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1.      EPC to address water issues in December meeting

2.      Limits on winter manure application for confinements start late December 

3.      Shopping bags may contain lead in violation of state laws; overall compliance improving

 

EPC TO ADDRESS WATER ISSUES IN DECEMBER MEETING

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Jerah Sheets at 515-(515) 313-8909 or [log in to unmask].

 

WINDSOR HEIGHTS – The Environmental Protection Commission will consider a final rule affecting underground storage tanks and several contracts at the Dec. 18 meeting.

 

The meeting was originally scheduled as a phone conference, but will be held at 10 a.m. in the DNR’s Air Quality facilities, 7900 Hickman Road in Windsor Heights. Public participation is scheduled for 10:10 a.m.

 

The DNR is working with owners and operators of underground storage tanks to extend a Jan. 1, 2013 deadline to update their piping leak detection equipment. If approved, the emergency rule would allow an extra year to meet rule requirements for filling stations and other facilities that allow customers to purchase fuel when there are no attendants present. It would give the DNR time to research and evaluate options that may be more affordable and still protect against petroleum releases. 

 

In other action, commissioners will be asked to amend a contract with Iowa State University to include providing historical aerial photos that can help DNR evaluate changes in the Iowa landscape. For example, the photos could be used to track changes in landscape features such as water, forests, grasslands, prairie potholes, floods or the use of conservation practices.

 

The complete agenda follows.

 

·         Approval of Agenda

·         Approval of Minutes

·         Director’s Remarks

·         Public Comments

·         Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund – FY 2013 Intended Use Plans Third Quarter Updates

·         Contract with IDALS Division of Soil Conservation for Iowa Learning Farms Project

·         Solid Waste Alternatives Program – Contract Recommendations

·         Amendment – ISU– Historic Aerial Photography Project

·         Final Rule - Chapters 135, Technical Standards and Corrective Action Requirements for Owners and Operators of Underground Storage Tanks (piping leak detection at unstaffed facilities)

·         General Discussion

o   EPC Annual Report

·         Items for Next Month’s Meeting

o   January 15 – Wallace Building, Des Moines 

o   January 16 – Joint NRC/EPC Meeting – Wallace Building

o   February 19 – Proposed Teleconference Meeting

 

Find more information on the EPC agenda items at www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/BoardsCommissions.aspx. 

 

The members of the commission are David Petty, Eldora, Chair; John Glenn, Centerville, Vice-Chair; Mary Boote, Des Moines, Secretary; Dee Bruemmer, Davenport; Nancy Couser, Nevada; Cindy Greiman, Garner; Brent Rastetter, Ames; Max Smith, Knoxville; and Joanne Stockdale, Okoboji. The director of the DNR is Chuck Gipp.

 

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LIMITS ON WINTER MANURE APPLICATION FOR CONFINEMENTS START LATE DECEMBER 

 

MEDIA CONTACTS: Gene Tinker at (563) 927-2640 or [log in to unmask] or Ken Hessenius at (712) 262-4177 or [log in to unmask]

 

DES MOINES – Most animal and crop producers know there is greater potential for runoff and nutrient loss following winter manure application. State law, however, sets some dates when producers with confinements can – and can’t – apply liquid manure on snow-covered or frozen ground.

 

The law does not apply to manure from open feedlots or dry manure, or in the case of emergencies.

 

It does apply to confinement (totally roofed) facilities with liquid manure that have 500 or more animal units. Generally, 500 animal units would be 1,250 finishing hogs; 5,000 nursery pigs; 500 steers, immature dairy cows or other cattle; or 357 mature dairy cows.

 

“The research shows that the later in the season and the closer to spring snowmelt that you land apply manure, the greater the risk that manure-laden runoff will reach a stream,” said Gene Tinker, coordinator of DNR’s animal feeding operations.

 

“In winter, it’s particularly important to use common sense and choose areas far from a stream, on flat land with little snow cover,” Tinker said. “Because this is surface application, the manure applicator must follow setbacks from certain buildings and environmentally sensitive areas.”

 

The law limits liquid manure application from Dec. 21 to April 1 if the ground is snow-covered. If manure can be properly injected or incorporated, it can be land applied during this time. Snow-covered ground is defined as soil having one inch or more of snow cover or one-half inch or more of ice cover. 

Starting Feb. 1, confinement producers with 500 or more animal units will also be limited to emergencies if applying liquid manure on frozen ground. The rules are available online under Chapter 65 of the Iowa Administrative Code/Environmental Protection Commission.

Emergencies are defined by state law as unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the producer such as natural disaster, unusual weather conditions, or equipment or structural failure.

 

Producers must call the local DNR field office before they apply to report emergency applications. They can apply manure only to fields identified for emergency application in the manure management plan that have a Phosphorus Index of 2 or less. DNR field specialists may have ideas or suggestions for producers on specific sites or risks. Field office locations and phone numbers are available at www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/DNRStaffOffices/EnvironmentalFieldOffices.aspx.

 

More information on the protected areas is available at www.iowadnr.gov/portals/idnr/uploads/afo/sepdstb4.pdf?amp;tabid=1465. Recommendations from the Iowa Manure Management Action Group about applying manure in winter are available at www.agronext.iastate.edu/immag/pubs/imms/vol3.pdf.

 

# # #

 

SHOPPING BAGS MAY CONTAIN LEAD IN VIOLATION OF STATE LAWS; OVERALL COMPLIANCE IMPROVING

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Kathleen Hennings at 515-281-5859 or [log in to unmask].

 

DES MOINES – Vibrant solid-colored shopping bags are at risk for containing high concentrations of lead in violation of Iowa laws; however, overall compliance is improving.

 

The Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) screened 125 single-use shopping and mailing bags for the presence of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium in the inks used to print or color the bags. These toxic metals are regulated in packaging by 19 U.S. states, including Iowa.

 

Only three bags failed the screening test for lead. However, each of the failing samples contained about 1 percent lead by weight of the bag. “This means that for every 100 pounds of these shopping bags, we’re introducing about 1 pound of lead into commerce,” according to Dr. Alex Stone of the State of Washington’s Department of Ecology.

 

“These bags ultimately end up in our incinerators, landfills or recycling streams. Lead is considered a persistent, bio-accumulative toxin. It’s a metal and isn’t destroyed, but only accumulates,” Stone added. 

 

Only one of the bags was marked with the country of origin, and in that case it was manufactured in the U.S. “It was a surprise to find a packaging sample manufactured in the U.S. that violated our state laws,” said Kathleen Hennings of the Iowa DNR. “In the past we’ve typically only found lead and cadmium in packaging manufactured overseas.” States are working with these companies to address the issues identified.

 

Overall, compliance has improved with state toxics in packaging laws. An earlier screening project by the TPCH released in 2007 showed almost 17 percent non-compliance for plastic shopping bags of a total of 60 samples screened. The clearinghouse included some retail brand shopping bags that failed in the 2007 project in the current screening. The results on these new bags indicated they were in compliance.

 

The TPCH uses x-ray fluorescence analysis to screen packaging routinely for regulated metals. Several studies during the past few years show that manufacturers and distributors must be vigilant about their packaging materials, particularly PVC packaging sourced from overseas.

                                                                                   

Administered by the Northeast Recycling Council, Inc., the TPCH supports and helps states fulfill their packaging laws. Nineteen U.S. states have toxics in packaging requirements. Ten states, including Iowa, are clearinghouse members. The clearinghouse’s mission is to reduce the amount and toxicity of packaging at the source, before it enters the solid waste stream.

 

For more information, go to http://www.toxicsinpackaging.org/.

 

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