Sorry for the delay in forwarding this release.
Jane Clark

IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Feb. 8, 2001

1. DNR denies proposed air rules for livestock facilities now, but plans to
re-visit issue
2. Environmental Protection Commission meets Feb. 19
3. Quick response keeps gas spill out of Maquoketa River

DNR DENIES PROPOSED AIR RULES FOR LIVESTOCK FACILITIES NOW, BUT PLANS TO
RE-VISIT ISSUE

DES MOINES - Citing lack of resources, The DNR will recommend that the state
Environmental Protection Commission deny a citizen group petition that
proposed detailed rules to regulate air emissions from large-scale livestock
facilities.

But DNR officials agree the emissions may pose risks and plan to solicit
statewide input on the subject to find achievable alternatives.

"We need to work with the petitioners, producers and citizens to find
alternative rules that can be implemented," said Michael Valde, the state's
top environmental official.

The Commission will make a decision on the petitioned rules at their
February 19 meeting.

Valde said the DNR couldn't carry out the proposal due to lack of staff,
funding and other necessary resources. "The proposed rules had some merits,
but the monitoring, inspection and permitting goals had no chance of being
implemented due to staffing and budget constraints. We would have to pull a
majority of efforts from industrial air pollution control. We simply can't
do that," said Valde.

DNR officials say alternative rules could be drafted to establish less staff
intensive methods to best control emissions. "That could include various
permit and regulatory options. We think there may be ways to meet the
petitioners concerns that are more effective to manage as regulators," said
Valde. "We intend to look for those options and first we need to get input
from all affected parties." He said the DNR plans to begin the first steps
in March, by taking to the Commission a request for statewide input.

He said the DNR was concerned that the levels of proposed monitoring was
several times more frequent than that for some of Iowa's largest industrial
emitters. "Portions of the proposed rules would be impossible for the DNR to
effectively implement and oversee with our current resources."

The DNR's air quality program regulates and monitors several common
industrial emissions such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxide, soots, dusts and
carbon monoxide but does not fully regulate toxic chemicals or gases and
odors found at livestock facilities.

Earlier this year, DNR proposed a legislative bill to begin monitoring air
emissions from confined animal feeding and meat processing operations.

For more information, contact Brian Button at (515) 281-7832.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSION                          TO MEET FEB. 19

Note to editor:  See story on air quality petition above.

DES MOINES - The EPC will consider a petition for air pollution controls
from confined animal feeding operations and an appeal to prevent Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc. from proceeding with construction of a building and parking lot
in Decorah at their February meeting.

The commission will meet Monday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m., in the Wallace State
Office Building, Fourth Floor Conference Room, in Des Moines.  The meeting
is open to the public and there is a public participation period at 10:30
a.m.

The members of the commission are Terrance Townsend, Chair, Newton; James
Braun, Latimer; Lisa Davis-Cook, West Des Moines; Kathryn Murphy, LeMars;
Rita Venner, Breda; Rozanne King, Mondamin; Gary C. Priebe, Algona; Darrell
Hanson, Manchester and Randal Giannetto, Marshalltown.  The interim director
of the DNR is Lyle Asell.

The complete agenda is as follows:

· Approve Agenda
· Approve Minutes of January 16, 2001
· Director's Remarks
· FY  '01 Quarterly Financial Status Report
· Pollution Prevention (P2) Intern Program
· Contract Approval Groundwater Monitoring Data System Implementation
· Household Hazardous Materials Education Campaign Marketing Firm Selection
· Solid Waste Alternatives Program - Feasibility Study
· State Revolving Fund  - 2001 Intended Use Plan
· Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Project Contracts
· Final Rule - Chapter 64 - Storm Water Permits
· Notice of Intended Action - Incorporate Existing Periodic Monitoring
Guidance and Adoption by Reference for Compliance Assurance Monitoring
· Denial of Petition for Rule Making
· Notice of Intended Action - Chapter 65 - Manure Management Plan Extension
· Contract with Iowa State University for Manure Applicator Certification
Training for 2001
· Notice of Intended Action - Chapter 65 - Animal Feeding Operations
· Notice of Intended Action - Chapter 13 - Waivers or Variances from
Administrative Rules
· Contested Case Appeal  - Loyal Rue, et al
· Proposed Contested Case Decision - Southeast Iowa CCI
· Referrals to the Attorney General
· Notice of Intended Action - Chapter 60 - Scope of Title -
Definitions-Forms-Rules of Practice, Chapter 64 - Wastewater Construction
and Operations Permits
· Monthly Reports
· Household Hazardous Materials Programs Annual Report
· Annual Report 2000 - Registry of Hazardous Waste or Hazardous Substance
Disposal Sites and Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund
· Information for March Action Item on Rescission of Chapters 101 and 109
and Establishment of a New Chapter 101 - Solid Waste Comprehensive Planning
· General Discussion
· Discuss Items for Next Meeting

For more information, contact Karen Grimes at (515) 281-5135.

QUICK RESPONSE KEEPS GAS SPILL OUT OF MAQUOKETA RIVER

MAQUOKETA - Quick action by Maquoketa officials presented 400 gallons of
spilled gasoline from reaching the Makuoketa River on Tuesday afternoon.

The spill occurred when a gasoline tanker truck for Midway Oil of Rock
Island, Ill, was delivering fuel to a service station and gasoline spilled
out of the vent lines to the tanks.

Local officials quickly diked the spill to prevent it from running into a
storm sewer. Absorbents were then used to soak up a small amount of fuel
that reached the storm sewer. The sewer line was then flushed to collect any
remaining product. None of the gasoline was found during subsequent
observation of the Maquoketa River. Homes in the vicinity were also visited
to make sure no vapors had migrated into residences.

"Accidents like this happen, but quick response by local officials and the
trucking company greatly minimized the impact of the spill," according to
Kathy Lee of the DNR's Emergency Response Unit.

"This was a textbook example of how local officials, the responsible party
and state officials worked together to minimize environmental damage and the
costs associated with cleanup," Lee said.

For more information, contact Kathy Lee at (515) 281-8793.

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