IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES February 27, 2003 LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS MUST PASS MATRIX TO BUILD OR EXPAND More than 70 Counties have signed up so far. Proposed confinement feeding operations that need a construction permit from the DNR also need to pass the master matrix in most Iowa counties starting March 1, 2003. The master matrix is a scoring system that can be used by counties to rate the siting of proposed livestock and poultry confinements that need a permit. To pass the matrix, producers must achieve 440 total points and choose how to address air quality, water quality and community impacts when building or expanding their operations. Producers in counties that file the resolutions must meet higher standards than other permitted sites. Starting March 3, producers can use an electronic form on the DNR website to calculate their scores. "This electronic tool is like a recipe that allows you to substitute ingredients until the producer has the best possible combination for himself and the county to reduce environmental and community impacts," said Tammie Krausman, executive assistant with the DNR environmental services. The largest number of available points comes from choosing a site far from neighboring residences, businesses and waters. Producers can also gain points by adding structures that reduce pollution, using good management practices and being a good neighbor. Construction permit applications are required for construction or expansion of a confinement feeding operation that uses either of the following: unformed or earthen manure storage, regardless of the size of operation, and formed manure storage structures such as a below-building pit or a slurry store, and the animal unit capacity is 1,000 AUs or more. Counties must file a resolution with the DNR for the matrix to be in effect and must evaluate all sites filing a construction permit application. More than 70 counties had filed the resolution on Feb. 27. For more information and to see what counties are participating in the program, check the DNR website at http://www.state.ia.us/epd/wastewtr/feedlot/masterm.htm. Contact Karen Grimes at 515-281-5135 for more information. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]