DNR Denies Permit for Hog Confinement in Davis County

I wrote back in September that the winds are changing on the issue of hog confinements after the DNR denied permits to 2 confinements in Dallas County.

Last week, the DNR denied a permit to a hog confinement in Davis County.

From Iowa CCI...

On October 24th, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) denied a 4,960-head hog factory proposal in NW Davis County near Drakesville because, according to the DNR, the permit applications did not meet the minimum legal requirements in the Iowa code. One of the main reasons the DNR denied this proposed hog factory was that it would have been built within the minimum separation distance of 1,875 feet from a neighbor’s residence.

In September, as a result of nearly unanimous public opposition, the Davis County Board of Supervisors recommended that DNR deny this hog factory proposal. The supervisors also challenged the applicant’s master matrix score, the scoring system that large factory farms must pass in order to be allowed to build…

Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) and other local residents opposed the proposed hog factory for a number of reasons. They challenged the permit application based on the potential for water pollution to nearby wells and water sources and the likelihood of the underground manure storage pit developing cracks and leaking into underground water sources. In addition, several nearby neighbors raised serious health concerns, concerns for loss of property value, decreased quality of life and the damage the factory farm truck traffic would do to the rural roads.

The Board of Supervisors in both Dallas and Davis counties voted against the hog confinements before the permits were sent to the DNR. Unfortunately, the current laws prevent local Board of Supervisors from having any authority on large hog confinements locating in their counties.

Local control would have worked in both cases, yet the current only adds another layer of bureaucracy and limits the voices of local residents.

Winds Are Changing on the Hog Confinement Issue

It seems the winds are changing on the hog confinement issue.

Earlier in the summer, I wrote about 2 proposed hog confinements in Dallas County that the county supervisors opposed. The DNR later denied the permit for those hog confinements. Then last month the DNR another hog confinement in Appanoose County.

From Iowa CCI...

On August 13, The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) denied a 4,900-head hog factory proposed for southern Appanoose County . According to DNR, the permit application did not meet legal requirements, nor did their master matrix pass muster. Although the applicant for this proposed confinement is a local resident, the 4,900 hogs would have been owned by Cargill. Cargill, one of the largest privately-held corporations in the world, has been behind a number of proposed factory farms around the state, including two proposed 7,440-head hog factories in northwest Dallas County.

In July, as a result of overwhelming public opposition, the Appanoose County Board of Supervisors recommended that DNR deny this hog factory proposal.

“I would like to thank the County Supervisors for using what few tools are at the counties’ disposal to represent the people of their County and to stop hog factories from being built,” said Appanoose County resident Allen Lakner.

Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI), the newly-formed Iowans Down Wind, and other local residents opposed the proposed hog factory for a number of reasons. They challenged the permit application based on the potential for water pollution to nearby wells and water sources and the likelihood of the underground manure storage pit developing cracks and leaking into underground water sources. In addition, several nearby neighbors raised serious health concerns, concerns for loss of property value and decreased quality of life.

Support the Kuhn/Frevert Bill to Limit Hog Confinements

I have gotten a couple of emails on this issue in the past day.

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT FACTORY FARMS IN IOWA, YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED TODAY!

A newly proposed bill, House File 873, presents COMMONSENSE LEGISLATION that would require large-scale confinements in your county to follow environmentally friendly guidelines and be placed farther away from neighboring residences, schools, churches, lakes and tourist destinations.

Currently less than 1 percent of Iowans own CAFOs and yet have all the rights. THIS BILL GIVES BALANCE to the other 99 percent of us.

Please call or email the following Representatives to show your Support for House File 873 (Kuhn/Frevert Bill). Remember to be polite and respectful when leaving a message or speaking with a legislator. Courtesy counts.

This bill is being met with a lot of resistance from corporate lobbyists representing the confinement industry. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO SAVE IT! Help clean up Iowa's rivers, lakes, air and streams…call the following legislators and your OWN TODAY!

THE HOUSE SWITCHBOARD NUMBER IS (515) 281-3221. If you can't get through please leave a short message.

Feel free to contact Speaker of the House Pat Murphy at:

Pat.Murphy@legis.state.ia.us

http://www.legis.state.ia.us/FindLeg/

Also contact GOVERNOR CULVER'S OFFICE: (515) 281-5211.

For More Information and easier legislative access, please go to: www.LegislativeAlert-IA.net

BILL SUMMMARY
Passing this bill will provide a balance between the interests of the confinement industry and their neighbors in Iowa.

This bill is in great trouble, having been moved by Speaker Murphy to the House Agricultural committee and they will not vote it out without a large number of calls or emails from ordinary citizens supporting the bill.

If we want someone other than Farm Bureau to influence the outcome of this bill WE NEED YOU to contact your Representative regarding the commonsense legislation presented in HF 873.

TAKE ACTION TODAY! Contact the following members plus your own Representative:

Agriculture Committee:
1. Dolores.Mertz@legis.state.ia.us
H Chair(515) 887-2952
2. Mike.Reasoner@legis.state.ia.us Vice Chair
H (641) 782-2693
W (515) 281-3221
3. Jack.Drake@legis.state.ia.us
H Ranking Member(712) 784-3538
4. Steven.Olson@legis.state.ia.us
H (563) 659-9096
W (515) 231-6469
5. Helen.Miller@legis.state.ia.us
H (515) 576-1352
6. Dawn.Pettengill@legis.state.ia.us
H (319) 475-2276
7. Mark.Kuhn@legis.state.ia.us
H (641) 228-2566
8. John.Whitaker@legis.state.ia.us
H (319) 796-4618
9. Henry.Rayhons@legis.state.ia.us
H (641) 923-2979
10. Mark.Davitt@legis.state.ia.us
H (515) 962-9345
11. Betty.DeBoef@legis.state.ia.us
H (641) 634-2227
12. Nathan.Reichert@legis.state.ia.us
H (563) 263-3057
13. Cecil.Dolecheck@legis.state.ia.us
H (641) 464-2913
14. Doug.Struyk@legis.state.ia.us
H (712) 329-3542
W (712) 322-0102
15. Marcella.Frevert@legis.state.ia.us
H (712) 852-4950
16. Kurt.Swaim@legis.state.ia.us
H (641) 664-2455
17. Elesha.Gayman@legis.state.ia.us
H (563) 650-6140
18. Andrew.Wenthe@legis.state.ia.us
H (563) 379-7182
W (563) 425-5260
19. Sandra.Greiner@legis.state.ia.us
H (641) 636-2293
20. Gary.Worthan@legis.state.ia.us
H (712) 732-6340
W (712) 299-3039
21. Dan.Huseman@legis.state.ia.us
H (712) 434-5880