The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) – after years of seeking to avoid federal designation of Muscatine for being in violation of ambient air standards – will begin the process of developing a plan to reduce sulfur dioxide pollution in the community.
A meeting has been scheduled by the IDNR for 6 p.m., Thursday, October 3 at the Environmental Learning Center, 3300 Cedar Street, to discuss preliminary plans for addressing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "non-attainment" designation of Muscatine issued July 26.
With the non-attainment designation comes the requirement the state develop a plan to bring the city into compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The so-called State Implementation Plan (SIP) must be completed within 18 months of the non-attainment designation.
The IDNR and Gov. Terry Branstad tried unsuccessfully in 2011 to avoid any non-attainment designation, suggesting to the EPA the county be designated as "unclassifiable." After the EPA announced its intention to designate the county in non-attainment this spring, the IDNR conducted additional air monitoring to support a smaller non-attainment area. The EPA agreed to reduce the size of the non-attainment area.
