IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
March 15, 2007
For immediate release
1. DNR watershed quality planning task force to discuss bioenergy
March 22; meeting open to public
2. Ice jam causes manure release in Kossuth County; DNR urges
producers to check facilities
3. Gasoline prices climb in Iowa
4. Rapid snowmelt challenges additional wastewater treatment
facilities
DNR WATERSHED QUALITY PLANNING TASK FORCE TO DISCUSS BIOENERGY MARCH
22; MEETING OPEN TO PUBLIC
MEDIA CONTACT: Sharon Tahtinen at (515) 281-7066 or Tammie Krausman at
(515) 281-8382.
DES MOINES - The impact of biofuels on water quality will be the
featured presentation at a meeting of the Watershed Quality Planning
Task force on March 22. The committee's fourth meeting will be held
from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Metro Waste Authority, 300 E. Locust
St., #100, in Des Moines.
Rick Cruse, Director of the Iowa Water Center at Iowa State University,
will discuss how the new bioeconomy could affect soil and water
resources. He will examine components of using crops for bioenergy -
from assumptions about crop production made in a study by the U.S.
Department of Energy to changing storm patterns and absentee land
ownership. After examining the components separately, Cruse will look at
the connections between these components and their implications for soil
and water quality.
In addition, Allen Bonini, supervisor the DNR's watershed improvement
section, will lead a discussion on improvements in the way DNR
coordinates and prioritizes water quality efforts. Ongoing efforts to
improve internal communications will result in statewide water quality
priorities and a watershed-based information system that will eventually
be available for public use.
An agenda and other information are available on the DNR Web site at
www.iowadnr.gov/water/taskforce/<http://www.iowadnr.gov/water/taskforce/>
The Iowa Legislature created the committee during the last session to
discuss a voluntary statewide water quality program. Specifically, the
legislature is asking the committee to develop a report containing
recommendations on the following issues:
? Improving water quality
? Creating economic incentives for environmental compliance
? Facilitating implementation efforts
? Developing quantifiable protocols and procedures
? Providing greater flexibility through community-based,
non-regulatory, performance-driven watershed management planning.
The committee is comprised of representatives from both houses and both
parties of the Legislature, Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities,
Iowa League of Cities, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Iowa
Water Pollution Control Association, Iowa Rural Water Association,
Growing Green Communities, Iowa Environmental Council, Iowa Farm Bureau,
Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Pork
Producers Association, Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Iowa,
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of
Natural Resources and the Iowa Conservation Alliance.
The committee meeting is open to the public.
Writer: Karen Grimes
# # #
ICE JAM CAUSES MANURE RELEASE IN KOSSUTH COUNTY; DNR URGES PRODUCERS TO
CHECK FACILITIES
Media Contacts: Michelle Johnson and Trent Lambert at (641) 424- 4073.
DES MOINES - The DNR investigated a manure release from a swine
confinement in Kossuth County about two miles northeast of Ottosen on
Wednesday.
The release occurred when an ice jam caused Lotts Creek to overflow,
flooding the surrounding area and then flowed into an earthen manure
storage basin operated by John Bruellman. Some liquid in the basin was
flushed out, running to Lotts Creek which flows into the East Fork of
the Des Moines River.
The runoff was very dilute with an undetermined amount reaching the
stream. Ammonia levels were less than two parts per million and no fish
kill is expected.
"Usually confinements are not as susceptible to storm water runoff as
open feedlots are, because they are totally roofed," said Michelle
Johnson, an environmental specialist with the Mason City DNR field
office. "However, facilities that have outdoor manure storage are
vulnerable to weather-related problems.
"The ice jam that caused this was a fluke, but it points out the need
for producers to check on their facilities, especially during spring
thaws and rainstorms," she added. "Since Mr. Bruellman checked the
basin Tuesday night, he knew there was a problem and contacted the DNR
right away."
Johnson added that the runoff from Bruellman's confinement was out of
the producer's control and the DNR will not be taking enforcement
action.
"Heavy snow and rapid runoff have created conditions that can be
challenging for livestock producers. We want to encourage all producers
to check their operations for runoff, leaks and overfull storage, so
that they can prevent problems," Johnson added.
"Even small open cattle feedlots with as few as 50 head can cause a
problem," said Dan Olson, an environmental specialist at the Atlantic
DNR field office. "Producers can check for solids below their lots,
watch for runoff during rainfalls and make sure it's not reaching a
stream or lake. Most important, producers need to go ahead and get
controls in place if they don't have them or they are not working."
"If they see a potential problem like a storage system that is
overfull, producers should call their DNR field office to discuss the
options for dealing with the manure without posing a threat to our
waters," Johnson said. "However, if manure has already been
released, the producer must call the DNR to report the spill and to
minimize impacts on water quality."
The DNR has environmental field offices in the following areas:
Northeast Iowa, Manchester, (563) 927-2640.
North Central Iowa, Mason City, (641) 424-4073.
Northwest Iowa, Spencer, (712) 262-4177.
Southwest Iowa, Atlantic, (712) 243-1934.
South Central Iowa, Des Moines, (515) 725-0268.
Southeast Iowa, Washington, (319) 653-2135.
To report a manure release, call the DNR's spill hotline at (515)
281-8694.
Writer: Karen Grimes
GASOLINE PRICES CLIMB IN IOWA
MEDIA CONTACT: Brian Crowe AT (515) 250-5238
Iowa gasoline prices are significantly higher across the state as crude
oil supply is lower and market speculation has driven stock prices
higher in recent weeks. Traditional summer price increases have come
early this year for Iowa residents as refineries perform scheduled
maintenance tasks and other refineries have experienced unexpected
production delays due to fires and mechanical issues. Meanwhile, lower
supply and higher demand in Europe have contributed to a decrease in
U.S. supply. Prices in Iowa are up $0.32 on average in March to $2.47
per gallon of mid-grade gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol. That
is just under a 15 percent increase over last month's average of $2.15
per gallon of the same grade. Iowa prices are right on pace with
increases across the nation. Prices rose nationally just over 14
percent to $2.56 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, up from $2.24
last month, actual cost increases were right in step with Iowa increases
at $0.32 per gallon.
"The higher prices are mostly due to the smaller crude supply.
Speculators have driven the prices up $0.32 a gallon across the state in
just 4 weeks," said Brian Crowe, an Iowa Department of Natural
Resources Energy Analyst. "It is becoming increasingly apparent that
fuel prices will increase yet again this summer. With refineries slowing
production, an increased demand from around the world, and traditional
higher demand gasoline in the summer, we will see higher prices this
summer, if production doesn't increase."
Heavy investor speculation in world markets is fueling price increases
mainly due to sharp drops in worldwide crude oil stocks. Last week U.S.
crude stocks alone plummeted by 4.8 million barrels. On average this
year industrialized nations' stocks have fallen 1.26 million barrels
per day. OPEC's promised production cuts from last year have been more
vigorously adopted in recent weeks. The Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries, had struggled through the fourth quarter of 2006
and the early part of the first quarter in 2007 to reach lower
production goals as member countries continued to produce beyond the
agreed upon quota limits. Today in Vienna, OPEC meet with Angola for the
first time as an organizational member and discussed the future
production schedule, which is likely to remain at lower output levels.
The group now consisting of 12 member nations agreed upon cuts in
production of 1.7 million barrels a day in meetings in October and
December of 2006, because of what they termed "oversupply." The
actual production cuts have been around 1 million barrels a day, cutting
the organizations output to 30.2 million barrels of crude oil per day.
Crude oil stocks are at their lowest point since September 2004, this
comes after an 8-year high in stock was reported in January. Last week
stocks dipped by 4.8 million barrels to 324.2 million barrels, but some
of the large drop in supply was due to problems in the Houston Ship
Canal. Still the stock numbers are 10.9 million barrels lower than at
this point last year.
On March 14, natural gas was trading at $7.52/MMBtu, $0.26 lower than
last month. But, that is still a 4.9 percent increase in price from last
year when natural gas sold for $7.17/MMBtu.
A survey completed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on March
12th indicated that the average retail price of heating oil in Iowa was
$2.38 per gallon, $0.22 higher than last month and $0.23 higher than the
price of heating oil at this time last year largely due to crude oil
supply reductions. The same survey found that propane was selling for
an average of $1.50 per gallon across the state, $0.01 higher than a
month ago, and $0.05 higher than $1.45 price from this time last year.
10% Ethanol Average Retail Price Per Gallon -- Major Iowa Cities
Self-Serve Ethanol 3/15/07 2/09/07 Difference
Ames $2.46 $ 2.12 $+0.34
Cedar Rapids $2.49 $ 2.16 $+0.33
Council Bluffs $2.42 $ 2.12 $+0.30
Davenport $2.47 $ 2.19 $+0.28
Des Moines $2.42 $ 2.09 $+0.33
Dubuque $2.46 $ 2.25 $+0.21
Fort Dodge $2.47 $ 2.11 $+0.36
Iowa City $2.50 $ 2.19 $+0.31
Sioux City $2.46 $ 2.10 $+0.36
Waterloo $2.45 $ 2.14 $+0.31
Webster City $2.48 $ 2.17 $+0.31
Average Metro Price $2.47 $ 2.15 $+0.32
Source: Oil Price Information Service, www.opisnet.com<http://www.opisnet.com/>
Motor Fuels Survey State Average Price Per Gallon
Self-Serve 3/15/07 2/9/07 Difference
Regular Unleaded with 10% Ethanol $2.47 $2.15 $+0.32
Regular Unleaded $2.50 $2.18 $+0.32
Premium Unleaded $2.52 $2.19 $+0.33
Diesel $2.72 $2.49 $+0.23
Source: AAA Fuel Gauge Report, www.fuelgaugereport.com<http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/>
Heating Fuels Survey
Heating Fuel Type 3/12/07 2/14/07 Difference
Natural Gas $7.52/MMBTU $7.78/MMBTU -$0.26
Propane $1.50 $1.49 +$0.01
#2 Heating Oil $2.38 $2.16 +$0.22
Sources: Wall Street Journal, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
# # #
RAPID SNOWMELT CHALLENGES ADDITIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILTIES
MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Baskins at (515) 281-8395
DES MOINES - At least six additional Iowa cities have had to bypass
untreated sewage into streams because of the rapid snowmelt and excess
water flowing into their facilities.
Bypassing began in the city of George on Wednesday afternoon when a
lift station could not keep up with the increased volume due to snow
melt. About 320,000 gallons were bypassed to a ditch leading to the
Little Rock River before bypassing ended at 7 a.m. Thursday. The city
did not take additional water samples. Impact to the stream is expected
to be minimal because of flood conditions and the slow rate of the
bypass (20,000 gallons per hour).
The city of Hull began bypassing Tuesday afternoon when city lagoons
became full and were in danger of overflowing. About 630,000 gallons
were bypassed to Bur Oak Creek and then to the Rock River before
bypassing stopped at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
In Palo Alto County the Lost Island Sanitary District at Ruthven began
bypassing Tuesday night when a lift station could not handle high excess
amounts of water during snow melt. The city is checking to see if a
sewer main from an abandoned trailer court is causing part of the
problem.
About 5,000 gallons were bypassed by the city of Lakeview Tuesday night
after a power failure caused wastewater to backup into a private
residence on Black Hawk Lake. Power was restored within two hours and
the bypass ended, however, the private citizen pumped wastewater out of
the basement and into the lake.
The city of Boone reported an ongoing bypass from a manhole in West
Boone that began Tuesday. On Wednesday the city was pumping out a
manhole to prevent back-up of wastewater into basements. The city is
scheduled to rehabilitate the complete sewer system to eliminate such
bypassing.
Problems that caused a bypass in Stuart late on Sunday have been linked
to surface water in an industrial area that is apparently entering
manholes and flowing into the sanitary sewer. Surface drainage in the
area may need to be improved to prevent further problems.
The bypassing underscores the importance of being able to keep storm
water out of the wastewater treatment collection system as much as
possible, said Kirk Mathis, an environmental specialist in the DNR's
Atlantic field office.
"Cities need to take steps to eliminate sources of inflow and
infiltration into the sanitary sewer system, such as storm sewers, sump
pumps, foundation and roof drains, that are connected to the sanitary
sewer to prevent the system from becoming overloaded when we have heavy
run-off from a rainstorm or snowmelt," Mathis said.
Writer: Karen Grimes
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