Sierrans:

Our coalition on the CAFO bill, SF 2293, is having a press conference this
morning at 9 am, planned late yesterday for strategic reasons.

Below is the text of the statement I will be making on behalf of Sierra Club
of Iowa. I hope you like it. Sorry for not having time to develop it more in
collaboration.

We will be having statements from a number of coalition members in order to
balance the hundreds or thousands of producers expected at the Capitol this
morning.

NOTE: It would not hurt at all if Sierra Leaders in Iowa called up their
local radio stations or newspapers this morning and offered to make a
statement using this text. Particularly the radio stations would love it.
Just pick out one of the good catchy quotes and use it. Don¹t elaborate too
much beyond what is contained below.

Thanks. Keep up your advocacy and good work!

Lyle

*********************

For Immediate Release:    For more information contact:
Thursday, April 4, 2002    Lyle Krewson ­ 515/238-7113 - cell

As a member of this coalition of Iowa public interest groups, Sierra
Club/Iowa has supported the development of S.F. 2293. We continue to support
its development. We call now on our elected leadership in Iowa to pass it
and move it forward.

Throughout this effort, we have sought to enhance the safety of Iowa swine
and poultry production while addressing growing public concerns about water
quality, air quality, public health and preserving our Iowa quality of life.

Our belief is that improved animal production management must have four
guiding principles:

ß Protect public health and the environment.
ß Support farmers and agriculture.
ß Establish producer responsibilities to their host community.
ß Rest on a foundation of sound science.

Our policy recommendations throughout this process of amending Chapter 455
of the Iowa Code have sought to achieve four significant goals:

1. Prevention of Major Disasters and Environmental Responsibility
2. Reasonable Responsibility to the Community
3. Provide Necessary Enforcement Resources
4. Assure the Future Development of the industry

Upon its public release, the proposal by the Working Group of 12 responded
to many of the concerns we represent. It contained a prohibition on further
development in floodplains, the development of air quality and phosphorus
standards, enhanced setbacks for facilities to protect neighbors and
important resources, permit fees to fund necessary regulation, and a modest
but significant local participation in permit decisions.

Their proposal contained most of the elements needed for our support. We do
support its continued development.

We recognize truly how forward-looking the Working Group was in crafting its
proposal. We thank them, and support them, for truly crafting a proposal
that, while not satisfying all concerns of any group, would bring to Iowa a
longer range vision of reasonable and responsible management of the
challenges faced by this industry and the desires of all Iowans to preserve
our ways of life and our precious resources.

Now, the process of development of the proposal has gone long enough; it is
time to bring it fully into the public light and debate it. We call on the
elected leaders of this state to bring this proposal to the floor this week
in the Senate, pass it and send it to the House, making only the most
necessary changes.

We stand united with our coalition partners and with the people of Iowa
insisting that this issue be addressed this year! This issue has festered
for several years, it must be addressed now!

We stand united with our coalition partners and with the people of Iowa
insisting that S.F 2293 address the concerns we have outlined above! We want
our water, air, and quality of life protected now! We want this industry
nurtured reasonably and responsibly. It does that, lets move it forward!

We stand united with our coalition partners and with the people of Iowa
insisting that necessary resources to accomplish the goals of the proposal
be paid in a fair way by the industry creating the challenges! The S.F. 2293
proposal does that. We insist that the fees and fines remain in the
proposal.

And finally: We stand united with our coalition partners and with the people
of Iowa thanking the vision of the Working Group, many of the leaders in the
Legislature, and the Governor, for courageously facing this issue. We call
on them to move it forward now!

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