For
Immediate Release: June 19, 2006
Contact: Ron Kielkopf at 641/653-2244, Garry Klicker at 641/675-3841
or the Iowa CCI office at 515/282-0484
Iowans hail decision to curb factory farm pollution
Centerville, IA –
The Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) voted 5-2 today to
pass a rule that gives the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) more oversight in factory farm siting. Members of Iowa Citizens
for Community Improvement (CCI) applauded the vote.
The Iowa DNR’s Water Protection Rule
spells out the DNR’s authority to deny or modify a factory
farm construction permit or manure management plan in order to protect
Iowa’s water. The rule simply says that if a factory farm
has the potential to have an adverse impact on our water, the state
could deny the proposal.
The rule has broad public support. 79% of
the 1,194 comments submitted to DNR strongly support the rule.
“We’re very pleased that the
EPC voted for this common sense rule,” said Garry Klicker,
President of Iowa CCI and family farmer from Bloomfield. “This
is what Iowa wants and what Iowa needs.”
The rule was introduced in response to a
growing public outcry about water pollution in the state coupled
with a growing number of factory farm permits.
“The only way to really clean up our
water is to give the DNR the ability to do its job – to protect
our environment and natural resources. This rule does that.”
said Ron Kielkopf, a fourth-generation family farmer and CCI board
member from Fremont.
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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