The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is taking a second shot at getting federal approval for a plan to reduce fine particulate (PM2.5) pollution in Muscatine.

The IDNR's first submission of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to cut emissions of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter was found "substantially inadequate to maintain the 2006 24-hour National Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM2.5 in Muscatine." That finding in July 2011 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 office required the IDNR to conduct air modeling to determine what facilities in the area were signficantly contributing to exceedances of the air quality standards.

"The Iowa DNR determined that three major sources of air pollution in the Muscatine area significantly contribute to predicted (modeled) PM2.5 exceedances of the standard in the vicinity of the Garfield School monitor," according to the new proposed SIP plant. "These facilities are Grain Processing Corporation (GPC), Muscatine Power & Water, and Union Tank Car Company."

According to the new SIP draft, the IDNR has worked with the three companies on measures "that will result in expeditious attainment of the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS through reductions of ambient air impacts of PM2.5 emissions from each facility."

Two months after the U.S. Treasury sold out its preferred stock position in National Bancshares, Inc. at a $3.2-million loss to taxpayers, the Bettendorf-based banking firm announced it had been sold to a Texas financial holding company.

National Bancshares, Inc. – operator of The National Bank and 10 other branches in the Quad Cities – received $24.7 million under the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) in February 2009.

In return, the Treasury received preferred stock and warrants in the bank and was to be paid a 5 percent annual dividend. The bank paid a total of $2.3 million in dividends during 2009 and 2010. The bank had not repaid any of the initial loan amount and its last dividend payment to the Treasury was in November 2010.

Visit ProPublica, a public journalism web site, for a full listing of TARP program bank loans and repayments.

Grain Processing Corporation (GPC) in Muscatine has agreed to pay a $129,000 fine for violations of the federal Clean Water Act that occurred in 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today (4/16).

"GPC failed to comply with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) monitoring requirements by taking unrepresentative flow measurements and not conducting settleability tests; failed to maintain all facilities and control systems in good working order; and exceeded the effluent limitations for biochemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, temperature, and pH," according to the EPA news release. "GPC came into compliance with Clean Water Act regulations after EPA Region 7 issued an order to the company on July 29, 2011, requiring it to correct the violations."

The effluent violations negatively impacted the Mississippi River, according to the EPA. The operations and maintenance violations, which included malfunctioning equipment and failure to comply with monitoring requirements, led to wastewater pollutants being released into the river which are not accurately known or documented.

The 14-acre Davenport estate once presided over by bank baron V.O. Figge is on the real estate block for $3.5 million.

Even if you can't afford the French Country villa, you can get a glimpse into the life of the rich back in the 1950's by clicking through the online gallery of photos taken back in 1954. The link is: http://www.hawthornacres.com

The U.S. 8th Circuit Court of Appeals handed the Iowa League of Cities a sweeping victory Monday (3/25), vacating U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules on sewage bypass and mixing zones saying the agency failed to follow federal notice and procedures for setting those regulations.

The league had challenged the EPA rules based on two letters from the federal agency which were sent in response to letters from U.S. Senator Charles Grassley.

The Loop – a riverfront circulator bus service connecting Quad Cities downtowns Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sundays – will be scaled back to just two days under a plan expected to be approved by the Bettendorf City Council Tuesday (3/19).

Bettendorf received a federal transit grant to purchase the four retro-looking Loop buses in 2009, and the service has been running significant deficits every since. The revenue from the Loop is expected to total just $30,000 for the current fiscal year, while operating expenses are projected at nearly $303,000 (excluding depreciation).

High levels of fine particulate and sulfur dioxide pollution Monday (3/4) in Muscatine prompted a health warning to residents by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

At noon Monday, fine particle levels averaged 57.5 micrograms per cubic meter at Garfield School in Muscatine and a daily maximum reading of 158 parts per billion (ppb) of sulfur dioxide was measured early this morning at the same school monitor, according to the IDNR.

Conditions were expected to improve by Tuesday (3/5) with a change in wind direction from a winter storm.