Review
- Final Rules—Chapters 20, 21, and 22-Air Quality Rules, Electronic Submittal Provisions
- Contract with Stearns, Conrad and Schmidt Consulting Engineers Inc. —Waste Characterization Study
- Contract with the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa—Water Quality Improvement Monitoring
- Contract with Polk County, Iowa—Outreach Coordinator
- Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund—FY 2022 Intended Use Plan Fourth Quarter Update
- General Discussion
- Items for Next Month’s Meeting
- April 19—EPC Business Meeting
- May 17—EPC Business Meeting
Find the complete agenda and more information under Environmental Protection Commission.
Commissioners include: Ralph Lents, Menlo, chair; Harold Hommes, Windsor Heights, vice chair; Stephanie Dykshorn, Ireton, secretary; Brad Bleam, Rockwell City; Rebecca Dostal, Traer; Amy Echard, Farmersburg; Patricia Foley, Huxley; Lisa Gochenour, Logan; and Mark Stutsman, Hills. Kayla Lyon is the DNR director.
Any person participating in 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: Ted Petersen 515-250-3869 or Ted.Petersen@dnr.iowa.gov.
GRIMES—After DNR field staff investigated, they found red detergent spilled in Grimes on Monday had not reached North Walnut Creek—contrary to the initial report.
The detergent spilled as the pump on an HK Solutions Group truck failed. The truck was loading detergent on the National Carwash Solutions parking lot. Detergent flowed into a storm drain before ending up in a grassy area where it was contained.
Cleanup crews flushed the storm drain to collect remaining detergent.
DNR will monitor cleanup and consider appropriate enforcement action.
MEDIA CONTACT: Katie Greenstein at 515-490-2095 or Katie.Greenstein@dnr.iowa.gov
DES MOINES - The Iowa DNR’s Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Section is currently hiring seasonal natural resource aides for the summer.
Aides will be based out of Des Moines but will have the opportunity to travel around the state to work in several of the DNR’s beach, stream, lake, shallow lake, wetland and fish kill follow-up monitoring programs.
Find more details on job duties and how to apply on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/Employment. Application deadline is March 18, 2022.
For more information about these water quality positions, contact Katie Greenstein at 515-490-2095 or Katie.Greenstein@dnr.iowa.gov.
The DNR is also hiring for additional seasonal and full-time positions in areas across the agency, which are all listed at www.iowadnr.gov/Employment.
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.
Clinton County
ADM Corn Processing / COGEN Plant—1800 S. Fifth St., Clinton. The application was submitted to operate their existing electric services facility. The public comment period ends April 9.
Story County
City of Ames Combustion Turbine Station—2200 Pullman St., Ames.
The application was submitted to operate their existing electric generating facility. The public comment period ends April 9.
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