DNR sends reminder to counties on livestock notification

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources sent a fax to 28 counties Monday reminding them of the rules involving public notice for the construction of new large-scale livestock operations. The letter is in direct response to the flap over a proposed hog facility in Dickinson County, where residents complained the D-N-R granted a construction permit without enough public notice. Reza Khosravi, acting supervisor of DNR animal feeding operations, says the letter asks county supervisors to publish notice of the permit request within the next 14 days. Khosravi says they don’t have to hold a public hearing on the issue, but do have to allow 30 days for public comment.He says they have to tell citizens they’re going to have a public hearing, or tell them were to send comments. Khosravi says the supervisors aren’t required to even read the public comments, but he says they’re asked to forward any comments to the D-N-R. He says the letter says the county shall send the proof of publication to the D-N-R within 30 days of receipt of the letter. Khosravi says he doesn’t know yet what would happen if the counties failed to give the 30-day public notice. He says that’ll be left up to the legal department to figure out. The permit in Dickenson County by the way, was denied after being appealed to the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission.