IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES August 30, 2007For immediate release 1. Storm water, analysis of manure on soybeans and recreational useof waters on EPC agenda2. September 11 pasture walk to highlight Loess Hills grassbank 3. New rules proposed to control air quality at grain elevators STORM WATER, ANALYSIS OF MANURE ON SOYBEANS AND RECREATIONAL USE OFWATERS ON EPC AGENDA MEDIA CONTACT: Karen Grimes at (515) 281-5135. DES MOINES - The Environmental Protection Commission will learn aboutstorm water, discuss procedures regarding recreational uses of Iowarivers and streams, and consider a proposed rule limiting liquid manureapplication at the Sept. 4 meeting. The meeting opens at 10 a.m., followed by a presentation from DavidOsterberg of the Iowa Policy Group on “Managing Iowa Storm Water forQuantity and Quality.” In other action, commissioners will be asked to approve a proposal thatformalizes the data collection procedure used to assess recreationaluses for Iowa waters. These uses are considered when pollutant limitsare established for industrial and municipal discharges. Commissioners will also be asked to approve publishing and collectingpublic comments on a regulatory analysis of the impact of a proposedrule. The rule would limit the application of liquid manure on groundthat is planned for or growing soybeans. Public comments are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. The meeting will be heldat the DNR Air Quality Building, 7900 Hickman Road, in Urbandale. There are three appointments scheduled for the afternoon to discussreferrals to the Attorney General. Creston Bean Processing has anappointment at 1:30 p.m. followed by Matrix Metals at 2:30 p.m.Siouxland Energy and Livestock Cooperative has the third appointment at3:30 p.m. The full agenda is as follows: * Approval of Agenda* Approval of Minutes* Director’s Remarks* Budget Overview* Budget Request for FY 2009* Solid Waste Alternatives Program - Recommendations* Proposed Rule - Amend IAC 567 Chapter 213 “Packaging HeavyMetal Content”* Final Rule - Chapter 28, Update to Ambient Air Quality Standards * Final Rule - Chapters 103.3, 104.26, 112.31, 114.31, 115.31,118.16, 120.13, 121.8, 122.28, 122.29 and 123.12 & to amend rules105.14, 106.18 - Financial Assurance Requirements* Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund - FY2008 Intended Use Plans Second Quarter Updates* Referrals to the Attorney Generala) Siouxland Energy and Livestock Cooperative (Sioux Center) - AirQualityb) Creston Bean Processing, L.L.C. (Creston) - Air Qualityc) Matrix Metals LLC, dba Keokuk Steel Castings Co. (Keokuk) - AirQuality* Notice of Intended Action - Regulatory Analysis: Chapter65-Subrules prohibiting liquid manure/settled open feedlot effluentapplication to soybeans* Notice of Intended Action - UAA’s: Recreational Use protocol* Monthly Reports UAA update* General Discussion Next Meeting: Monday, October 1 - Des Moines* Items for next month's meeting More information about the agenda items can be found on the DNR Website under Commissions and Boards at www.iowadnr.gov. The members of the commission are Darrell Hanson, chair, Manchester;Mary Gail Scott, vice chair, Cedar Rapids; Suzanne Morrow, secretary,Storm Lake; Charlotte Hubbell, Des Moines; Henry Marquard, Muscatine;David Petty, Eldora; Ralph Klemme, LeMars; Susan Heathcote, Des Moines;and Paul Johnson, Decorah. The director of the DNR is Richard Leopold. Writer: Karen Grimes # # # SEPTEMBER 11 PASTURE WALK TO HIGHLIGHT LOESS HILLS GRASSBANK MEDIA CONTACT: Austin Sewell at (712) 792-6248. PISGAH -- Cattle producers in the Loess Hills area are invited toattend a pasture walk Sept. 11, highlighting the second year of theLoess Hills Grassbank project. Near Pisgah, the Loess Hills Grassbank allows local cattle producers tograze their herds on leased grassbank land while making renovations totheir own pastureland. Cattle producers from Dunlap and Magnolia haveherds on approximately 160 acres of DNR land near Pisgah which isallocated to the grassbank this year. During the pasture walk, producers may learn details on how thegrassbank can be used, and the importance of grazing to biodiversity andenvironmental conservation. They will also learn about cost-shareopportunities for grazing and pasture improvements or restorations.Other topics to be covered include grazing native grasses and managinggrazing for multiple objectives, such as agricultural production andwildlife conservation. Guest speakers will be experts in grazing and wildlife management. The pasture walk will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a supper providedby Community Bank of west central Iowa. The event will conclude by 7:30p.m. The grassbank is located two miles south of Pisgah on State Highway183. Signs will be posted. Development of the Loess Hills Grassbank is funded by a grant from theNatural Resources Conservation Service and is administered by the LoessHills Alliance and Agren, Inc., a private consulting firm based inCarroll. For more information, contact Austin Sewell, Agren’s GrazingSpecialist, at 712-792-6248 or by e-mail at [log in to unmask] Writer: Karen Grimes# # # NEW RULES PROPOSED TO CONTROL AIR QUALITY AT GRAIN ELEVATORS MEDIA CONTACT: Jim McGraw, Environmental Program Supervisor, (515)242-5167 DES MOINES - New rules that would assist grain elevators in complyingwith air regulations and ensure continued protection of human healthnear grain elevators will be open for public comment at threeinformational meetings/public hearings to be held this fall. Many grain elevators have been largely unregulated since 1978. AlthoughIowa’s air quality has continued to be in attainment with nationalstandards, operations at grain elevators can emit substantial quantitiesof particulate matter in the vicinity of grain elevators. Particulatematter is a pollutant that can cause respiratory problems and exacerbateexisting respiratory problems for people with asthma and lung and heartdiseases. The DNR partnered with the Agribusiness Association of Iowa to developthe new rules. Those rules include streamlined permitting proceduresdesigned to greatly simplify the permitting process for most grainelevators. The rules also clarify the applicability of existing stateand federal particulate matter emission limits. Of the three types of grain elevators covered under the proposal, thevast majority (more than 700) are country grain elevators. In additionto permitting requirements, the proposal sets a new particulate emissionlimit for storage bin vents at country grain elevators. All countrygrain elevators would also be required to adopt best managementpractices to control air pollution and to limit fugitive dust fromcrossing their property lines. The three informational meetings followed by public hearings will beheld Monday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. in the conference rooms at the DNR AirQuality Bureau in Urbandale; Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 1 p.m. in the AmanaRoom at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids; and Tuesday, Oct. 2at 1 p.m. at the Clay County Regional Events Center, 800 West 18th St.,Spencer. Written comments may also be submitted to the DNR Air Quality Office nolater than Oct. 3, 2007. Additional information is posted on the DNR Website at www.iowadnr.gov/air/input/input.html. Writer: Mindy Kralicek - 30 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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 Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. 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