Capitol to be environment hotbed Ethanol incentives and local hog enclosure control are among the possibilities. By PERRY BEEMAN REGISTER STAFF WRITER January 3, 2007 Iowa lawmakers face an unusually busy session when it comes to environmental issues. The actions they might take could affect the way Iowans get electricity for their homes, how much ethanol they use, and the quality of the water in lakes and streams. This year's legislation could change the condition of state parks, the income of bottle and can redemption centers, and the restrictions on the livestock industry. Gov.-elect Chet Culver hasn't formed much of his environmental agenda, said spokesman Brad Anderson. Culver continues to meet with legislative leaders. However, in his campaign, Culver supported local control of livestock operations, more assistance for the ethanol industry, and a push for more alternative energy sources such as wind turbines. Democrats, who control both houses of the Legislature, are also firming up plans, key lawmakers said. Next week, for the first time in 42 years, Iowa's political leaders will be a Democratic governor and a Legislature fully controlled by his own party. Although neither party has a lock on environmental issues, the Democrats have tended to put more emphasis than the Republicans on new regulations and spending on environmental protection. That has some environmentalists excited at the prospect that they might get their way after years of negotiating first with a Republican-controlled Legislature, then with a split-power Senate and a Republican House. Environmentalists and advocates of local livestock zoning from across the state encouraged people to vote for Culver. However, their enthusiasm was tempered before Culver even finished plans for his inauguration. Shortly after the election, Democratic leaders said the issue appears dead because the Democrats are split on the matter. Like many Republicans, some Democrats fear local control would disrupt a keystone Iowa industry by leading to widely varying rules from place to place. Jeff Vonk, ending some six years as director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which regulates livestock, has called that argument a smoke screen because the state's uniform environmental requirements would apply even if counties decided where confinements could be built. Vonk will lose his job when Culver takes office this month. The new governor has nominated Rich Leopold, executive director of the nonprofit Iowa Environmental Council, to replace Vonk. The livestock debate is raging in Iowa. Hog-confinement neighbors complain more than ever about odors. They fear confinement emissions hurt their health. Groups such as the Iowa Pork Producers Association and the Coalition to Support Iowa's Farmers have worked with hundreds of Iowa farmers to promote techniques aimed at reducing odors and water pollution, but the complaints continue. Recently, an international team of scientists led by University of Iowa toxicologist Peter Thorne issued six papers and a list of recommendations that included calling a moratorium on construction of confinements while the health questions are researched, an approach used by No. 2 hog producer North Carolina. That idea has virtually no chance of serious debate in Iowa's Legislature, lawmakers say. Leopold is among those opposing a moratorium. The idea of county control over livestock operations, repeatedly blocked by lawmakers, remains divisive. "I have yet had anyone tell me that local control works," said Sen. Dennis Black, the Democratic head of the Senate natural resources committee. "You would essentially eliminate the hog industry in Iowa," said Black, of Grinnell. Sen. Mary Lundby, a Republican leader on environmental issues, said many county supervisors object, at least privately, to switching to local control. "County supervisors don't really like local control," said Lundby, of Marion. "It doesn't solve any problems." On the other hand, Lundby would like to make all confinements, regardless of size, comply with state permit requirements. Culver has said local officials know local conditions the best and deserve more of a say. Even the environmental lobby is split on what "local control" would mean. Most environmental groups, such as Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, want county zoning of agriculture. Leopold said county zoning may not necessarily be the answer. "Local control is a tool, not an end," he said. "It's not, 'get local control and the problems are over.' We're talking about air and quality, property rights and nuisance." There may be multiple ways to fight those problems, including enforcing the existing regulations, Leopold said. New state leaders are sorting out options on how to fight water and air pollution, said Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs. Lawmakers have discussed a compromise that appears to have political legs: Allowing county officials to ask for a no-confinement zone around certain areas, such as the Iowa Great Lakes. That would protect tourism economies while pointing confinement developers to areas where they might encounter less resistance, lawmakers said. Reporter Perry Beeman can be reached at (515) 284-8538 or [log in to unmask] ____________________________________________ Lyle Krewson Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter Lobbyist 1725 S. 50th Street #602 West Des Moines, IA 50265 [log in to unmask] 515-238-7113 - Cel ____________________________________________ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp