The Iowa Pork Producers today (Tuesday) issued a statement expressing concern over the rule approved Monday by the Environmental Protection Commission that gives the D-N-R power to deny construction permits or require modifications of manure management plans for livestock operations.
Pork Producers lawyer Eldon McAfee says hog producers are worried about the way the rule might be used. McAfee says, “The major concern is the unknown with a rule that is worded in this way, being broad, and in our opinion vague. It’s hard for a producer to know exactly what will be required of them to comply with this rule as we’ve indicated before.”
McAfee says this adds one more thing for the producers to worry about. He says they’ve had quite a few regulations to comply with already, and now with this rule, even if they comply with the other regulations, the director of the D-N-R can deny their permit based on this rule.
McAfee says they hope the D-N-R director will stick with his statement that the rule will only be used in limited situations. McAfee says “We truly do hope that it will be used as they have indicated they will use it. I guess only time will tell.” The rule must still be approved by a legislative committee.