Environmental Services Division, DNR

For Immediate Release
June 21, 2003

PLANS TO SITE LIVESTOCK CONFINEMENTS UNDERWAY

DES MOINES - The committee to help determine if future large livestock
confinements can be built at a specified location will begin to identify
issues to implement this part of the new livestock law recently passed by
the legislature.  Its first meeting will be June 26 and 27 at the DNR
office, 7900 Hickman Road, Urbandale.

"The committee's overall goal is to develop an assessment approach to
approve or disapprove construction permit applications for confinement
feeding operations, for both new and expanding sites," said Reza Khosravi,
acting supervisor of the DNR's animal feeding section.

On June 26 the committee will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., opening with
comments from the participants and Jeff Vonk, DNR director.  The first day
will be devoted to orientation and developing ground rules under the
guidance of the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service.

On June 27, the committee members will meet from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to
identify issues that should be considered when siting or designing a
confinement feeding operation structure, or when implementing a manure
management plan.

According to the new livestock law, the technical group is charged with
creating a practical tool that can be readily scored by the DNR and county
boards of supervisors to evaluate environmental and community impacts of new
or expanding confinement operations, said Khosravi.

The Master Matrix Technical Advisory Committee is composed of ten members as
required by law.  The following representatives have been designated:
· Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship, Brent Halling, Deputy
Secretary
· Iowa DNR, Robin Pruisner, Coordinator
· Iowa Environmental Council, Susan Heathcote, Research Director
· Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Calvin Rozenboom, District 8 Director
· Iowa Farmer's Union, John Whitaker, Past President
· Iowa Poultry Association, Joe Laffoon, President
· Iowa Pork Producers Association, Joel Van Gilst, Past President
· Iowa State Association of Counties, Harlan Hansen, Humboldt County Board
Supervisor
· Iowa State University, John Lawrence, Director of the Beef Center
· University of Iowa, Mary Gilchrist, Director of the University Hygienic
Lab.

The following representatives from the Federal Mediation & Conciliation
Service will preside at the two-day meeting: Commissioner Rosemary Hayes,
Commissioner Danny Mabe and Regional Director Scot Beckenbaugh.

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. The complete agenda is as follows.

For June 26:
· 9 a.m., Welcome and Introductions (FMCS), Opening Remarks  (Director
Vonk). Opening Statements (Committee members)
· 11 a.m., FMCS Orientation to Regulatory Negotiations
· 1:30 p.m., Orientation Continued
· 3:15 p.m., Ground Rules and Meeting Scheduling

For June 27
· 8:30 a.m., Issue Identification
· 1:30 p.m., Issue Identification continued
· 4:30 p. m., Closing Remarks

For more information, contact Christine Spackman, recorder and environmental
program supervisor, at (515) 281-7276 or at
[log in to unmask] or Karen Grimes at (515) 281-5135

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