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Iowa Environmental Council
"Together for the Earth we share"
Fax Bulletin
December 10, 1998
Council Notes
Sign up to receive legislative updates
The Iowa Environmental Council is offering its members an excellent
opportunity to keep current on action in the upcoming Iowa Legislative
Session: Legislative Action will provide you with a free weekly update of
environmental legislation pending before the Iowa House and Senate. If you
are interested in this service, which we will send via email, contact the
Council with your e-mail address.
Council has a new home!
Beginning January 1, the Iowa Environmental Council will have new office
space. Please stop in and visit us immediately west of the State Capitol at
711 East Locust, Des Moines, Iowa 50309.
New report documents nation wide pollution from livestock waste
On Thursday, December 3, a number of Iowa and other midwest groups hosted a
press conference to release a new report, "America's Animal Factories: How
States Fail to Prevent Pollution from Livestock Waste." The report, by the
Natural Resources Defense Council and the Clean Water Network, documents
how increasing quantitites of untreated livestock manure are contaminating
rivers, streams, and lakes in more than 30 states, including Iowa.
Iowa groups releasing the report included the Iowa Environmental
Council, Friends of Rural America, the Iowa Citizen Action Network, Iowa
Farmers Union, Izaak Walton League, the National Catholic Rural Life
Conference, and the Sierra Club. The report, which was simultaneously
released in Washington, D.C., and 29 other states, generated considerable
publicity.
Job Opening
Director/naturalist for
Kiwanis Riverview Nature Island
A new, full-time position is available for this non-profit urban nature
center. Responsibilities will include site and program development and
implementation, fundraising, grant writing, outreach and educational
programming, and more. Candidates must have a B.S. or higher in a natural
science, education, interpretation, or related field, and five years
experience in program delivery and nature center operations. Salary range
is $24-27,000 plus benefits. Send a cover letter, resume, and list of
references by December 30, 1998, to: Dewayne Johnson, Kiwanis Riverview
Nature Island, 1012 Oak Park, Des Moines, IA 50313; phone: 515/237-8309;
Fax 515/245-7803 (attn: KRNI); email: [log in to unmask]
Submitted by Dewayne Johnson
Opportunities
Now is the time to seek appointments
to state boards and commissions
With the new state government leadership, there will be many opportunities
to bring strong environmental perspective to Iowa's state boards and
commissions. Please consider applying to serve on boards such as the
Environmental Protection Commission and the Natural Resources Commission in
the Department of Natural Resources, and the State Soil Conservation
Commission in the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
Call the Governor's Office at 515/281-5211 to get an application. Add
a resume and a cover letter when you send in the application. Letters of
recommendation are also helpful to build your case for appointment. In
addition, you may want to call state agencies to get more information about
specific board and committee responsibilities.
Coalition formed to work for
Loess Hills protection
Several Iowa groups and individuals have formed a coalition aimed to
protect Iowa's treasured Loess Hills. Representatives of the groups met
with Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt on November 13, in Washington,
D.C. Secretary Babbitt offered full support to state and local initiatives
to protect the area. Involved in the effort are: Iowa Environmental Council
president Charlotte Hubbell, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, the Iowa
Nature Conservancy, Harrison County Conservation Board, Monona County
Conservation Board, Western Iowa Tourism, Golden Hills RC&C, Senator
Harkin's office,, and private land owner Jim Baylor.
Submitted by Glenn Pollock, Iowa Prarie Network
Activist to speak about
Great Bear Rainforest
December 15, Des Moines
Forest activist and photographer Dave Damstrom will be presenting a program
on the Great Bear Rainforest, on the coast of British Columbia, at 7:15
p.m. in the lower level of Westminster Presbysterian Church. The church is
located at the corner of Beaver and Franklin avenues. Damstrom has worked
in the Great Bear Rainforest since 1995 exploring and photodocumenting the
rainforest by sea kayak. His program, "Rising Up," uses images, stories,
and music to convey the ecological significance of this great conifer
jungle. For more information about this Des Moines Audubon event, contact
Jane Clark, 515/223-5047.
Submitted by Jane Clark
Conference to be held on animal agriculture in Wisconsin
December 16, Wausau, Wisconsin
Stakeholders from all sides of the debate will convene at this conference
organized by the Wisconsin Environment Initiative for an objective look at
issues related to animal agriculture, particularly livestock expansion. In
1999, workgroups will work with conference findings to produce
consensus-based recommendations for profitable livestock farming that
protects the environment. Registration fee is $25. Contact Karl Bryan at
608/280-0360 or <[log in to unmask]> or visit the Wisconsin Environment
Initiative's web site at <www.wi-ei.org>
Submitted by Bryce Harthoorn, individual member and Staff Engineer, Deer
and Company
Practical Farmers winter workshops
January 8-9, Ames
Featured at Practical Farmers of Iowa annual Winter Workshops will be chef
Odessa Piper of L'Etoile, a restuarant in Madison, Wisconsin, that features
locally produced foods; Loren Kruse, editor of Successful Farming Magazine;
and Dr. Margaret Mellon of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Sixteen
workshops will be held, including ones on genetically manipulated
organisms, soil quality, facing urban sprawl, and adding value to farm
products. Friday night will be a family fun night. Preregistration is $5
per person, $10 per family for members ($20 for nonmembers). For more
information, contact Nan Bonfils, 515/294-8512 or <[log in to unmask]>.
Submitted by Rick Exner, Practical Farmers of Iowa
Pork production alternatives explored
February 17, Ames
Farmers, researchers, and educators from Iowa State University will share
their experiences with alternative pork production facilities at the Swine
System Options Conference, coordinated by the Leopold Center for
Sustainable Agriculture. Results of several projects will be announced,
including a side-by-side study of pigs in hoop buildings and confinement
facilities and a study of pig behavior and stress levels under conventional
and alternative systems. For program information, contact the Leopold
Center at 515/294-5961 or <[log in to unmask]>. Registration is $15,
which includes lunch.
Submitted by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.
Conference on sustaining the
Missouri River
March 21-24, Pierre, South Dakota
This third annual conference on the natural resources of the Missouri River
Basin will provide a forum for researchers, resource managers, and citizens
to discuss the future of this unique river system. Field trips,
presentations, panels, and social events all will be included.
Registration is $90. For more information, contact: Missouri River
Conference, c/o Jeanne Heuser, USGS-BRD, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO
65201; phone: 573/876-1876; fax: 573/876-1896; email:
[log in to unmask] Or visit the Missouri River Infolink homepage at:
<http://infolink.cr.usgs.gov>
Submitted by the U.S. Geological Survey
Legislation/policy requests
Hearings scheduled on animal feeding operation rules
Four hearings have been scheduled around the state for the public to
comment on proposed rules pertaining to animal feeding operations. The
hearings, at which time comments may be submitted orally or in writing,
will be held:
Jan. 19: First National Bank, Hampton, 7 p.m.
Jan. 20: Henry A. Wallace building, Des Moines, 1 p.m.
Jan. 21: Iowa Hall, Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, 7 p.m.
Jan. 22: Cherokee Community Center, Cherokee, 7 p.m.
The proposed rules will be made available on DNR's website after Dec.
30: <www.state.ia.us/government/dnr/index.html> Written comments may also
be submitted by January 22, 1999, to Wayne Farrand, Iowa Department of
Natural Resources, Wallace Building, 502 East Ninth Street, Des Moines, IA
50319-0034; fax: 515/281-8895; email: <[log in to unmask]>
Submitted by Kevin Baskins, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Izaak Walton League releases agenda for legislative lobbying
The Iowa division of the Izaak Walton League hopes other groups will join
them in working for the following priorities during the upcoming
legislative session:
1. Land use bills to prevent sprawl and encourage protection of farmland
and valuable natural areas such as the Loess Hills.
2. At least $2 million for clean water work, including increased monitoring
and study of pesticides and the effects of animal feeding operations.
3. A strengthened Bottle Bill.
4. Prevention of weakening of the Endangered Species Act.
5. An energy bill that will ensure that deregulation, if passed, will not
intefere with the League's goals of replacing coal burning sources with
renewable sources.
Submitted to Roy Overton, M.D., Izaak Walton League
Resources
Legislative information on the Internet
Visit <www.legis.state.ia.us> for extensive information about the Iowa
Legislature. Included on this site are: Senate and House Bills, resolution,
amendments, and study bills; bill histories; calendars; and chamber action.
The site also includes or links to the Iowa Code and other legal
references. During the session, the site is updated daily.
Next Fax Bulletin
To submit information for the next issue of the Fax Bulletin, Call Jeni at
(515) 237-5321 or send by e-mail to [log in to unmask]
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Iowa Environmental Council
7031 Douglas Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50322
515/237-5321 phone
515/237-5376 fax
[log in to unmask]
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