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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: Tammie.Krausman@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-402-8763.
DES MOINES—Figuring out what you can do to help the planet can seem overwhelming.
But there are many ways you can help—at home, in your neighborhood or at your favorite lake, state park or wild area. Wherever you celebrate, our Earth Day page has many ideas.
Some are simple, like educating yourself and your kids by holding a scavenger hunt in the backyard or exploring the woods with all five senses. Others require a little more effort—such as picking up discarded fishing line or trash as you hike a state park. Some can save you money like “9 Ways to Save $$$ and Improve the Air.”
So explore the woods and watch spring come to life. Try out some family activities like “A Poet’s Hunt,” or use your detective skills to find an animal’s tracks and figure out where it was going and why. Follow Conservation Officer Erika Billerbeck and kids as they take you on a “Wild Things” trip to an Iowa woodland.
Plant a tree, following DNR foresters’ tree planting tips to help it survive and thrive. Check out our blogs to attract pollinators with native flowers or build a rain barrel. See tips for greening up your yard or take the next step and consider planting native turf grasses for the ultimate summer green—low maintenance needs, disease resistant, heat tolerant, soil building and pollinator friendly.
Love state parks? From staying on trails to being vigilant on beaches, learn six ways to show you care. Request a reusable litter bag for use on your outdoor adventures.
Learn where recyclables end up and what happens to wastewater after it goes down the drain. Take advantage of opportunities volunteering.
Busy with spring cleaning? If you’re puzzled about disposing of household solvents, pesticides or latex paint, tap into “Bring it in—We all Win,” your guide to household hazardous waste and Regional Collection Centers.
Or show your commitment to Iowa’s natural resources all year long by buying a habitat stamp or purchasing a Natural Resource license plate. Funds from the stamps and license plates take care of Iowa’s wild places and the wildlife that call it home.
Want to stay in the loop year-round? Subscribe to DNR’s quarterly magazine Iowa Outdoors—your exploration guide to the latest outdoor news, wildlife photography and hidden treasure spots across Iowa’s vast nature landscape.
Take time every day to care for our air, land and water. Our actions help keep Iowa’s natural resources healthy and productive for years to come.
MEDIA CONTACT: Alicia Plathe at 515-313-8909 or Alicia.Plathe@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES—Pollution prevention and contracts will be up for the April 19 Environmental Protection Commission meeting.
A presentation on Pollution Prevention, or the P2 program, highlights how cutting wastes where they originate saves money, reduces risks and meets environmental regulations. This confidential, non-regulatory program provides interns to evaluate clients’ needs. Then interns provide the training and resources to meet those needs. Since 2001, clients have saved nearly $112 million—reducing nearly six billion gallons of wastewater, tons of solid, hazardous and mercury waste, and significant amounts of energy use.
The virtual business meeting starts at 10 a.m. The public can 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.
In other action, changes in wastewater rules will be up for approval. Proposed changes will incorporate edits to clarify rules and allow five general permits to have the same renewal date.
Contracts for beach monitoring, and training for elected officials and those who manage public water supplies are also up for commissioners’ approval.
The complete agenda follows:
Approval of Agenda
Approval of the Minutes
Monthly Reports
Director’s Remarks
Notice of Intended Action—Chapter 64—Renewal of General Permits Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 with Cleanup and Clarification
Contract with University of Iowa State Hygienic Lab—Beach Monitoring
Contract extension with Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities
Pollution Prevention Services and Intern Program Presentation
General Discussion
- Upcoming EPC Officer election
Items for Next Month’s Meeting
- May 17—Wallace Building
- June 21—Wallace Building
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: Noah Poppelreiter, DNR, at noah.poppelreiter@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-669-8752
DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will host an online virtual public meeting via Zoom April 25 to gather public comment on the Supreme Beef, LLC application to renew its water use and allocation permit.
Under the water use and allocation permit 10172 (log number 31772), Supreme Beef, LLC proposes to use the requested water at its animal feeding operation facility located in Giard Township in Clayton County.
To request an electronic copy of the permit application and/or the DNR’s Notice of Intent to Renew, please contact wateruse@dnr.iowa.gov.
To register for the virtual meeting and obtain the virtual meeting instructions, please email or call the moderator for this virtual meeting at noah.poppelreiter@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-669-8752 with your name, email, and phone number by noon April 25. Please also include if you plan to make an official comment during the meeting.
During the virtual meeting, to be held from 5 to 7 p.m., the moderator will provide a tutorial of how to use the virtual meeting features and the DNR will provide an introduction on the water use and allocation permitting process before collecting public comments. Comments from the public will be limited to 5 minutes per person. Comments should be limited solely to this specific water use and allocation permit renewal application.
Those unable to attend the virtual meeting may submit written comments to wateruse@dnr.iowa.gov by 4:30 p.m. on April 25.
After registering for the meeting, please visit http://zoom.us/test to test the video and audio features of your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone before the live 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.
Wapello County
Ecosystems, Inc.
Comply with all laws applicable to discharging pollutants into a water of the state; comply with all laws applicable to the land application of sewage sludge; implement the Department-approved Corrective Action Plan; and pay a $5,500 administrative penalty.
Winneshiek County
Milan Hageman
Hire a licensed engineer to inspect the below building pits at the facility to determine structural integrity; cease storing soil condition in the below building pits unless secondary containment is constructed; pay $10,778.87 in fish restitution and investigative costs; and pay a $7,500 administrative penalty.
Administrative Orders
Responsible parties have 60 days to appeal the order or 60 days to pay the penalty.
Amendments
Dubuque County
William Lawler and Jeff Lawler
Amending unilateral order 2022-AFO-03; operate and maintain all animal feeding operation structures in compliance with applicable laws; pay $1,138.28 in fish restitution and investigative costs; and pay a $7,000 administrative penalty.
MEDIA CONTACT: Marnie Stein, DNR, at 515-725-9525 or Marnie.Stein@dnr.iowa.gov for Title V permits; or 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.
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.
Bremer County
Waverly Municipal Electric Utility dba Waverly Utilities—1002 Adams Parkway, Waverly.
The application was submitted to operate their existing Electric Services facility. The public comment period ends May 14.
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.
Woodbury County
Ag Processing—2753 Port Neal Circle, Sergeant Bluff.
Project No. 21-405 to increase capacity; replace extraction equipment. A virtual public hearing is scheduled for May 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. To register for the public hearing use the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIldOysrDsiHNzSdqoSXX8lnGfKVfd1fMoV. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting virtually or by phone. The public comment period ends May 16.
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