I have pasted below the first two articles from today's iowa DNR EcoNewsWire. If you are interested in reading the other two articles, please contact me at [log in to unmask] Jane Clark May 3, 2001 1. Work begins on Grell site cleanup 2. Open feedlots register with DNR in droves 3. EPA awards grants to three new Iowa brownfields 4. DNR cleanup efforts prevent Bussey disaster WORK BEGINS ON GRELL SITE CLEANUP DES MOINES - More than 5,000 waste tires rolled out of Fort Dodge May 1 as the Department of Natural Resources began work to clean up one of the state's largest stockpiles. Greenman Technologies of Savage, Minn., the DNR's contractor in the project, hauled away three semi truckloads of tires from Tire Chop Inc., a 2.25 million-tire pile owned by Don Grell. They were the first of more than 1,100 truckloads that will be removed by the project's expected completion date of May 2002. Mel Pins, an environmental specialist with the DNR, led the first-day effort. "We're happy to finally begin work removing tires from this site," said Pins, who has administered the removal of more than 4.5 million waste tires statewide. "And we appreciate Mr. Grell's cooperation and willingness to help." Grell, who had been fined $3.5 million by the Webster County District Court for the improper storage of more than 2 million tires, reached a written agreement with the DNR in December 2000 allowing the cleanup. In April, the Environmental Protection Commission awarded a $4.3 million contract to Greenman for cleanup of the Grell site and more than 1 million other waste tires in smaller stockpiles throughout Iowa. When completed, the $2.2 million cleanup at Tire Chop Inc. will be the second significant stockpile removed from the Fort Dodge area. Recently, the DNR successfully removed 3 million tires from the Don Ervin site just south of Fort Dodge. Most of the tires from the Grell site will be hauled away to Minnesota, where they will be processed into tire-derived fuel for power plants. About one third of the tires will be delivered to UT Tire Recyclers of Des Moines, a company that processes waste tires into both tire-derived fuel and crumb rubber for various uses. Iowans generate more than 3 million waste tires each year. Pins said, however, that throwing waste tires in stockpiles and ravines isn't the answer. "There is a suitable use for every waste tire generated in Iowa," Pins said. "It's the DNR's job to help waste tire processors find those uses." While the first day of cleanup rolled along without a hitch, Pins issued a reminder to anyone who might consider delivering waste tires to Tire Chop Inc. "The gate swings one way from now on - out," Pins said. "The tires leave, and they don't come back. The site is being monitored, and anyone caught dumping tires could be fined up to $5,000." For more information, contact Mel Pins at (515) 281-8489, or e-mail at [log in to unmask] For photos, call Bob Castelline at (515) 281-0879. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ OPEN FEEDLOTS REGISTER WITH DNR IN DROVES DES MOINES - The DNR received 186 registrations for open feedlots this week, as cattlemen throughout the state hurried to sign up for the Iowa Plan for Open Feedlots before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency resumes federal inspections in Iowa. Under the Iowa plan, cattlemen can work with the DNR to bring their open feedlots into compliance with existing water quality regulations. "While cattlemen have until Dec. 31, 2001, to register, I think this shows that the program is working, that Iowa cattlemen would rather work with the DNR to solve any compliance issues than to deal with federal regulators," said Wayne Gieselman, coordinator of the DNR animal feeding operations program. The EPA conducted four inspections of open feedlots in Iowa last year and has indicated it will conduct 70 to 80 inspections this year in a four-state region that includes Iowa. "Producers know that EPA conducted inspections and assessed penalties last year in Iowa," said Gieselman. "They know that EPA plans to be back this year, starting soon after May 1, and that their focus in 2001 will be on inspecting unpermitted and unregistered lots." Gieselman said the Iowa plan is a good opportunity for producers to get an environmental assessment of their lot, to find out if they need a permit, to help control feedlot runoff, if needed, and, in some cases, improve management skills. The Iowa Plan for Open Feedlots consists of three steps: voluntary registration, an environmental priority assessment by the DNR, and compliance, with the goal of all open feedlots being in compliance within five years. The forms received this week total nearly a third of the 521 total number of forms received by the DNR so far. Registration begins the process to determine if an open feedlot needs a permit or if conservation measures are needed to comply with environmental regulations. For more information, contact Wayne Gieselman at (515) 281-5817; Carol Balvanz, Vice President of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association at (515) 296-2266; or John Lawrence, Director of the Iowa Beef Center at (515) 294-BEEF; or the IMMAG website at http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/immag/. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]