DES MOINES – The Environmental Protection Commission will meet at 10 a.m. Feb. 19 in the auditorium of the Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St. in Des Moines.
At the start of the meeting, Commissioners will be asked to approve or deny a petition for rulemaking that would set numeric water quality standards for nutrient levels in some public lakes.
Next on the agenda, at 11 a.m., commissioners will hear two referrals to the Attorney General’s office. The DNR recommends referring Phoenix Investors, LLC, and JB2 Environmental concerning alleged asbestos violations that occurred during an asbestos abatement project in Newton.
Following lunch, commissioners will hear a Demand for a Hearing from Story County on the Longview Pork, LLC, construction permit for an animal feeding operation.
The meeting is open to the public and time for public comment is scheduled for the petition and the Demand for a Hearing. To sign up to speak, contact Jerah Sheets prior to the start of that topic. To submit written comments or sign up prior to the meeting, contact Jerah Sheets at Jerah.Sheets@dnr.iowa.gov or by calling 515-313-8909 or mail to Jerah Sheets at the Iowa DNR, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319. Please submit supporting materials by noon on Feb. 18.
Also on the agenda in the afternoon, DNR will present the fiscal year 2018 annual report and budget for the Environmental Management System Program—projects that leverage local funding with grants to improve solid waste stewardship. Commissioners will hear success stories from two of the 13 participants.
Commissioners will also be asked to approve a contract with the city of Clear Lake for a watershed project in Cerro Gordo and Hancock counties.
Finally, revised air quality rules are up for approval, followed by general discussion.
The complete agenda and item briefs are available on the DNR website and summarized below:
- Petition for Rulemaking – Numeric Water Quality Standards for Nutrients in Significant Public Recreational Lakes in Iowa
- Referrals to the Attorney General
- Demand for Hearing – Story County – Longview Permit
- Environmental Management System Program Fiscal Year 2018 Annual Report
- Contract with City of Clear Lake for the CLEAR Watershed Project
- Final Rules: Air Quality Regulatory Certainty Rules Part 3 - Chapters 20, 22, 23 and 25
Commissioners include: Ralph Lents, Menlo, chair; Joe Riding, Altoona, vice chair; Rebecca Guinn, Bettendorf, Secretary; Mary Boote, Des Moines; Nancy Couser, Nevada; Lisa Gochenour, Logan; Howard Hill, Cambridge; Harold Hommes, Windsor Heights; and Bob Sinclair, Sigourney. Bruce Trautman is the acting director of the DNR.
Any person attending the public meeting who has special requirements such as those related to mobility or hearing impairments should contact the DNR or ADA Coordinator at 515-725-8200, Relay Iowa TTY Service 800-735-7942, or Webmaster@dnr.iowa.gov, and advise of specific needs.