IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
February 1, 2007
For immediate release

1. Environmental Protection Commission to meet in Dubuque Feb. 6
2. Confinement manure applicator training offered until late February
3. Greenfield bypasses wastewater to corn field

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMMISSION TO MEET IN DUBUQUE FEBRUARY 6

MEDIA CONTACT: Karen Grimes at (515) 281-5135.

DUBUQUE - The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission will hear presentations on hazardous waste collection and a state recreation area at its Feb. 6 meeting in Dubuque.

"Eighty-one counties have access to a regional collection center for hazardous materials such as paint, cleaners or garden chemicals; but only five percent of Iowans use their local centers," said Monica Stone with the DNR's waste management program.

Commissioners will hear an update on the status of the collection centers and educational programs to increase their usage.

Stone said that it's important to dispose of hazardous materials properly because of the danger to human health and the environment. Household hazardous materials can also present a poison threat, particularly to children and pets.

In other action, commissioners will be asked to approve changes to the Intended Use Plan for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. The proposal would extend loan terms from a maximum of 20 years to 30 years.

The longer term may make the low interest loans more affordable for some communities. It may also encourage cities to complete needed water quality projects such as updating their sewer and wastewater treatment systems.

At noon, commissioners will eat lunch while Wayne Buchholtz, a DNR park ranger, presents a program on the nearby Mines of Spain State Recreation Area.

The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. at the Grand River Center, Meeting Room 4, 500 Bell St. in Dubuque. Public participation is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. The meeting is open to the public.

The meeting will be preceded by a tour of the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, 350 East Third St., Dubuque, at 3 p.m., with dinner scheduled at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 5.

The complete agenda follows:

* Approval of Agenda
* Approval of Minutes
* Director's Remarks
* Regional Collection Center Establishment Grants - Contract Recommendations
* Contract - IAMU - Agreement 2007-7158-01, Viability Technical Assistance
* Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund - 2007 Intended Use Plan Update to Allow Extended Term Financing
* Contract - 28E Agreement between DNR and the Iowa Department of Revenue
* Final Rules: Chapters 21, 22, 23, 25, 33 and 34, Air Quality Program Rules - Updates, Revisions, and Additions
* Notice of Intended Action - Chapter 64 --- Wastewater Construction and Operation Permits
* Solid Waste Enforcement Update
* Monthly Reports
* General Discussion
-- Next Meeting: March  6, 2007 - Des Moines
* Items for next month's meeting

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

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

Writer: Karen Grimes

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CONFINEMENT MANURE APPLICATOR TRAINING OFFERED UNTIL LATE FEBRUARY

MEDIA CONTACT: Jeff Prier at (712) 262-4177 or Karen Grimes at (515) 281-5135.

DES MOINES - Confinement site manure applicators can take applicator certification training in February at local Extension offices throughout the state.

"About half of the 77 two-hour training sessions have already been offered," said Jeff Prier, coordinator of the DNR's manure applicator certification program. "But there's still time to take training and get certified by March 1."

Those who can't attend a training session can schedule an appointment to watch a video training at any county Extension office.

Topics this year include manure and crop production; soil compaction causes, symptoms and controls; and applicator and land application rules.

Confinement site applicators obtain a three-year certificate. They can become certified by taking annual training - attending a two-hour training session each of the three years - or by taking a test. Applicators who become certified initially by passing a test do not need to take the annual training.

Confinement site applicators who miss one of the three training sessions must take a make-up test before they can renew their certificate.

The DNR offers tests, both the makeup tests and tests to become certified, at the regional field offices. To schedule a test, contact one of the following DNR field offices and make an appointment:

* Northeast Iowa, Manchester, (563) 927-2640.
* North Central Iowa, Mason City, (641) 424-4073.
* Northwest Iowa, Spencer, (712) 262-4177.
* Southwest Iowa, Atlantic, (712) 243-1934.
* South Central Iowa, Des Moines, (515) 725-0268.
* Southeast Iowa, Washington, (319) 653-2135.

Prier added that both commercial and confinement site manure applicators must be certified before applying manure in Iowa.

The fee for confinement applicator certification is $100. There is also a $25 education charge for training or for taking a test. Applicators who renew their certificates after March 1 will also need to pay a $12.50 late fee.

A list of training sessions is available on the Iowa Manure Management Action Group's (IMMAG) Web site at http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/immag/certification/07confdates.html. More information is also available on the DNR Web site at http://www.iowadnr.gov/afo/appcert.html.

There are more than 1,500 confinement site manure applicators and 1,400 commercial manure applicators certified in Iowa.

Writer: Karen Grimes

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GREENFIELD BYPASSES WASTEWATER TO CORN FIELD

MEDIA CONTACT: Jerry Jordison or Kirk Mathis at (712) 243-1934

GREENFIELD - A mechanical failure led the City of Greenfield to bypass wastewater to a corn field on Wednesday.

The city's wastewater operator reported the bypass to the DNR at 1:30 Wednesday following a pump failure at a lift station. Two submersible pumps in the city's north lift station stopped pumping, most likely because of a plug. City employees were unable to remove the pumps manually, and a backup pump failed to work.

The city pumped wastewater to a nearby corn field to allow city staff to remove the submersible pumps for repair. The city estimates it pumped about 15,000 to 20,000 gallons of wastewater into the field, where it pooled. The lift station and corn field are located just north of Greenfield along state Highway 25.

A small stream runs adjacent to the field, but city officials do not anticipate the wastewater will reach the stream.

Writer: Jessie Brown

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