The Environmental Protection Commission of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will be discussing the creation of air quality rules for hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and odor at its August 18th meeting. The EPC passed air quality rules for hydrogen sulfide and ammonia this spring, but these rules were nullified by the Iowa legislature in April of this year. So, the DNR has gone back to the drawing board. The DNR's recommendation to the EPC at the August meeting will be to establish levels for hydrogen sulfide and ammonia based on commonly known and accepted health risk data for these pollutants. These levels could then be used as comparison values to compare the baseline data currently being collected in the DNR's field study. The DNR would also set up a panel of health science experts to review the study done by staff at the University of Iowa and ISU (Iowa Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Air Quality Study). But the university study was done by 27 experts from U of I and ISU, and has already been peer reviewed by an external group of 8 national and international scientists who are experts in the areas that the study addresses. If you are interested in this issue, you can attend the EPC meeting at 10 AM in Urbandale (7900 Hickman Road) on August 18th and make comments; public participation starts at 10:30 AM. Or you can send comments to members of the EPC. Ideas for comments to EPC: Ask the DNR and EPC to establish ambient air quality standards for hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and odor, based on recommendations from the joint university study, since this study was a consensus of 27 experts from U of I and ISU, and was reviewed by an external peer review group of 8 national and international scientists. Set a limit on hydrogen sulfide of 15 parts per billion, one hour time weighted average. Set a limit on ammonia of 150 parts per billion, one hour time weighted average. Establish an odor standard at a limit of a 7:1 dilution. Contact info for EPC members: Donna Buell 2608 Manhattan Blvd. Spirit Lake, IA 51360 Lisa Davis Cook 5605 Vista Drive West Des Moines, IA 50266 [log in to unmask] Lori Glanzman 914 W King Drive Mt. Pleasant, IA 52641 office: 319-385-2121 Darrell Hanson 128 Delhi Road Manchester, IA 52057 office: 563-927-4201 Kathryn Murphy, Chair 1517 1st Ave. SW LeMars, IA 51031 home: 712-546-6941 Jerry Peckumn 1712 280th Street Jefferson, IA 50129 Francis Thicke 1745 Brookville Rd Fairfield, IA 52556 Terrance Townsend 500 East 17th Street North Newton, IA 50208 office: 641-787-5897 Heidi Vittetoe 2570 HWY 92 Washington, IA 52353 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 get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]