Coming To Iowa’s Rivers: More Hog Poo
The DNR asked for more authority to protect Iowa’s wateways from being threatened by the growing hog confinment industry…. instead the legislature says “Quit picking on polluters!”
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources had asked for the power to protect waterways from factory farm pollution, but instead received backlash from lawmakers who accuse the agency of overstepping its authority.The Legislature on Wednesday passed a bill that strips DNR director Jeff Vonk of his ability to deny construction permits to livestock confinements that meet state requirements but may pose environmental risks.
Lawmakers said they want the DNR to approve permits by the rule of law, not at the agency’s or its director’s discretion.
“We have not had a high degree of confidence in the department,” said Rep. Jack Drake, R-Lewis, a proponent of the bill.
Vonk’s request for more authority through an administrative rules change came earlier this year as factory farm construction reached record highs for five years in a row. In 2005, the DNR approved 203 permits—the bulk of them for the $12 billion hog industry in Iowa, the largest in the nation.
As of April 28 this year, the DNR had handled 358 permits, DNR officials said. The agency has rejected a handful of those permits, mostly because they didn’t meet manure management plan requirements.
CAFO construction is at record highs, Iowa’s water quality is at record lows…. and we want to step on the gas?
- Sousy
May 4th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
I made the mistake once to take a dip in the Iowa River outside the IMU. I had just finished playing mud volleyball and was covered in mud. The river cleaned all the mud off of me, and I went back to the dorm and showered. I then tossed all of my close that I had worn in the dumpster outside. The entire dorm floor stank for a week from the odors I brought back from that river. That was back in 1999.
May 4th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Heh… “mud”.
May 4th, 2006 at 3:18 pm
I walked on it when it was frozen solid a few times. The rubber on the soles of my shoes was eaten clean through.
(ok. not really)