I am also forwarding an opinion piece on the Air Quality Bill written by Tom
Hadden of Iowa Environmental Council:
Support Clean Air for Rural Iowa
Clean air is often taken for granted in Iowa unless of course you are
subjected to conditions that not only prove to be a nuisance but also a
potential hazard to your health. All Iowans, rural and urban, have a right
to breathe air that is not hazardous to their health --or their quality of
life. To protect citizens, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is
proposing outdoor air standards for hydrogen sulfide based on peer-reviewed
health studies and recommendations from public health professionals.
The Iowa Legislature is currently debating House File (HF) 2523. This bill
is listed as, "an act providing for the regulation of air quality, and
making penalties applicable." In reality, this bill reduces the ability to
enforce any kind of air quality regulation in the state, making air quality
a potential health threat to rural Iowans.
Passage of this bill would prohibit the state from providing additional
rules or regulations that do not already exist within the federal
Environmental Protection Agency rules. This effectively prevents the state
from addressing air quality issues that may be unique to the state of Iowa
and not covered by existing EPA standards.
We need the ability to pick up where the EPA left off.
The Environmental protection Agency has rules and protections related to air
quality, but not all airborne toxins are taken into account. As an example,
there are no EPA standards related to mercury. Under current regulations,
Iowa can change standards to address concerns for mercury, along with other
airborne toxins. The legislation under consideration would not allow for
this.
Two weeks is too dangerous.
The bill does not utilize the Center for Disease Control levels set by their
Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry as a resource. These standards
clearly say, as an example, that short term exposure to high levels of
hydrogen sulfide can cause adverse health effects in as little as one day.
This bill allows for 14 days.
-- And hydrogen sulfide is just one threat.
Even if the bill did use the correct standard, limits would only apply to
hydrogen sulfide. They do not reflect the combined health risks of airborne
fecal dust, bioaerosols, endotoxins, ammonia, and 160 volatile chemicals
that make-up odor. We need a more comprehensive look at public health and
animal feeding operations than what this bill allows.
Scientists know science. Lawmakers know law.
A university report, based on analysis of peer-reviewed, duplicated,
legitimate, published scientific research recommends higher levels of public
protection than what the bill recommends. Current DNR rulemaking adopts
these recommendations. It reflects real exposure. Lawmakers are risking the
health of rural Iowans for the sake of short term economic considerations
versus the long time welfare of our citizens. We need to focus on what is
most important in this debate, Iowa's quality of life and health.
Time to make a decision; not stall.
Unfortunately the bill is a stall tactic which will prevent the state from
addressing the air quality issues at hand. It requires years of study and
grace periods to comply, with no means for remediation in the meantime. Even
with the worst violations, no relief could occur until 2008. Thousands of
Iowans petitioned the state nearly four years ago for rules. University
recommendations came two years ago, and last year's rules were nullified.
How long must rural Iowans wait? It is time for action, not more delays.
Make decisions based on facts; not sentiment.
Opponents are painting DNR proposals as "extreme" and "not science based."
They play upon the fears of small to medium sized farmers that rules will
drive them out of business. This of course is not true. Currently the DNR is
monitoring air near eight of the largest, mega-operations in Iowa, not small
or medium sized farms. The purpose of the DNR standards is to protect public
health not run law abiding operators out of business.
This bill requires monitoring equipment to measure and monitor air quality
in rural Iowa that may become obsolete as technology continues to improve.
Presently twenty-seven states have hydrogen sulfide standards. Minnesota,
Nebraska, California, and Missouri have existing standards far more
protective and extensive livestock production flourishes in these states.
As Iowans we no longer should accept sub standard environmental standards
including those for clean air; the DNR is working under current rule-making
processes to accomplish this. Let them do their job. The Iowa Environmental
Council opposes HF 2523 and urges you to do the same. Lets develop standards
to improve our quality of life not diminish it. Contact your legislators and
let them know you support clean air for rural Iowa, and oppose this bill.
Note: Tom Hadden is board president of the Iowa Environmental Council.
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