Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Environmental Services Division
For Immediate Release July 20,
2007
1. Ethanol, livestock and water issues on EPC agenda
2. Storms lead to wastewater bypasses in southeast Iowa
ETHANOL, LIVESTOCK AND WATER ISSUES ON EPC AGENDA
MEDIA CONTACT: Karen Grimes at (515) 281-5135.
DES MOINES - Commissioners will hear from an expert on the ethanol
industry; and consider livestock, water quality and drinking water
issues at the Aug. 7 meeting of the Environmental Protection Commission.
Sparked by discussion of air pollutants emitted from ethanol plants at
the July meeting, commissioners invited Dr. Rick Cruse, Director of the
Iowa Water Center to discuss policy implications of increased ethanol
production.
“We need policy to help develop a functional biofuels industry,
instead of a dysfunctional system that is destined for failure,” said
Cruse. He further defined a functional system as one that has a greater
opportunity for success and addresses the bioenergy system rather than
focusing on its individual components.
In other business, commissioners will be asked to approve a contract
for a water quality advocate in the Department of Economic Development.
“This new person will assist small and unsewered communities with
their wastewater issues,” said Christine Spackman, the DNR’s
business assistance coordinator.
The DNR will present the latest compliance report on Iowa’s public
drinking water program, highlighting the safe drinking water served to
more than 2.63 million Iowans by public water supplies in 2006. The
number of safe public drinking water sources has remained fairly
constant in recent years, despite new federal regulations that have
created more requirements for water system operators and state oversight
staff.
In other action, commissioners will be asked to approve a final rule
allowing eligible animal feeding operations to receive low interest
loans. The loans could be used for manure management structures,
equipment, plans and deep-bedded confinement buildings (under certain
conditions). Commissioners will also be asked to approve for notice of
intended action a proposal that will establish new air quality rules for
grain elevators.
The EPC will also hear a summary of previous information and the
current status of a proposed rule addressing the land application of
manure on cropland to be planted to soybeans.
The meeting begins at 10 a.m., with public comments scheduled for 10:30
a.m. The meeting will be held at the DNR Air Quality Building, 7900
Hickman Road, in Urbandale. Appointments are scheduled at 1:30 p.m. with
Rick Cruse, and at 2:30 p.m. Swine Graphics has demanded a hearing
concerning a confinement in Adams County.
The full agenda is as follows:
● Approval of Agenda
● Approval of Minutes
● Director's Remarks
● Contract - Regional Collection Center Establishment Grant
● Contract- Iowa Department of Economic Development- Water Quality
Advocate
● Contract- Performance Based Training
● Contract- Amendment to National Wetland Inventory for Iowa
● Final Rule- Chapter 93: Nonpoint Source Pollution Control
Set-Aside Programs
● Notice of Intended Action- Amendment to Chapters 20,22, 23: Air
Quality Program Rules- Permitting Rules for Grain Elevators
● Proposed Rule - Amendment to Chapter 23, Haul Road Best
Management Practices (BMP)
● Demand for Hearing: Swine Graphics Enterprises, L.P., regarding
the Department's preliminary denial of a construction permit for a
proposed swine confinement operation (NWG Finisher) in Adams County.
● State of Iowa Public Drinking Water Program 2006 Annual
Compliance Report
● Update: Manure on Soybeans
● Monthly Reports
● General Discussion
More information about the agenda items can be found on the DNR Web
site under Commissions and Boards at www.iowadnr.gov.
The members of the commission are Darrell Hanson, chair, Manchester;
Mary Gail Scott, vice chair, Cedar Rapids; Suzanne Morrow, secretary,
Storm Lake; Charlotte Hubbell, Des Moines; Henry Marquard, Muscatine;
David Petty, Eldora; Ralph Klemme, LeMars; Susan Heathcote, Des Moines;
and Paul Johnson, Decorah. The director of the DNR is Richard Leopold.
Writer: Karen Grimes
# # #
NOTE TO EDITORS: This is an addition to the bypasses reported Thursday
in EcoNewsWire, which included Cedar Rapids in Linn County and Hampton
in Franklin County. It also includes a correction to the bypass from
the force main in Washington which occurred on Wednesday, not Tuesday.
STORMS LEAD TO WASTEWATER BYPASSES IN SOUTHEAST IOWA
MEDIA CONTACT: Paul Brandt at (319) 653-2135.
DES MOINES - Heavy rain showers throughout the state this week have
resulted in numerous reports of wastewater bypasses reaching streams,
rivers and lakes. The following were reported to the DNR Thursday
morning:
Des Moines County
Burlington: Close to two inches of rainfall overnight lead to four of
Burlington’s sanitary sewers overflowing. From 4 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.
Thursday, approximately 1.23 million gallons of untreated wastewater
discharged to the Hawkeye storm sewer line, which flows to the
Mississippi River.
On Tuesday, an additional 285,100 gallons of diluted wastewater surged
from three of the four sanitary sewers, eventually entering the
Mississippi River.
The City of Burlington is currently working on a project to install
holding tanks on the Hawkeye sewer line.
Jefferson County
Fairfield: The City of Fairfield began discharging untreated wastewater
to Cedar and Crow Creeks at 1 a.m. Thursday from several manholes
throughout the city. The discharge stopped by 8:45 a.m., with
approximately 167,400 gallons entering both creeks.
The city is working on identifying and eliminating sources of inflow
and infiltration in order to reduce these types of wet weather bypasses
from occurring.
Washington County
Ainsworth: The main lift station for the City of Ainsworth began
discharging untreated wastewater at 3 a.m. Thursday as a result of heavy
rain totals. The discharge stopped at 3:30 a.m., with approximately 100
gallons reaching Long Creek
Washington: The City of Washington discovered a force main leak at one
of its lift stations Wednesday afternoon. Sewage from the Sunset Park
Lift Station began bubbling from the ground, where it traveled to a
storm sewer intake location. The storm sewer discharges to a tributary
of Crooked Creek. Washington wastewater treatment plant officials
repaired the leak by 5 p.m. Wednesday.
“The City of Washington received more than two inches of rain
Wednesday night into Thursday morning, so any impact to the storm sewer
or creek was likely washed away,” said Paul Brandt, an environmental
specialist at the DNR field office in Washington.
Heavy rains in the area are also causing bypassing at the treatment
plant early Thursday morning. The treatment plant is bypassing from its
storm pond and headworks after heavy rains Wednesday night. The
discharge reaches Crooked Creek as well, where amounts discharged remain
unknown.
Writer: Holly Williams
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