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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2022
Air Quality Awareness Week May 2 – 6, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: Brian Hutchins at 515-681-3136 or Brian.Hutchins@dnr.iowa.gov.
DES MOINES—Healthy air is important for everyone. Breathing smoke, however, can be a risky prospect.
Remember haze blanketing the sky from the Canadian forest fires? If it seems smoky outside, you can check for large or small fires burning close to you. Look at the Fire and Smoke map on AirNow.
Set your location on the map, then click on the nearest air quality monitor (round circle) to find results for small particulate matter (also known as smoke) levels. If monitors are green, air quality is good. Look for fire symbols or check the fire icons on the left to see if there’s a fire or smoke plume detected within 150 miles of your location.
Small particles can cause serious health problems, including asthma and heart attacks, strokes and early death. You can protect yourself by using the Air Quality Index to plan outdoor activities. If monitors on the AQI are yellow, air quality is acceptable, but there may be a risk for people sensitive to air pollution. Risks may be higher for people with heart or lung disease, and for children, athletes and older adults.
Although it seldom happens in Iowa, if the monitors show orange or red, it’s more likely for sensitive groups to be affected (orange) or for some of the general public to have health effects (red). On those days, you can limit your exposure to particle pollution by:
- Spending less time outdoors.
- Choosing light exercise over strenuous activities.
- Limiting time near pollution sources like busy roads.
May 2 – 6 is national Clean Air Week. Find out more about particle pollution and fire risks from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Learn what you can do to improve air quality in Iowa, including 6 Ways to Keep Air Healthy.
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.
Crawford County
Jason Wiebers
Obtain certifications prior to handling, transporting, or applying manure and pay a $3,000 administrative penalty.
Jefferson County
S.E. Iowa Metals Recycling, Inc. and Phil Feinberg
Remove and properly dispose of waste tires; cease improper handling and storage of appliances and cathode ray tubes; cease and prevent the illegal open burning of combustible material; comply with all requirements of the facility's National Pollutant Disposal Elimination System permit and stormwater pollution prevention plan; remove and properly dispose of all vehicle fluids prior to storing for scrap; and pay a $10,000 administrative penalty.
Mahaska County
Van Waardhuizen, Inc.
Pay a $2,000 administrative penalty.
Muscatine County
Pork 360 East, Inc.
Ensure that all employees are properly certified before handling, transporting, or applying manure and pay a $3,000 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.
Des Moines County
CNH Industrial America, LLC—1930 Des Moines Ave., Burlington. Project No. 21-439.
The facility proposes to replace the spray (surface coating) guns in the Family Line Basecoat Booth. The public comment period ends May 30.
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