note from Erin- please consider attending these meetings and/or submitting
comments.  Here is your chance to affect the future of Iowa's air quality.


PUBLIC COMMENT MEETINGS HELD FOR AMMONIA AND HYDROGEN SULFIDE STANDARDS

DES MOINES - The DNR is offering public comment opportunities on draft rules
that establish air quality standards for hydrogen sulfide and ammonia.

The draft rules establish outdoor air quality standards set to protect human
health for hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. The proposed hydrogen sulfide
standard is 15 parts per billion (ppb) for a one-hour average at a residence
or public use area. The proposed ammonia standard is 150 ppb for a one-hour
average also at a residence or public use area. Both rules allow regulated
agencies to exceed the standards up to seven times annually to accommodate
various waste handling procedures and associated emissions from animal
feeding operations. Enforcement shall not occur prior to December 1, 2004, as
stipulated by the Legislature.

The outdoor air standards would apply statewide and are not restricted to air
quality adjacent animal feeding operations.

The proposal is based on recommendations made by Iowa State University and
the University of Iowa in the Iowa Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Air
Quality Study presented last February.

Draft rules are located at <A HREF="http://www.iowacleanair.com/">www.iowacleanair.com</A>.

An informational meeting will be held 3:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. on September 11 at
the DNR's air quality offices located at 7900 Hickman Road in Urbandale. DNR
staff will be available to answer questions.

Four public hearings will be held. Locations include:

Spencer
September 17 at 7 p.m. in Room 108A of the Iowa Lakes Community College's
Gateway North Center, located at 1900 North Grand Avenue.

Atlantic
September 24 at 7 p.m. in the conference room of the Iowa Western Community
College, located at 906 Sunnyside Lane.

Mason City
September 30 at 7 p.m. at the North Iowa Area Community College's Muse-Norris
Center, located at 500 College Drive.

Urbandale
October 2 at 7 p.m. in the conference rooms of the Urbandale Public Library,
located at 3520 86th Street.

Either oral or written comments are accepted during the public hearings.
Written comments can be sent to Bryan Bunton, DNR Air Quality Bureau, 7900
Hickman Road, Suite 1, Urbandale, IA 50322 or <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A> or
faxed to 515-242-5094. All comments must be received no later than October 4,
2002.



Erin E. Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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