(Spencer)– The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will hold five public hearings, including one in Spencer, after the first of the year to gather input on proposed rules for federal waste water permits for confinement, or totally roofed, feeding operations.
Gene Tinker, Coordinator of the DNR’s animal feeding operations, says the proposal is designed to get the state’s rules the same as Environmental Protection Agency’s 2008 regulations, neither more or less strict than federal law.
Tinker adds the issue for confinements that meet the definition of a large concentrated animal feeding operation is whether or not they propose to discharge. Those facilities currently have three options: they can apply for a permit; make a permanent fix for an accidental discharge; or self-certify as provided in EPA regulations that their operation does not discharge and does not propose to discharge.
The public hearing for our area is set for 6:00 p.m. January 10th in the board room at the Clay County Administration Building at 300 West Fourth Street in Spencer.
Comments may be submitted in writing to Gene Tinker, Iowa DNR, Wallace State Office Building, 502 East Ninth Street, Des Moines, Iowa…50319-0034.
Comments should be submitted on or before January 11th.
