Follow Up on CAFO Bill: Iowans’ Protests Stall Odor Study Bill
By ICCI
Bill Pulled from House Debate amid Calls from Hundreds
Hundreds of members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and Iowans from across the state contacted their legislators and pushed key House leaders to say no to the odor study bill, HF2652 & SF2362, just prior to the debate in the House last night, which led to its stalled passage and move to the House Appropriations Committee.
Because House leadership did not want a divisive debate, the bill’s move to the Appropriations Committee will likely stall the bill, keeping it alive beyond the March 28 funnel.
“This was a huge victory,” said CCI member Norma Countryman of Des Moines. “Our legislators know that Iowans are tired of handing over our taxpayer dollars to factory farms so that they might begin to fix the problems they create. Twenty-three million taxpayer dollars should not fund an unnecessary study.”
“The odor study is simply a stall tactic for factory farms to avoid enforcing clean air standards,” said CCI member Vern Tigges from Carroll. “Studies have already been done that have shown we need clean air standards for hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, which are toxic to our health. Our legislators have heard this message loud and clear.”
At a meeting March 4 in which CCI members met with Governor Culver, where he heard concerns from Iowans on the proposed $23 million odor study for which taxpayers would foot the bill, Culver was open to other methods of improving our state’s air and water quality, “Maybe we could use [the money] for something else.”
Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement say they will continue to contact their legislators, specifically the Appropriations Committee, to not pass the odor study bill. They will also lobby their legislators at the Capitol April 1.
|
||||
|
Open Thread Recent Articles
Search
BFIA Writer's Guidelines We welcome Submissions Login Sunlight Seeker
Daily Archive Recent Visitors
Sam Garchik - Wed 14 May 2008 01:56 PM CDT
megelso - Sun 11 May 2008 09:10 AM CDT
no4gman - Tue 29 Apr 2008 01:07 AM CDT
jasongrandon23 - Thu 24 Apr 2008 09:26 PM CDT
ChrisLedman - Tue 15 Apr 2008 07:45 AM CDT
Powered by BlogHarbor
 |
Wednesday, March 26
Follow Up on CAFO Bill: Iowans’ Protests Stall Odor Study Bill
by
Sam Garchik
on Wed 26 Mar 2008 08:59 AM CDT
Monday, March 24
ACTION ALERT on CAFOs
by
Sam Garchik
on Mon 24 Mar 2008 08:09 AM CDT
ACTION ALERT on CAFOs
By the IFU LEGISLATORS ARE NOW MAKING DECISIONS ON THE BUDGET FOR 2008-09 . I HOPE YOU WILL ALL TAKE THE TIME THIS WEEK TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS, GOV. CULVER AND LT. JUDGE TO URGE THEM NOT TO FUND THE ODOR STUDY. THIS WILL COST THE TAXPAYERS OF IOWA $22.8 MILLION OVER 5 YEARS. LET THE INDUSTRY PAY. OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS APPROXIMATELY 2550 NEW CAFOS (450 A YEAR ACCORDING TO DNR DIRECTOR LEOPOLD) WILL BE BUILT WHILE THE STATE DOES NOTHING TO RAISE STANDARDS. THERE IS NOT EVEN A GUARANTEE THAT NEW REQUIREMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED AFTER THE STUDY IS CONCLUDED. EMAIL the governor and lt. governor Gov. Culver's email is chet.culver@iowa.gov Lt. Gov. Judge's email is patty.judge@iowa.gov Tuesday, March 18
DNR Denies 3,600 Head Dairy Factory Proposal in Woodbury County
by
Sam Garchik
on Tue 18 Mar 2008 07:21 AM CDT
DNR Denies 3,600 Head Dairy Factory Proposal in Woodbury County
By ICCI This week, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) preliminarily denied the construction permit for Jersey North LLP, a highly controversial dairy factory proposed in Woodbury County that riled hundreds of local residents to action. The underlying reason for denial, according to DNR Director Rich Leopold, was that: “these plans, as submitted, would pose a substantial risk to the environment if constructed.” Based out of California, Jersey North LLP applied in January for a construction permit to build a 3,600 head dairy factory just outside the city of Lawton. A month later, as a result of overwhelming public opposition, the Woodbury County Supervisors sent their recommendation that DNR deny the application. Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) and other local residents led the fight and opposed the construction of this dairy factory for a number of reasons. Proposed to be built on highly-erodible fields with steep slopes – there was concern that this operation would result in erosion and manure spills that would contaminate two adjacent waterways. On top of that, the proposed earthen lagoons would hold 55.4 million gallons of manure and sit vulnerable to wind and rain at 50ft above ground at its highest point. With 52 residences within a two mile radius of the proposed site, there was also fear that this site would inevitably have negative impacts on the health, the property values, the roads, and the general quality of life within the community. Beyond just sending in their comments, representatives from the community brought their concerns directly to DNR state headquarters when CCI met with Environmental Services Division Administrator Wayne Gieselman at their Rally and Lobby Day on March 4th. In the end, their commitment paid off. “Hopefully DNR’s recent denial of Jersey North’s permit to build a large dairy factory will set a precedent for opposition and protection of the environment within Iowa,” said Kevin Miller, a CCI member and Lawton resident who lives close to the proposed site. “I believe this is a strong message to Jersey North and other large factory farms that Woodbury County is not the place to look for future proposals – the growing communities and the vulnerable soils provide strong reasons for opposition.” |
Iowa Sites Child & Family Policy Center - Iowa Genetic Engineering Action Network Iowa Citizen Action Network - ICAN Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility Iowa Public Interest Research Group Midwest Environmental Justice Advocates Progressive Action for the Common Good Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa QCAD (Quad-Citians Affirming Diversity - GLBT) Iowa Blogs The Deprogrammer (Quad Cities) Iowa True Blue (Gordon Fischer's Blog) Iowa Voters for Open and Transparent Elections Political FalloutFight Iowa Rapid Response Network - Iowa
Iowans for Better Local TV
Air America
The Counterpoint
National FAIR: Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting
Media Matters for America
|
||
|
||||