Posted by Jane Clark at [log in to unmask] Next Monday evening, February 11th, Iowa's Democratic and Republican parties are holding their precinct caucuses. Citizen input in necessary at all levels to protect the environment and it is most effective at the most local levels. The Iowa Environmental Council, Iowa Beautiful Land Coalition (supports the bottle bill), REAP Alliance and other organizations have suggested the following platform statements to be presented in your local caucus. We urge you to attend and present any or all of these resolutions. Feel free to print off these resolutions separately for presentation at your caucus. 1. We resolve to address public concerns about water quality, air quality and public health by passing regulations to control pollution from confined animal feeding operations. 2. We resolve to protect Iowa's Valuable and Vulnerable resources as defined by Chapter 455 of the Iowa Code by passing legislation to give local governments and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources the authority to site and permit confined animal feeding operations facilities. 3. We resolve to protect Iowa's water bodies by passing legislation to require nutrient management plans to be based on phosphorous standards in addition to nitrogen standards. 4. We resolve to pass legislation to ensure that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has the funding and Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) to oversee the protection of the environment from pollution from confined animal feeding operations. 5. We resolve to enhance Iowa's Beverage Container Deposit Law (the Bottle Bill) by expanding the list of containers covered under the law to include those containing water, tea, juice, and other non-carbonated beverages and by increasing the handling fee paid for redemption activities from one cent to two cents. 6. The future of our quality of life in Iowa demands in part that our state protect and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities, natural resource assets, cultural and historical heritage, and the education and understanding of our citizens to become stewards of our resources. We, therefore, recommend that the _____________ party support and fully fund the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For SC email list T-and-C, send: GET TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS.CURRENT to [log in to unmask]