The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is asking for nine new employees and seeking a ban on open burning of residential waste in all municipalities to begin addressing high levels of fine particulate pollution.
The open burning ban and funding request to staff educational programs and enhanced monitoring of PM 2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) emissions are part of a comprehensive reported submitted to the governor and legislature January 3.
Approval of the recommendations would enable the IDNR to complete and submit its State Implementation Plan (SIP) to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the July 2011 federal deadline.
The department's staff funding request and recommendations, however, are likely to run into resistance from a budget-cutting legislature and newly elected Gov. Terry Branstad's avowed dislike for additional rules and regulations affecting Iowa businesses.
The recommendations were developed by a workgroup comprised of 120 representatives from business and industry, agriculture, trade groups and associations, environmental groups, and local and state agencies.
The legislature during last year's session directed the IDNR to develop recommendations to control PM 2.5 emissions and compounds which can form PM 2.5, and prevent violations of federal air quality standards.
"Establishing appropriate plans and programs to address these contributions (of PM 2.5) are the building blocks necessary to assure that the air Iowans breathe meets health-based air quality standards," Interim IDNR head Patricia Boddy wrote in the report.
Among the key recommendations:
- Adopt legislation to prohibit open burning of residential waste within the limits of municipalities.
- Improve the state PM 2.5 air monitoring network by adding two additional staff members and $450,000 in new equipment.
- Adopt legislation to reduce the idling of motor vehicles.
- Establish a PM 2.5 permitting program, beginning Jan. 1, 2012, to control direct emissions of PM 2.5 and prevent exceedances of National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
- Expand educational and outreach efforts to agricultural interests to reduce ammonia emissions from livestock operations and nitrogen (fertilizer) application.
- Conduct public education programs on the proper use of fireplaces, wood stoves and outdoor wood boilers to help reduce PM 2.5 emissions.
CLICK HERE to download the full report to the governor and Iowa general assembly.
CLICK HERE to download the Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) comments on the PM 2.5 workgroup report.
CLICK HERE to download the Iowa Environmental Council's comments on the PM 2.5 workgroup report.
CLICK HERE to download the Sierra Club's comments on the PM 2.5 workgroup report.
