|
Calendar of
Events
Get in some outdoor time.
Our Sierra Club Groups in Iowa regularly plan outings and other
activities. Select a Local Group in the My backyard dropdown menu
and get details of the outings groups have planned.
Save
the Date
The
2012 Sierra Club Iowa Chapter Annual Dinner will be held September 22 at
Whiterock Conservancy near Coon Rapids. Come back later this spring
for more information.
Learn
more about how you can support protecting Iowa's wildlife and natural
resources.
Sierra Club Annual
Meeting
Saturday, October 1
The Iowa Sierra Club’s Annual Meeting and Dinner
was held on Saturday, October 1st, in Coralville.
Dr. Gene Takle, ISU professor of agricultural meteorology in the
Department of Agronomy, discussed global climate change, extreme
weather and its relationship to climate change and our weather's "new
normal."
See
more.
The Iowa Chapter developed a survey to find
out what our members and supporters are interested in. This will help us better
understand how to contact you when your issue arises. We'd love to hear
about what matters most to you, what issues you're involved in, if you have
time to work with us, and more!
Please
take a few minutes to complete our survey.
Volunteer Page
News
about volunteer activities and upcoming projects. Click here
for more information.
News Releases
Read recent Sierra Club news releases.
Web Archives
Information that has been moved off
the front page.
 2012
Legislation
Are you interested in what is going on with our lawmakers in Des Moines? See the Legislation that is of interest to you, your environment, and your community.
Find out more and respond to our action alerts.
Manure Spills and Fish Kills
Find out where the latest
manure spill and/or fish kill occurred here...
Fish
Advisories Posted
The Department of Natural Resources has
posted fish consumption advisories for nine sites. Find out where
they are here...
Bypasses
Excess
rainwater or snow melt need somewhere to go. Often, the sewage
bypasses a treatment plant thus preventing sewage from backing up into
basements. Facilities are required to report bypasses
caused by mechanical failures to the DNR within 12 hours of onset or
discovery. Facilities do not have to immediately report bypasses from
precipitation events, but must include them in their monthly operating
report to the DNR. Click here
to see the most current information about your city's bypass history this
year.
The Green
Life
Tips
for living well and doing good.
DONATE TO THE IOWA CHAPTER
The Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club
now accepts PayPal so you can help financially support Iowa Sierra
Club's objectives for clean air, clean water and a cleaner
environment.
|
Make
a non-deductible donation to the Iowa Chapter.
|
|
|
You
can also make a tax deductible donation to the Iowa Chapter.
|
2012
Legislation
Visit
our Legislative
page for updates on the bills we're tracking and to respond to
our action alerts.
WATER QUALITY WINS IN COURT DECISION
Des Moines – In a ruling March 31,
2012, Polk County District Court Judge Mary Pat Gunderson ruled in favor of
the environment and water quality.
“After more than 30 years, this
antidegradation rule finally brings Iowa into compliance with the Clean Water
Act,” said Wallace Taylor, the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter Legal Chair.
"This rule was the product of almost three years of effort by the
Department of Natural Resources working with the regulated community and
environmental organizations to adopt a rule that is fair.”
A lawsuit, brought by the Iowa Farm
Bureau Federation (Farm Bureau), Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and
Iowa Water Environment Association (IWEA), contended that an Environmental
Protection Commission voted to approve a rule that will improve the quality
of Iowa’s water resources is invalid because one of the commissioners had a
conflict of interest and that another one wasn’t qualified to vote because
she had recently moved out of state. The
lawsuit also asserted the rule is more stringent than federal law because it
protects Outstanding Iowa Waters.
Judge Gunderson ruled that although
then-commissioner Carrie LaSeur, who had moved to Montana prior to the
December 2009 vote, was not an elector of the state of Iowa as required by
statute when she voted on the antidegradation rule, it didn’t matter
because when LaSeur’s disqualification is simply a technical infirmity that
does not go to the heart of her duties and her actions are valid.
The Farm Bureau, IRFA and IWEA claimed
the rule is invalid, in part, because one of the Commissioners is a water
quality advocate for one of the organizations that petitioned the EPC for
rulemaking. Judge Gunderson ruled
that “Susan Heathcote [who served on the commission in 2009] did not have a
conflict of interest because the antidegradation rule finally adopted was not
the one IEC, Sierra Club and Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association submitted [for
rulemaking in 2007]; because she had no direct financial stake in the
outcome; because the legislature established the EPC so commissioners would
have expertise in certain areas; and because the Iowa Ethics and Campaign
Disclosure Board cleared her for conflicts.”
Outstanding Iowa Waters protection also
was victorious in today’s decision. Judge
Gunderson ruled that the protections may or may not be more restrictive than
the federal rule, but the EPC substantially complied with the notice
requirement.
The Environmental Protection Agency
approved Iowa’s Antidegradation rule and Antidegradation Implementation
Procedure in September 2010.
Read
the ruling.
SIERRA
CLUB CHALLENGES CONSTITUTIONALITY OF LEGISLATIVE RULES REVIEW COMMITTEE
On March 21,
the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit in Polk County
District Court alleging that the Iowa Legislature’s Administrative
Rules Review Committee (ARRC) is unconstitutional. The Sierra Club
alleges that the Iowa law creating the ARRC violates the separation of
powers in the Iowa Constitution because it authorizes the ARRC, a
legislative oversight committee, to suspend the implementation of an
administrative rule legally adopted by the executive branch of
government.
The
rule being challenged in the lawsuit was adopted by the Natural Resource
Commission in July 2011. The
Commission amended its dove-hunting season rule to ban the use of lead
shot. The ARRC allowed the hunting season but delayed implementation of
the ban on lead shot until legislators could address the ban during the
2012 legislative session.
“We
have three separate and equal branches of government,” said Wally
Taylor, the Cedar Rapids attorney representing the Sierra Club. “The
legislative branch through the ARRC cannot constitutionally stop the
actions of the executive branch acting through the Natural Resource
Commission.”
In
February, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution permanently
prohibiting the ban on lead-based ammunition.
The Senate resolution has not yet been debated.
In addition to the Administrative Rules Review Committee, the lawsuit
names the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for implementing the
unconstitutional rule.
Senate
Nuclear Bill Passes Committee; On Debate Calendar
Two days after the first anniversary of the Fukushima
disaster, the Senate Commerce Committee, determined to expand nuclear power
in Iowa, amended and passed HF561 by an 8-7 vote on March 13. Learn
more.
Iowa
Scientists Call for State Action on Climate Change
Scientists
from across Iowa are calling on state officials to develop policy and take
action to address the causes and effects of climate change in Iowa. Find
out more.
House
Passes Bill Nullifying Lead Ammunition Prohibition; Contact Your Senator
NOW
On
February 2, the House passed HJR2001 nullifying the Natural Resource
Commission's rule prohibiting lead-based ammunition. Find
out more.
Iowa DOT to hold six public meetings concerning Iowa’s
long-range transportation plan
The
Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) will hold six public information
meetings regarding the update of Iowa’s state transportation plan. The
information meetings will be held at the following locations between 4:30
and 6:30 p.m. Find
out more.
Group
Formed to Educate on Hazards of Lead
A
new Iowa nonprofit group has been formed to educate people about the hazards
of lead poisoning for the health of both humans and wildlife. The “Lead is
Poison Coalition” includes individuals and groups from the fields of
conservation, human health, and community action.
Find
out more.
State Dept. Announces
Reevaluation of Keystone XL Tar Sand Pipeline
Washington, D.C. - The State
Department announced November 10 that it is reevaluating the environmental
review of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline project. The reevaluation
will include consideration of rerouting the pipeline to avoid sensitive
ecological areas in Nebraska. An alternative route would require a new
environmental impact statement and would delay a final decision on the
tar sands pipeline for as long as 18 months. Find
out more.
Triennial Review Draft Work Plan Now Available
Earlier this year, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
sought Iowans’ thoughts on improving the state’s water quality goals as
the DNR conducted its every-three-years review of water quality standards.
The triennial review process ensures water quality standards, as listed in
Chapter 61 of the Iowa Administrative Code, are up-to-date. Iowans had the
opportunity to attend meetings held across the state.
The meetings, part of the triennial review process set forth
in the federal Clean Water Act, allow Iowans the opportunity to provide the
DNR information to help in setting the goals for streams and rivers.
Following the meetings, the DNR met with a technical advisory committee to
evaluate the suggestions. The DNR then prioritized the issues identified in
the comments and developed a work plan to address those items.
See the DRAFT
Triennial Review Process Summary and Work Plan report.
More information, including the full text of Chapter 61, is
also available at www.iowadnr.gov/water/uaa.html
on the left side of the screen under “Iowa Administrative Code.”
If you have questions/comments about the DRAFT Triennial
Review report, please contact Rochelle Cardinale by close of business,
October 31, 2011.
Judge Rules Against Iowa Farm Bureau
On October 13, Polk County District
Judge Brad McCall ruled that the Iowa Environmental Council (IEC) would not
be required to hand over internal emails concerning the antidegradation rules
to the Iowa Farm Bureau, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and the Iowa
Water Environment Association as part of the three organizations’ lawsuit
against the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection
Commission. The Iowa Farm Bureau and the other organization
sought the emails to determine if Susan Heathcote, IEC’s Water Program
Director, had used her position as an Environmental Protection Commission
member to push the rule’s passage. The judge ruled that Iowa
Farm Bureau, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and Iowa Water Environment
Association had enough material from IEC to prepare their case. EPC and DNR
filed a Motion for Summary Judgment asking that the case be decided in their
favor without a trial. The judge ruled that Farm Bureau and its
allies have until November 4, 2011, to file papers letting him know why the
case should proceed to trial. Read
the ruling.
Clean
Water Report Card
See how Iowa's delegation in the U.S. House of
Representatives scored on Sierra Club's Clean
Water Report Card.
EPC
Chair Says "There are Two Sides to Every Fact"
David Petty, the Environmental
Protection Commission (EPC) chair,  scolded
Glori Dei Filippone, a 13-year-old girl, for being a vegetarian at the June 2011 EPC meeting.
Petty also warned Glori to be sure to
have her facts straight because "...there are two sides to every
fact." Glori made a presentation to the Commission after petitioning the
Department of Natural Resources to enact rules to regulate greenhouse
gases in Iowa. The EPC voted down
the petition. See
the video shot by Kent Newman of Full Spectrum Productions.
See Glori's
presentation.
Ask
the Gov
Gov.
Terry Branstad launched his weekly video initiative in 2011 where he answers
questions submitted via Twitter, Facebook, email and via his
website. Watch the governor's videos or send in a question. See
the video.
Iowa's
Impaired Waters List
The Department of Natural Resources
released its preliminary 2010 impaired waters list -- the latest available
-- in January 2011. The list
contains 446 water bodies with a total of 605 impairments. The
number of new impairments on the 2010 list total 97. DNR accepted
public comments from January 18 until March 4, 2011. EPA approved
DNR's 2008 Impaired Waters list in August 2010.
Read more here...
View
the list of 2010 impaired waters
View
a map of the 2010 Impaired Waters
View
the list of 2008 impaired waters
View
a map of the 2008 Impaired Waters
The Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club's members are
approximately 5,000 of your friends and neighbors. Inspired by nature, we
work together to protect our communities and the planet. The Club is
America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental
organization.
Sierra Club® and
"Explore, enjoy and protect the planet"® are registered trademarks
of the Sierra Club. © 2008
Sierra Club. The Sierra Club Seal is a registered copyright, service
mark, and trademark of the Sierra Club.
Last updated 04.02.2012
|
Iowa Chapter Home Take Action Get Outdoors Good Government Iowa Sierran Newsletter
Legislative Info
Political Info Contact Us
The Iowa Chapter on
Facebook
Follow
the Iowa Chapter on our official Facebook page and become a fan. Click
the Facebook logo below, sign up or sign in and search for Sierra Club
Iowa Chapter.
|
