July 23, 2002

SCORING APPROVED FOR NEW AND EXPANDING CONFINEMENT FEEDING OPERATIONS

DES MOINES - Starting Tuesday, July 23, proposed livestock sites and
facilities will be evaluated by the DNR using standards set by the
legislature that award points for exceeding environmental and social
requirements.

The Environmental Protection Commission approved the standards on an
emergency basis at its regular meeting on Monday.

In other action, commissioners approved going forward with rulemaking that
would establish ambient air quality standards for hydrogen sulfide and
ammonia.

"Producers who applied for a construction permit since April 1 could be
affected by the interim siting standards," said Robin Pruisner, DNR animal
feeding operations rules coordinator.

Most new and expanding confinement feeding operations that need a
construction permit must score 100 points or more on this list to have their
construction permit approved, she added.

Points will be awarded for exceeding required separation distances from
buildings, waters and public use areas when siting a confinement feeding
operation or applying manure.

"The list, called an interim matrix, will be in effect until a more
permanent system is developed by a technical advisory committee and goes
into effect in March of 2003," said Pruisner.

The DNR staff will apply the interim matrix to construction permit
applications that were:
· received between April 1-29 but did not submit proof of financial
obligation,
· received after April 29, and are still under review,
· existing operations expanding above 1,666 animal units, and
· construction permit applications received until the permanent matrix
becomes effective on March 1, 2003.

The interim matrix will be located on the DNR website at
http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/epd/wastewtr/feedlot/feedlt.htm.

For more information, contact Robin Pruisner at (515) 281-8690 or Karen
Grimes at (515) 281-5135.
==========================================
LIVESTOCK CONFINEMENT SITING GROUP TO DISCUSS ISSUES

DES MOINES - The committee charged with developing a way to evaluate if
large livestock confinements can be built at a specified location will begin
to rank risks and mitigating factors that impact the environment and the
community.  The group's third meeting will be July 24 and 25 at the DNR
office, 7900 Hickman Road, Urbandale.

"The committee is still collecting information that will aid in their
decision-making and will hear several presentations before they discuss
issues," said Robin Pruisner, the DNR's representative to the committee.

The meeting on July 24 will begin with public participation at 9 a.m.,
followed by reports from the DNR, the Iowa Environmental Council, Iowa State
University, Iowa Farmers Union and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service .

The complete agenda is as follows:
July 24
9:00 a.m. Welcome & Public Participation
(Limited to 5 minutes per presenter, 30 minutes total)
1- Steve Veysey, Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association
2- Tom Parrott, Citizens for Responsible Livestock Production
3- Linda Kinman, Des Moines Water Works

9:30 a.m. Models - Dwaine Bundy and Bryan Bunton (DNR)
9:45 a.m. OSHA - Susan Heathcote (Iowa Environmental Council)
10:00 a.m. Environmental Management Systems (EMS) & Feeding Systems (ISU)
10:10 a.m. Property Tax Exemptions (Iowa Farmers Union)
10:35 a.m. TAG System - Keith Norton (FMCS)
1:45 p.m. Action on Minutes of Prior Meeting
1:50 p.m. Prioritization/Ranking of Risk and Mitigating Factors
3:15 p.m. Risk and Mitigating Factors continued
5:00 p.m. Closing Remarks

July 25
8:00 a.m. Risk and Mitigating factors continued
1:00 p.m. Matrix Design
3:45 p.m. Discussion on Next Meeting's Agenda
4:00 p. m. Closing Remarks
The matrix must be drafted by Sept. 1, 2002, to meet a March 1, 2003,
deadline for implementation.  After March 1, 2003, county boards of
supervisors may use the master matrix to evaluate construction permit
applications if they have first submitted a construction evaluation
resolution to the DNR.

Both meetings are open to the public and a complete agenda is available on
the DNR website at
http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/epd/wastewtr/feedlot/feedlt.htm.

 For more information, contact Christine Spackman, recorder and
environmental program supervisor, at (515) 281-7276 or at
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