Environmental Services Division
For Immediate Release
Jan. 27, 2003
PUBLIC MEETINGS SET TO DISCUSS CHANGES IN WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND RULES
RELATING TO CONSTUCTION OF LIVESTOCK FACILITIES IN FLOODPLAINS
A series of public meetings will be held throughout the state during the
first two weeks of February regarding a change in Iowa's water quality
standards relating to bacteria and proposed rules regarding construction of
livestock facilities within floodplains.
The proposed change for the water quality standards would base the bacteria
standards on E.coli as the indicator bacteria used rather than fecal
coliform bacteria and change the time period when the standards apply for
waters designated for human contact. The Class A designation for waters used
for human contact would be expanded to three sub-designations including
Class A1 - Primary Contact Recreational Use, Class A2 - Secondary Contact
Recreational Use and Class A3 - Children's Recreational Use.
The switch to using E.coli as the indicator bacteria for the water quality
standards is being proposed because it is considered a more accurate method
of predicting pathogenic risk to humans than fecal coliform bacteria.
Secondary recreational contact includes activities such as fishing, boating
and any limited contact incidental to shoreline activities. The children's
recreation includes any uses by children such as wading and splashing in
small streams.
Proposed rules relating to animal feeding operations would implement those
sections of Senate File 2293, the livestock legislation passed last spring
prohibiting confinement operations from being constructed in the 100-year
floodplains of major water sources.
Additional information on Iowa's Water Quality Standards can be found on the
Department's web site at:
http://www.state.ia.us/dnr/organiza/epd/wtresrce/wquality/index.htm.
Any person may submit written suggestions or comments on the proposed water
quality standards rule changes through Feb. 25, 2003. Such written material
should be submitted to Ralph Turkle, Iowa Department of Natural Resources,
Wallace State Office Building, 900 East Grand, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034,
FAX (515)281-8895 or by email to [log in to unmask] Persons who
have questions may contact Ralph Turkle at (515) 281-7025.
The formal Notice of Intended Action for flood plain rules relating to
animal feeding operations is published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin
as ARC 2229B and can be found at:
http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Rules/2003/Bulletin/ACB030108.html.
Any interested person may make written suggestions or comments on the
proposed flood plain and animal feeding operation amendments on or before
Feb. 21, 2003. Written comments should be directed to Kelly Stone, Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. 9th
St., Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0034.
For questions regarding these proposed changes, please feel free to contact
Kelly at (515)-281-4312 or [log in to unmask]
Persons are invited to present oral or written comments on either the Water
Quality Standards (WQS) or floodplain/animal feeding operations (FP/AFO)
rules at public hearings which will be held:
Monday, Feb. 3, in the Municipal Utilities Conference room, 15 W. Third St.,
Atlantic. WQS: 1 p.m., FP/AFO: 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 4, in the Iowa City Public Library meeting room 'A', 123 S.
Linn St., Iowa City. WQS: 10 a.m., FP/AFO: 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 4, in the Decorah City Hall meeting room, 400 Claiborne
Drive, Decorah.. WQS: 7 p.m., FP/AFO: 8 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 6, in the Cherokee Community Center, 530 W. Bluff St.,
Cherokee. WQS: 10 a.m., FP/AFO: 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, Feb. 6, in the Clear Lake Community meeting room, 15 N. Sixth
St., Clear Lake. WQS: 6:30 p.m., FP/AFO: 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 7, in the Wallace State Office Building, 5th floor conference
room, 900 East Grand Ave., Des Moines. WQS: 1 p.m., FP/AFO: 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the Garnavillo Community Center, 106 W. Niagara,
Garnavillo. WQS (only): 7 p.m., no FP/AFO hearing.
For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at (515) 281-8395.
Kevin Baskins
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
(515) 281-8395
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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