The Land Management Planning Act, HF 488 (formerly HF 258), passed out of the House Local Government committee last week, so it is eligible for debate on the House floor. This is a bill for an act relating to state land management and planning and local land management and planning for certain counties and cities and providing effective dates. To read the complete text, go to www.legis.state.ia.us Unfortunately, the bill does not include adequate protections for natural areas and environmental interests on the decision-making boards (the local strategic development committees and the state land management planning board, which is currently the City Development Board). So, please contact your legislators and ask that they offer and/or support amendments that would conserve natural resource areas and environmentally sensitive land, as well as provide for environmental voices on the decision-making boards. To find your legislator, go to <A HREF="www.legis.state.ia.us/"> www.legis.state.ia.us/</A> and click on "Find your legislator." Because this bill only applies to 10 counties in Iowa (Pottawattamie, Woodbury, Polk, Dallas, Warren, Blackhawk, Johnson, Linn, Scott, and Dubuque), it obviously does not go far enough. But it could be very detrimental if it passes as currently written, without adequate safeguards for natural resource areas and input from environmental interests. Please contact your legislator today. Erin E. Jordahl Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club 3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280 Des Moines, IA 50310 515-277-8868 [log in to unmask] www.iowa.sierraclub.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp