The DNR will be holding several hearings around the state later this month
and in March to hear input on the proposed hydrogen sulfide standard of 15
ppb from livestock confinements. They're being pressured by legislators to
weaken the standard, even though the proposal already allows for operations
to exceed the standard 7 times a year and contains no enforcement actions.
Please attend your closest hearing if you can and encourage others to
attend, and let the DNR know that air emissions standards in Iowa are long
overdue and if anything, this proposal doesn't go far enough! (hearing
schedule is at the end of the article.)
Tarah Heinzen

Some say air proposal stinks
Others say standards will go too far
By PERRY BEEMAN <mailto:[log in to unmask]: Some say air
proposal stinks>
Register Staff Writer
02/12/2004

Several Iowa lawmakers Wednesday picked apart a new, watered-down proposal
to limit air pollution from livestock operations that would offer Iowans
their first protection against one toxic gas from the operations.
The plan sets a standard for sulfur dioxide but would offer no protection
against 150 or more other compounds, including ammonia, that come off
rotting manure or the animals. It would allow the livestock operations to
violate the hydrogen sulfide limit seven times before an official infraction
would be recorded - far more lenient than any other state's air-quality
regulations.
Republicans on a rules committee cautioned the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources not to go too far with a rule, worrying that it could hurt family
farmers. The panel will consider the final idea once the department has
approved it.
The Republicans appeared to have the votes to force a special economic
analysis of the new proposal a couple of days ago, but adjourned the meeting
before a vote.
When they reconvened Wednesday, Rep. Danny Carroll, a Grinnell Republican,
withdrew his motion for the special review. State officials said a lawmaker
had switched positions, leaving Carroll short of the votes needed to pass
the motion.
The disagreements at the Administrative Rules Review Committee, which
oversees all new rules, may have forecast another tough battle over
regulating livestock air pollution. Last year, the Iowa Department of
Natural Resources saw proposed limits on ammonia and hydrogen sulfide thrown
out by the full Legislature as the session ended.
Wednesday, Carroll questioned whether the resources department is using the
latest research to set the limit.
Catherine Woteki, dean of the Iowa State University College of Agriculture,
suggested federal research calls for a more lenient limit than the resources
department proposed.
State environmental-protection officials are awaiting an opinion from the
University of Iowa College of Public Health, where chief health experts have
helped develop the proposed limits.
Wayne Gieselman, the state environmental-protection chief, said a rule would
set a guideline for hydrogen sulfide that would give the state something to
check its monitors against. He said that guideline would not lead to any
immediate change or cost for hog producers.
By law, the department can't enforce any limits until Dec. 1. The department
has set up task forces to figure out next steps.
Representative Dave Heaton, a Mount Pleasant Republican, complained that the
resource department's eight monitors are some 100 meters away from homes.
"The intent of the Legislature was to measure the emissions at the house,
not closer to the confinements," Heaton said.
Sean Fitzsimmons, a state air monitoring expert, said the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency requires that the equipment be some distance away because
the wind running across a home would skew results.
Changes?
PROPOSAL: The new rule would set a one-hour health standard of 15 parts per
billion for hydrogen sulfide, a toxic and pungent gas that irritates lungs
and nasal passages. It would not be a legal limit, though that could be
considered later if a field study now in progress finds consistently high
readings at homes near confinements.
COMMENTS: The department is accepting comments through April 8: Write to
Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Air Quality Bureau, 7900 Hickman Road,
Suite 1, Urbandale, I 50322.
HEARINGS: Public hearings will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Iowa Western
Community College, Atlantic; 6 p.m. March 3 at Mason City Public Library;
6:30 p.m. March 8, Davenport Public Library; and 7 p.m. March 11 at
Urbandale Public Library.

Tarah Heinzen
Sierra Club Conservation Organizer
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
(515) 251-3995
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