April 16, 2009
For immediate release
1. DNR to release Environmental Report Card at April 21 EPC meeting
2. Rulemaking for air quality financial assistance program posted for public comment
3. Public invited to preview grant program for voluntary reduction of diesel exhaust
DNR TO RELEASE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT CARD AT APRIL 21 EPC MEETING
MEDIA CONTACT: Jerah Gallinger at (515) 313-8909 or [log in to unmask]
URBANDALE - DNR Director Richard Leopold will unveil the results of Iowa's first annual Environmental Report Card at the beginning of the April 21 meeting of the Environmental Protection Commission.
Leopold will reveal the state's overall grade, as well as grades for eight individual subject areas. The subject areas include: Iowans outdoors, land protection, deer, game birds, nongame birds, clean air, clean lakes and the water quality index.
The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. at the DNR Air Quality Building at 7900 Hickman Road in Urbandale. The meeting is open to the public and public participation is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
The Environmental Protection Commission has the following scheduled appointments:
* 1 p.m. - Appeal of Proposed Decision - Anthony Herman dba Mighty Good Used Cars
* 1:30 p.m. - Craig Hancock, dba Country Estates Mobile Home Park (Mills County) - Air Quality/Solid Waste
* 2 p.m. - Ted Dickey, dba Dickey Farms (Muscatine County) - Animal Feeding Operations
The complete agenda follows:
* Approval of Agenda
* Approval of Minutes
* Director's Remarks
* Contracts with the Division of Soil Conservation, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, for Watershed Improvement Projects
* Amended Notice of Intended Action - IAC 567 - Chapter 101 - Solid Waste Comprehensive Planning Requirements
* 28E Agreement Between the Iowa Underground Storage Tank Fund Board and the Iowa DNR for Long-term Funding of the DNR's Underground Storage Tank Section
* Notice of Intended Action - IAC 567 - Chapter 135 & 134: Operator Training Rules and Conflict of Interest
* Appeal of Proposed Decision - Anthony Herman dba Mighty Good Used Cars
* Referrals to the Attorney General
o Ted Dickey, dba Dickey Farms (Muscatine County) - Animal Feeding Operations
o Craig Hancock, dba Country Estates Mobile Home Park (Mills County) - Air Quality / Solid Waste
* Contract - Iowa State University for 2009 Iowa Lakes Monitoring
* Contract - Dan Corbin, Inc. - Iowa Orthophoto Quality Assessment
* Proposed Rule - Chapter 61 Water Quality Standards- Chloride, Sulfate and Total Dissolved Solids
* Notice of Intended Action -Chapter 65 - Confinement Feeding Operation Applications for Construction Permits; Demand for Hearing Procedures
* Monthly Reports
* General Discussion
o Wastewater Bypass Update
o August Moravia & October Fayette Tour
* Items for Next Month's Meeting
o May 19 - Urbandale
o June 16 - Urbandale
Look for more information about the agenda items on the DNR Web site under
"Commissions and Boards" at www.iowadnr.gov <http://www.iowadnr.gov/> .
The members of the commission are Henry Marquard, chair, Muscatine; Charlotte Hubbell, vice chair, Des Moines; Suzanne Morrow, secretary, Storm Lake; David Petty, Eldora; Susan Heathcote, Des Moines; Paul Johnson, Decorah, Marty Stimson, Cedar Rapids; Shearon Elderkin, Cedar Rapids; and Eugene Ver Steeg, Inwood. The director of the DNR is Richard Leopold.
Writer: Karen Grimes
Rulemaking FOR AIR QUALITY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM POSTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
MEDIA CONTACT: Wendy Rains, Environmental Specialist Senior, at (515) 281-6061 or [log in to unmask]
DES MOINES - A new chapter of the Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) created for an air quality financial assistance program was approved and adopted and filed without notice by the Environmental Protection Commission on March 17. The proposed amendment 567-Chapter 35(455B) is available at www.iowadnr.gov/air/input/input.html for public comment.
The reason for the quick rulemaking is to meet a federal deadline of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 which promotes economic recovery, preserving and/or creating jobs, and reducing diesel emissions. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is required to report details of states' grants programs to Congress in mid-May 2009 and disburse funds shortly after programs are approved.
A public hearing will be held Monday, May 11, 2009 at 10 a.m. at the Air Quality Bureau office in Urbandale. The due date for comments is Tuesday, May 12, 2009.
PUBLIC INVITED TO PREVIEW GRANT PROGRAM for voluntary REDUCTION OF DIESEL exhaust
MEDIA CONTACT: Mindy Kralicek, Air Quality Information Specialist, (515) 281-7832 or [log in to unmask]
DES MOINES - Individuals and organizations seeking funds to implement voluntary diesel exhaust reduction projects should look over the draft Reduce Iowa's Diesel Exhaust (RIDE) DNR grant program documents at www.iowadnr.gov/air/RIDE/index.html. Because of the urgent schedule for distribution of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, this program will move along quickly. This is an opportunity for interested individuals and organizations to preview the grant guidelines and application process and begin their application plans.
Public comments on the materials and grant program may be made until Friday, May 8, to Mindy Kralicek, RIDE grant program manager, (515) 281-7832, [log in to unmask]
The tentative schedule for the release of the RIDE grant program offering is May 14, 2009, the same effective date as new rules for an air quality financial assistance program in the Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 35(455B). The deadline for RIDE grant application submissions will be June 29, 2009 with grant award announcements scheduled for August 20. RIDE grant projects must be completed by July 30, 2010.
Draft versions of the RIDE application and fleet forms may not be used to apply for RIDE grants.
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