From Jane Clark at [log in to unmask]

The debate on the bill, SF 503, was delayed until tomorrow (Monday).

According to Perry Beeman in the DM Register today, "The Iowa Senate is
expected to debate a bill Monday that would ban the state from controlling
polluted runoff from feedlots unless the state or federal government pays
for most of the work."

"The debate comes a week after the Iowa Cattlemen's Association, the EPA and
the DNR agreed to a deal in which farmers could avoid prosecution for minor
offenses by voluntarily signing up for a permit by the end of the year."

Mark Lambert of the Iowa Environmental Council said "feedlot operators have
had nearly 30 years to get the required permits and to contol runoff."

IOWA SENATE WILL DEBATE IMPORTANT OPEN FEEDLOTS LEGISLATION TOMORROW.

PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATOR TOMORROW
Call your Senator at the Senate Switchboard:  515-281-3371

If you are unable to call, email your senator as soon as possible.
Your legislators email address is
<[log in to unmask]>. For example,
<[log in to unmask]>. For other contact information, visit
<http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Members/79GA-members.html>.


Here is a sample letter with details of the issue.

Dear Senator__________:

I am contacting you to urge you to vote no on SF 503.

SF 503 on Open Feedlots requires DNR to establish a voluntary open
feedlot registration program and would prohibit the DNR from
requiring manure-control practices in open feedlots not required to
get permits. For feedlots required to have permits (1000 head of
cattle and above), the bill would not allow DNR to require manure
control practices or construction of manure control structures unless
the government paid 50-75% of the cost.

This bill would prevent the DNR from enforcing the Federal Clean Water Act
Feedlot Permit program unless we, the public, pick up at least half of the
cost.

This bill is particularly onerous because DNR and the Cattlemen's
Association have already agreed to a voluntary registration and
amnesty progam to phase-in enforcement of federal Clean Water Act
permit requirements for open feedlots.  Under the agreement, DNR will
relax enforcement of environmental requirements for registered sites
as long as the feedlot owner is making reasonable progress toward
compliance.

If this bill becomes law, not only will open feedlots get amnesty
from fines for environmental violations, but they also would not have
to do anything to correct the problem unless the public pays at least
half of the cost!

This bill is being pushed by the Iowa Cattlemen's Association and it is
likely to result in a greater - not lesser - involvement of EPA in the
enforcement of feedlot laws in Iowa.

-- I urge you to vote NO on Senate File 503.
-- S.F. 503 would cripple the ability of Iowa's DNR to protect our waterways
from contamination by manure from open feedlots.
-- S.F. 503 would virtually guarantee that the federal EPA, and not the Iowa
DNR, would enforce Clean Water Act regulations for feedlots in our state.

Sincerely,
>
>

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