Hello Jim, Many of us do not agree with the approach IEC is taking. I've tried to explain to them that efforts to "fix" sections 1,2, and 3 of SF2363 is very risky, with great potential to backfire. Steve At 03:11 PM 3/15/2006, you wrote: >Lyle and Jane, > >I will write as many senators as I can, but look at the DM Register >articles and Richard Leopold's quote. They seem to imply that the SEnate >bill will not stand in the way, but will help. > >Jim > > >Front page, below the fold: > >Published March 14, 2006 >What's next >The Iowa Senate is expected to consider Senate File 2363 early next week. >That bill addresses water quality issues. The current version does not block >the basic approach of new rules intended to protect Iowa rivers and streams >for fishing, swimming and other recreation as required by the 1972 federal >Clean Water Act. Read the latest version of the bill. > > > >"We are pleased," said Jeff Vonk, director of the Iowa Department of Natural >Resources. "It's a huge step forward for the state of Iowa." > >Vonk noted that state loans are available for some of the work. In some >cases, the state may decide improvements are too costly to warrant the work, >Vonk said. > >Richard Leopold, director of the nonprofit Iowa Environmental Council, >applauded the new rules. He said a related legislative bill, Senate File >2363, does not appear to block the limits. Instead, it seeks to help cities >comply without excess cost. > > > >________________________________ > >From: Iowa Discussion, Alerts and Announcements on behalf of Jane Clark >Sent: Wed 3/15/2006 9:47 AM >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: please clarify Water Quality Alert < Take Action Now > > > >Jim--the confusion comes from the fact that DNR's water quality standards >RULES went before the 10-member Legislative Administrative Rules Review >Committee (ARRC) Monday, and those Legislators on the ARRC let these new DNR >rules stand. > >However, there is also a BILL (SF 2363) before the entire Legislative body >that could be harmful to the implementation of DNR's rules on water quality >standards, it confuses the issue, delays the process--and it is unnecessary. > >Jane Clark > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Redmond, Jim" <[log in to unmask]> >To: <[log in to unmask]> >Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 2:54 PM >Subject: Re: please clarify Water Quality Alert < Take Action Now > > >Is SF2363 innocuous, harmful, or helpful. Today's messages point in >different directions. >Jim > >-----Original Message----- > >From: Lyle Krewson, Sierra Club Chapter Lobbyist > >Environmentalists win Round One! >Water Quality Rules approved by Administrative Rules Review Committee. > >Next Action Needed! > >Email or call your Senator now. Ask them to vote "No" on SF 2363 the >Water Quality Standards bill. Tell them you do not need this legislation, >you want them to allow the Water Quality Standards rules promulgated by >the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to take effect as approved by the >Administrative Rules Review Committee earlier this week. Those rules >bring Iowa into compliance with the federal Clean Water Act for the first >time >in 30 years...one of the final 5-6 states to come into compliance. > >This water quality bill is the big issue of the 2006 Session for Sierra >Club! It's the issue you have been reading about in the Iowa >Sierran newsletter, which is now also posted on our website at >http://iowa.sierraclub.org and in the Des Moines Register and other Iowa >papers, in the recent months. > >Emphasize that you want Iowa to be in compliance with good water quality >standards as enforced by the federal EPA. The rules do that. > >Remind them that you and your children want clean streams and lakes for >recreation, quality of life, and for drinking water sources. The rules >set that into motion. > >So, email or call them now, tell them we do not need this legislation, >and that we need to allow the rules promulgated by the Iowa Department of >Natural Resources to take effect as passed. No legislative action should >impede the implementation. That is the central message. > >Tell them you support a funding mechanism, state grants and loans, to >assist communities in attaining compliance with their waste water treatment >systems. You want progress soon! > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: >[log in to unmask] > > > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: >[log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]