We are encouraging our members to oppose legislation that would exempt 
livestock operations from the requirements of the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the 
Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). We also request 
that you encourage Sen. Tom Harkin to actively oppose such exemptions by 
signing on to a Dear Colleague letter being circulated by Senators Boxer and 
Feinstein.

Legislation that exempts mismanaged animal manure from CERCLA and EPCRA is 
contrary to the interests of Iowa and should not be adopted.  The Des Moines 
Water Works has the largest nitrate removal facility in the world, in part 
due to livestock waste, which costs $3,000 a day to operate. It is unfair 
for city residents to have to pay the cost to clean up water that is 
polluted by irresponsible operations. Furthermore, CERCLA is the only 
federal statute that allows for state and local governments to recover 
cleanup costs from parties responsible for contamination of drinking and 
surface water supplies as well as other environmental resources.

Protecting the health of Iowa’s citizen’s and their environment is one of 
our chapter’s priorities and National supports this position.    Please 
encourage Sen. Harkin to sign on to Senators Boxer’s and Feinstein’s Dear 
Colleague letter. You can reach Sen. Harkin at 731 Hart Senate Office 
Building, Washington, DC, 20510; at (202) 224-3254 in Washington, 
515-284-4574 in Des Moines, 319-365-4504 in Cedar Rapids, 563-322-1338 in 
Davenport, 563-582-2130 in Dubuque or 712-252-1550 in Sioux City or via the 
web at harkin.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm.



Neila Seaman, MPA
Director
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA  50310
[log in to unmask]
515-277-8868

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