The Land Management Planning Act, HF 488 (formerly HF 258), passed out of the
House Local Government committee last week, so it is eligible for debate on
the House floor.

This is a bill for an act relating to state land management and planning and
local land management and planning for certain counties and cities and
providing effective dates.  To read the complete text, go to
www.legis.state.ia.us

Unfortunately, the bill does not include adequate protections for natural
areas and environmental interests on the decision-making boards (the local
strategic development committees and the state land management planning
board, which is currently the City Development Board).

So, please contact your legislators and ask that they offer and/or support
amendments that would conserve natural resource areas and environmentally
sensitive land, as well as provide for environmental voices on the
decision-making boards.  To find your legislator, go to <A HREF="www.legis.state.ia.us/">
www.legis.state.ia.us/</A> and click on "Find your legislator."

Because this bill only applies to 10 counties in Iowa (Pottawattamie,
Woodbury, Polk, Dallas, Warren, Blackhawk, Johnson, Linn, Scott, and
Dubuque), it obviously does not go far enough.  But it could be very
detrimental if it passes as currently written, without adequate safeguards
for natural resource areas and input from environmental interests.  Please
contact your legislator today.

Erin E. Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
[log in to unmask]
www.iowa.sierraclub.org

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