Ethics panel to get more input on E-P-C member’s status

A state ethics panel is considering whether a woman from Washington, Iowa who is a member of the state Environmental Protection Commission should vote on air quality rules for the livestock industry, as her family runs a large-scale hog operation. In the next month, Heidi Vittetoe will be given an opportunity to respond to complaints lodged by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement members like Rosie Patridge. Patridge says since Vittetoe has violated current environmental regulations and owns a facility which would be subject to any new rules, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement believes Vittetoe should abstain from any votes about air quality regulations. Dale Janecek of Washington also testified before the Iowa Ethics Board yesterday. He used to live across the road from four of Vittetoe’s hog confinement buildings. Janecek says fans would blow “the stench and the stink” out of those buildings, and there were times when he couldn’t stay in his house. He moved out six years ago. Janecek says he’s raised hogs his whole life but “I’ve never stunk anybody out of his house.” Janecek says Vittetoe should not be voting to make decisions about air quality regulations. But Governor Tom Vilsack appointed Vittetoe to the Board, and he says the law says someone with Vittetoe’s background must be on the Environmental Protection Commission. Vilsack says it’s important to “have strong advocates and strong voices” like Vittetoe’s on the Environmental Protection Commission “so that all views are aired and aggressively pursued so a consensus can be reached.” Vilsack describes the infraction Vittetoe’s operation was cited for as “relatively minor.” Vilsack says Vittetoe’s now in a position to talk about the impact regulations have on hog operations, and he says that’s a viewpoint that should be represented. Vilsack says he feels very strongly, though, the Environmental Protection Commission develop new air quality rules for large-scale livestock confinements. He says it’s the “most important work they have to do.”