Dear friends, I attended the DNR's public hearing tonight in Urbandale. Probably some other Sierra List member can submit a more complete summary, because I spent a large part of the meeting in the hallway with my baby, and I couldn't hear all of the speakers well. There were at least 120 people there. As far as I could tell about 80 percent were farmers opposed to the air quality standards. Most of those who spoke opposed the standards, and many of their remarks sounded like they came straight from Farm Bureau talking points. Again and again they thanked the DNR for the opportunity to speak, said how long they had been farming (and often how many years they had been married as well), claimed to be all for air quality standards, but opposed to the 15 parts per billion standard for hydrogen sulfide because it's not "sound science," it's too strict, it will drive them out of business, and so on. Some added that they and their children were healthy, so obviously hydrogen sulfide is not a problem. Some said the level of hydrogen sulfide should be measured farther away from the farms. I did hear several people make great comments supporting the rule, but I think it would be helpful if environmentally-minded people planning to attend future public meetings on this issue were prepared to refute the specifics of the Farm Bureau's arguments. For instance, it would be great if someone could stand up and say what percentage of family farms in Iowa raising livestock would be affected by this rule, or could explain the specifics of the "sound science" that researchers at U of Iowa and ISU used to come up with recommendations. If someone could stand up and recite statistics about the harmful health effects of hydrogen sulfide, that would be great too. Also people should be prepared to speak out in support of the DNR's proposal on where measurements should be taken near CAFOs. Why is the Farm Bureau wrong? Since I brought my baby to the meeting, I chatted briefly with a woman who works for the Farm Bureau, apparently in some kind of public affairs capacity. She appeared to be expecting a child. I asked her whether she lives near a CAFO. No, she doesn't. Would she like to live next to a CAFO? She wouldn't have a problem with that at all. Why doesn't she move her family next to a CAFO? She can't afford to buy a farm right now, she said. It would be fantastic if more people living near CAFOs could attend these public meetings. Perhaps they can come prepared to say how living near noxious fumes has affected their family's health and their property's value. Best wishes, Laurie Belin What --- Tarah Heinzen <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Another hearing to tell the DNR we want them to set > air quality standards > for factory farms...Mason City, April 1. > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bryan Bunton > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 12:09 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Additional Public Hearing > > > Tarah, > I just wanted to let you know that the department > has scheduled an > additional public hearing in Mason City regarding > the proposed hydrogen > sulfide health effects value. > > The hearing will be held on Thursday, 4/1/04, from > 6:30 to 8:30 at the > following location: > > North Iowa Area Community College > Muse-Norris Center > 500 College Drive > Mason City, IA 50401 > > The hearing will be published in the Administrative > Bulletin. Please pass > along to those interested. > > > Bryan Bunton > Environmental Specialist > Iowa Department of Natural Resources > Air Quality Bureau > 7900 Hickman Road Suite 1 > Urbandale, IA 50322 > 515-281-6729 > 515-242-5094 fax > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > - - - - - - > To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, > see: > http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Search - Find what you’re looking for faster http://search.yahoo.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp