WATER QUALITY STANDARDS, ANIMAL FEEDING ON JANUARY EPC AGENDA

DES MOINES - Commissioners will decide whether or not to finalize
changes to the state water quality standards and act on several animal
feeding issues at the Jan. 17 meeting of the Environmental Protection
Commission.

The DNR will ask commissioners to approve a rule proposal that would
change water quality standards. If approved, those changes will increase
protection for recreation and aquatic life uses in perennial streams and
in intermittent streams with perennial pools.

Commissioners will be asked to finalize a rule that establishes methods
to gather information regarding the aquatic life uses for warm water
streams. This proposal renames two existing warm water aquatic life use
categories and adds a third category that protects intermittent streams
with perennial pools.

Commissioners will also be asked to approve a rule proposal that would
allow the DNR greater latitude to place conditions on proposed
confinements that need a manure management plan or construction permit
prior to building. The rule would be used if the proposed facility could
potentially cause a threat to water quality. 

The EPC will meet at 10:00 a.m., Jan. 17, at the DNR office, 7900
Hickman Road in Urbandale. Public participation is scheduled for 10:30
a.m.  A hearing for the Hancock County Board of Supervisors on the Otis
Finisher Farm is scheduled for 1 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.
 

Commissioners will also meet on Jan. 18 in the Wallace State Office
Building auditorium, 902 East Ninth St. in Des Moines, from 10 a.m. to 3
p.m. to discuss non-point source water pollution.  Dr. Dennis Keeney
will present information on crop and nutrient management at 10 a.m. Dr.
William Crumpton will present information at 11 a.m. on how nutrient
loading can be reduced with wetlands, farm ponds and drainage
management. The meeting is open to the public.

The complete agenda for the Jan. 17 meeting follows:
- Approval of Agenda
- Approval of Minutes
- Director's Remarks
- IDPH Contract for Brownfield Assistance
- Final Rule - Amend IAC 567-Chapter 101; "Solid Waste Comprehensive
Planning Requirements" 
- Final Rule - Rescind IAC 567-Chapter 211 "Grants for Regional
Collection Centers of Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators and
Household Hazardous Wastes". Adopt both IAC 567-Chapter 211
"Financial Assistance for the Collection of Household Hazardous
Materials and Hazardous Waste From Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity
Generators" and IAC 567-Chapter 123 "Regional Collection Centers and
Mobile Unit Collection and Consolidation Center" in lieu thereof.
- Final Rule - Amendments to Chapter 135, Technical Standards and
Corrective Action Requirements for Owners and Operators of Underground
Storage Tanks and Chapter 134, Certification of Groundwater
Professionals
- Final Rule - Water Quality Standards
- Final Rule - Chapter 65: Technical Corrections and Additions to Table
1: Major Water Sources - Rivers and Streams
- Emergency/ Notice of Intended Action - Chapter 65: Technical
Corrections to 65.17 Manure Management Plan Content Requirements
- Notice of Intended Action - Amend IAC 567 Chapter 105 - "Organic
Materials Composting Facilities"
- Notice of Intended Action -  amendment to rule regarding department
evaluation; denial of or condition of construction permits or
disapproval or modification of MMPs for confinement feeding operations
- Referrals to the Attorney General
      a) Fred Miller, dba Earthworks Contracting (Cherokee) - Air
Quality and Solid Waste
     b) Proposed Contested Case Decisions  
Rick Nikkel
Patrick Jones
Rick Halma
Matt Gehling
- Proposed Rule - Chapter 135 Uniform Environmental Covenants Policy
and Procedures.
- Proposed Rule - Chapter 64 - Wastewater Construction and Operation
Permits
- Proposed Rule - Chapters 50-54 - Water Use and Water Allocation
Rules
- Monthly Reports
- General Discussion
- Items for next month's meeting
- Upcoming Meetings
    February 20, 2006
    March 20, 2006
    April 21, 2006

More information about the agenda items can be found on the DNR Web
site under Commissions and Boards at www.iowadnr.com. 

The members of the commission are Darrell Hanson, chair, Manchester;
Jerry Peckumn, vice chair, Jefferson; Lisa Davis-Cook, secretary, West
Des Moines; Francis Thicke, Fairfield; Donna Buell, Spirit Lake; Mary
Gail Scott, Cedar Rapids; David Petty, Eldora; Suzanne Morrow, Storm
Lake; and Henry Marquard, Muscatine. The director of the DNR is Jeff
Vonk. 

For more information, contact Karen Grimes at (515) 281-51325.

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