Permit for egg facility denied

                    The state cites a connection to oft-fined
                    'Jack' DeCoster.

               By PERRY BEEMAN
               Register Staff Writer
               01/16/2001

               State regulators have denied Country Fresh Eggs a
               permit for an egg-laying operation in Wright County
               because one of its backers has been fined so often.

               Michael Valde, chief of the state
               environmental-protection bureau, said the Department of
               Natural Resources blocked the construction because of
               A.J. "Jack" DeCoster's long record of environmental
               offenses, most involving hog-manure spills or improper
               application of wastes to cropland.

               DeCoster was declared a "habitual violator" under state
               law last summer. That means he can't get a construction
               permit for five years. DeCoster gave Country Fresh 600
               acres for the project northwest of Wall Lake State Park,
               Valde said, so the company now also is considered a
               "habitual violator" under the law.

               DeCoster's attorney, William Smith of Des Moines, said
               the state's stance was weak and politically motivated.
               "My problems are not with the law," he said. "My
               problems are with DNR." An appeal is planned.

               The law allows DeCoster to invest in projects as long as
               he doesn't have a controlling interest, Smith said.
               DeCoster's son, Peter, and John Glesser have been listed
               as controlling partners.

               Wright supervisors had asked the state to deny the
               permit, and dozens of other parties had complained.
               Supervisors said drainage problems, odors, pollution and
               traffic were concerns.

               DeCoster has extensive hog and chicken facilities in the
               county, the location of one of Iowa's most dense
               collections of livestock operations.

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