Here is the action alert that was sent out regarding the triennial review. We want the DNR to make nutrient reduction the top priority.
Wally Taylor
DNR: Make Nutrient Reduction a Priority
Prioritize Nutrient Reduction in Triennial Review
Iowans are invited to attend one of six public water quality
meetings held by the DNR across the state. The DNR is gathering Iowans’
thoughts on improving the state’s water quality goals as part of its
three-year review of water quality standards and goals.
The meetings are part of the triennial review process set forth in the federal Clean Water Act, providing opportunity to the public to help set state goals for streams and rivers.
The triennial review process ensures water quality standards, as listed in Chapter 61 of the Iowa Administrative Code, are up-to-date. After identifying issues, the DNR will develop a work plan to address the concerns.
The meetings are part of the triennial review process set forth in the federal Clean Water Act, providing opportunity to the public to help set state goals for streams and rivers.
The triennial review process ensures water quality standards, as listed in Chapter 61 of the Iowa Administrative Code, are up-to-date. After identifying issues, the DNR will develop a work plan to address the concerns.
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Sierra Club Iowa Chapter asserts that the priority issue is
nutrient reduction.
In 2012, DNR reported to the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) that 480 of Iowa’s waterbodies were impaired with 642 impairments. The reports are submitted every two years so
another impaired waters report will be submitted to EPA again for 2014. The number of impairments steadily have risen
in the past decade. Although
agricultural-related impairments don’t account for 100 percent of the impairments,
they contribute to enough impairments that nutrient reduction needs to be
addressed by DNR.
The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy was developed to reduce
the size, severity and duration of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. As of August 18, 2014, the dead zone in the
northern Gulf was 5,052 square miles[i] or
roughly the area of Connecticut.
Closer to home, nutrients force
local water utilities to operate expensive equipment to clean water suitable
for drinking. Nutrients that find their
way to groundwater can cause cancer and Blue Baby Syndrome in infants by reducing the
blood’s capacity to carry oxygen, which can cause death or serious health
issues. Both private wells and urban drinking water sources can be polluted by
manure and commercial fertilizers.
Currently, DNR is considering as its top priorities:
- Copper criteria
- Whether metals criteria should be expressed as total recoverable metals or dissolved metals
- Modifying the waste load allocation procedure
The Iowa Chapter continues to believe that the Department of
Natural Resources, with its expertise and experience in point-source pollution,
is the best entity for implementing any programs that will effectively reduce
nutrients.