Newsroom For Tag "CAFOs"

Ten groups including IEC call out DNR for weakening CAFO rules

posted 2/23/2024
A coalition of ten environmental organizations submitted comments to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today, requesting stronger protections for water quality in Iowa's concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) rules.

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DNR backtracks on CAFO rules

posted 12/12/2023
After months of work with stakeholder groups, DNR backtracked on positive changes in a November 15 update to draft rules for animal feeding operations (AFOs). The Environmental Protection Commission approved moving ahead with the weaker rules on November 21. Staff Attorney Mike Schmidt walks through the timeline and what's next.

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New report reveals true costs of CAFOs in Iowa

posted 11/14/2023
Iowans are shelling out hundreds of millions of dollars to treat their drinking water and pay for treatment of life-threatening health care issues caused by nitrate pollution from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in the state, according to a new report published by IEC.

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IEC comments in DNR hearing on new Supreme Beef NMP

posted 8/10/2023
This week the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) took comments and held a public hearing on Supreme Beef's latest attempt at a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). IEC outlines what the NMP is getting wrong.

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New report analyzes expansion of CAFOs in Iowa's floodplains

posted 6/23/2023
This week the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) and Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) published a report that details animal feeding operation (AFO) construction and expansion in Iowa's 100-year floodplain. The Environmental Working Group performed geospatial analysis on AFOs in Iowa's floodplains.

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IEC and partners submit comments for stronger CAFO rules

posted 6/15/2023
A coalition of environmental organizations led by IEC submitted comments to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today, requesting stronger protections for water quality in Iowa's concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) rules.

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After months of uncertainty, schedule for Agency rules review released

posted 3/14/2023
The Reynolds Administration recently released the schedule for state agencies, boards, and commissions, including the Iowa DNR, to review rules in their respective sections of Iowa Administrative Code. Executive Order 10 placed a moratorium on any new rulemaking as part of the Governor's larger government reorganization plan, which impacted the draft AFO siting rules IEC had been advocating for.

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Judge hears arguments in lawsuit to save Bloody Run

posted 2/2/2023
On January 20, 2023, a district court judge heard testimony in the Iowa Sierra Club's lawsuit charging the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with violating state law and departmental rules when approving Supreme Beef LLC's manure management plan. Guest writer Larry Stone provides an update following the hearing.

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IEC and coalition partners respond to DNR's draft CAFO rules

posted 10/18/2022
A coalition of environmental organizations filed official comments with the DNR today requesting DNR lower the allowable rates of manure applied to crops, increase protections for karst terrain, close loopholes that evade regulatory oversight, and retain the ability to stop high-risk facilities.

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CAFO regulations - Details make a difference when it comes to siting

posted 9/26/2022
IEC petitioned for revisions to animal feeding operation (AFO) siting rules last year, but the Environmental Protection Commission denied the request in part because DNR promised to initiate a more comprehensive rulemaking in 2022. DNR has released proposed updates to the state's AFO rules, with mostly tweaks. But Iowa's dismal water quality needs more than tweaks.

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