IEC Reviewing Iowa DNR's Proposed Feedlot Rules
posted
on Tuesday, August 16, 2022
in
Water and Land News
On August 12, 2022, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) released proposed revisions of Iowa’s animal feeding operation (AFO) rules for public comment, as it had proposed to do in its response to an IEC petition for rulemaking to protect karst and drinking water. The Environmental Protection Commission ultimately denied the karst and drinking water petition, stating they anticipated it would be addressed as part of the DNR’s five-year review process.
The rules also address a second IEC petition to protect floodplains, which is still pending. The proposed rules would adopt a floodplain map, as IEC requested, by adding it to the DNR’s AFO Siting Atlas. As noted in IEC’s petition, the legislature directed DNR in 2002 to adopt a floodplain map that would restrict feedlot construction in the 100-year floodplain.
We are digging into other aspects of the 135 pages of draft rules, which address a range of siting, construction, and manure management issues. IEC will work with our member organizations in evaluating the proposed changes and recommending additional revisions.
The DNR is seeking comments on this issue. Once IEC has prepared our comments, we will share our insights and encourage IEC members and supporters to submit comments to the DNR by the October 7 deadline.
- cafos
- dnr
- flooding
- karst