For
Immediate Release: March 10, 2006
Contact: Barb Kalbach at 515/523-2863 or the Iowa CCI office
at 515/282-0484
Des Moines,
IA – Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
turned in close to 1,000 comments in support of a proposed rule
designed to protect Iowa’s water. CCI members stated that
the rule was long overdue. The rule is the Iowa Department of Natural
Resource’s (DNR) Water Protection Rule. This rule spells out
the Iowa DNR’s authority to deny or modify a factory farm
construction permit or manure management plan in order to protect
Iowa’s water.
Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
strongly support the proposed rule. For 12 years, rural Iowans have
been calling on the state to get a handle on the out-of-control
expansion of factory farms. CCI members and other rural Iowans believe
that the state can no longer allow factory farms to expand at the
expense of rural Iowans and our natural resources.
“This is a common sense rule that
says our water is too important to pollute. Basically, the DNR is
telling us factory farms can no longer build and expand unchecked,
instead the DNR is going to follow their mission as spelled out
in Iowa’s law – to protect natural resources and enhance
quality of life.” states Barb Kalbach, a family farmer and
member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) from Dexter,
IA.
The rule was introduced in response to an
increased number of impaired waters in Iowa and a significant increase
in proposed factory farm construction. Members of Iowa Citizens
for Community Improvement and other rural Iowans are fed up with
the lack of accountability for factory farms.
Iowa CCI members cite numerous examples
of facilities that have or are proposing to build in bad locations.
One facility, in Wapello County plans to build and apply manure
on slopes ranging from 9% to 40% that drain into creeks and other
waterways. Another site in Davis County has proposed to apply the
manure on land that goes right up to the city limits of a town -
just 25-50 feet from the back doors of numerous families.
Kalbach continues, “This rule is long
over due. The industry keeps saying the rule is too vague, but let’s
face it, these factory farm are creating a lot of problems. It doesn’t
take a rocket scientist to know that spreading manure on hilly ground
that drains into a stream is just a bad idea.”
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
is thousands of people from all walks of life who talk, act and
get things done on issues that matter most. From factory farms moving
in next door ruining quality of life to shady lenders taking advantage
of families, CCI has been tackling tough issues and getting things
done for 30 years. To learn more visit: www.iowacci.org
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