Colleagues:
Re: SF 432, An Act regulating animal feeding operations, making penalties applicable, and...
SF 432 is the Manure Bill, with the first Division of the bill being the Liquid Manure on Frozen Ground issue. It allows the spread of liquid manure on snow or ice covered frozen ground under certain conditions. Sierra Club, and many Iowans, are absolutely opposed to the spread of liquid manure on top of snow, ice or frozen ground. The risk of runoff into Iowa’s streams and lakes is quite high from such activity, especially upon thawing. Fundamentally this bill limits State implementation of Clean Water Act rules.
Several days ago the Senate passed this bill, and the Iowa House is set to debate it as soon as next week. The Floor Manager of the bill is Rep. Ray Zirkelbach, from Monticello. He especially needs to hear your concerns; we want to get him to at least compromise on this issue.
WE NEED YOUR ACTION now!
Please call or email the legislators designated below to let them know of your Sierra Club displeasure with this bill. Tell them you want the Liquid Manure division of SF 432 removed...I repeat...REMOVED! Tell them you do not want liquid manure applied over frozen ground, snow or ice. Tell them this is about whether Iowa really intends to achieve better water quality.
Along with Rep. Zirkelbach as the floor manager, Reps. Murphy, McCarthy, Reasoner, Donovan Olson, and Bukta need especially to hear how bad this bill is. If we can get enough pressure to them, we can perhaps still forge some compromise on the outstanding issues in this bill.
So far DNR is registered ‘Against’ on this bill. I have registered Sierra Club ‘Against’ it, and we are joined by Iowa Farmer’s Union, Iowa Environmental Council, Raccoon River Watershed Association, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, and the Izaak Walton League; great company!
Please each of you from the ExComm, speaking on behalf of the Club and your position in it, let these 7 legislators know where you stand. In addition, pass this info on to key folks in your groups and ask them to do the same, perhaps help them to do it. While we’re at it, send your same email message to the Governor...he needs to hear this one too.
Here are the subcommittee email addresses, and the House Switchboard is 515-281-3221. BUT, please as a preference, call them at home over the weekend at their phone numbers below, and follow up with an email confirming your conversation, or the voicemail message you left.
Thank you for taking this important action. We stopped them on Anti-Degradation with your calls; let’s do it on this one!
Lyle Krewson
Chapter Lobbyist
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Lyle Krewson
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter Lobbyist
1725 S. 50th Street #602
West Des Moines, IA 50265
515-238-7113 - Cel
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