Laura Sands is running against Brad Zaun for the seat being vacated by Sen. Jack Holveck. Sierra Club Questionnaire Laura Sands Iowa State Senate Candidate - District 32 1. Iowa's surface water has many uses: fishing, swimming, and drinking water. What programs would you support to monitor Iowa's water bodies and develop plans to clean up the impaired waters? What could the state do to help reduce polluted runoff from both agriculture and urban areas? I strongly support more efforts to improve water quality monitoring and clean up Iowa's impaired waters. I support a myriad of programs that would increase the quality of our water and reduce polluted runoff from agriculture and urban areas. Some of these include the following: Environment First Fund, REAP (fund at full level), conservation reserve programs that include more buffer strips, wetlands restoration, and watershed/floodplain protection. 2. The State of Iowa enacted legislation for the regulation of confinement livestock production. What improvements in current legislation would you support to ensure the protection of our natural resources and the rights of adjacent residents? Would you support the proposed air quality standard of 30 parts per billion for hydrogen sulfide? To ensure the protection of Iowa's natural resources and the rights of its residents, I support statewide environmental standards for livestock confinements and local control for communities regarding siting decisions. As a person who has worked in public health for twenty-five years, I too am concerned about air quality. The state cannot afford to put the health of Iowans at risk when it comes to this important standard. I understand that the proposal of 30 parts per billion for hydrogen sulfide was a compromise that was offered after the Governor vetoed a bill that would have negatively altered Iowa's air quality standards for animal feeding operations. I agree with the Governor's veto of this bill and would support efforts to improve our air quality standards. 3. Since 1975, Iowa has lost 1,000,000 acres of land to urban sprawl development. Over 80% of growth in Iowa currently takes place outside of urban limits. What legislation would you support that would save Iowa farmland and natural areas by stopping urban sprawl? I support planned and rationale development in Iowa. This includes making efficient use of the land and allowing for greenspaces. 4. Iowa has lost much of its biodiversity. Prairies, wetlands, and forests with its creatures have been replaced by farms and cities. The Sierra Club in Iowa has supported the following legislative efforts: a Natural Areas Inventory, prohibition of commercial logging in state parks, expansion and funding for a nongame program, and an Open Spaces goal. What legislation would you support/propose to increase or protect remaining wild areas in Iowa? I agree that more must be done to safeguard Iowa's biodiversity. I support legislation that creates more open spaces, fully funds REAP, preserves Iowa' s prairie, provides assistance for wetlands and soil conservation, and protects Iowa's endangered species. In addition, it is very important for the state to promote educational programs that help others to understand the value of biodiversity in Iowa. 5. The Loess Hills in Iowa are recognized worldwide for their unique landscape and geological value and for their cultural and archaeological resources. In 2001, the National Park Service (NPS) determined "the Loess Hills landform region is nationally significant as a topographic and geological combination not found elsewhere in the United States." The NPS Special Resource Study provided national recognition that these Western Hills of Iowa with their extensive prairie ecosystems are of "exceptional value." The Loess Hills contain most of Iowa's last native prairie (Iowa was once 85% prairie-99.9% is now gone.) What legislation would you support for state funding and assistance (through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources) to preserve these last native prairies of Iowa and this scenic landform? The importance of the Loess Hills to the State of Iowa is invaluable. I support continued efforts to protect and preserve the Loess Hills. This includes support of the Environment First Fund that provides funding to the Loess Hills Development and Conservation Fund and the Loess Hills Alliance. 6. Sierra Club supports efforts to reduce the consumption of vital and valuable fossil-fueled energy resources. What initiatives would you propose/support to achieve such a sustainable energy policy for Iowa? I also support efforts to reduce the consumption of vital and valuable fossil-fueled energy resources. Iowa must adopt an energy policy that is sustainable over the long-term. I would support a variety of initiatives including efforts to expand and promote wind and solar power and biomass opportunities. The state of Iowa needs to redouble its efforts with regards to energy efficiency. I support efforts to provide energy audits, promote energy efficiency technology, and give rebates on energy efficiency appliances. 7. Iowa has a deposit on the containers of carbonated beverages, wine, beer, and liquor. Sierra Club has supported expanding the bottle deposit law so that similar containers from same sources with other beverages would also have a deposit. What is your opinion on expanding or repealing this deposit system? I support Iowa's bottle deposit law. I am open to considering ways to improve the current system and ensure its long-term viability. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Make your voice heard! Find out how to get Take Action Alerts and other important Sierra Club messages by email at: http://www.sierraclub.org/email