[Pacg] Immediate ACTION needed on IA Air, Water and CAFO's--call or email today

[Carolina 1961]

>From Molly Regan  and Rachel Griffiths  PACG Environmental Forum

We were in Des Moines today to lobby our legislature on important issues
facing our state.
We found out the following:

Elesha Gayman is not supporting the Matrix Improvement Bill as written
(which we strongly support). Rep Cindy Winckler is supporting the bill.  We
are waiting to hear from other legislators on their positions on these
bills.

We need action on CAFOs now....Scott and Clinton county cannot afford to
wait until next session or for a perfect bill..... ground could be broken
and concrete poured on dozens more before the next session.

Contact your House reps and Senators re these bills....save our
environment...
Info on how to contact:
 http://www.legis.state.ia.us/aspx/Legislators/LegislatorInfo.aspx

Phone:       (515) 281-3221

 House members:
 Polly.Bukta at legis.state.ia.us , Elesha.Gayman at legis.state.ia.us,
Jim.Lykam at legis.state.ia.us,
Steven.Olson at legis.state.ia.us , Jamie.Van.Fossen at legis.state.ia.us,
Cindy.Winckler at legis.state.ia.us , Pat.Murphy at legis.state.ia.us

Senators:
david.hartsuch at legis.state.ia.us , Frank.Wood at legis.state.ia.us,
joe.seng at legis.state.ia.us,

  michael.gronstal at legis.state.ia.us, james.hahn at legis.state.ia.us

Phone:       (515) 281-3221

Help Protect Clean Air and Water Bill (H..F. 873) and The Matrix Improvement
Bill (S.F 550)!
For the first time in years, Iowans have a chance to pass legislation that
would protect the environment and property values with several new bills
before the legislature.

Unfortunately, the CAFO lobby is fighting to derail the democratic rights of
Iowa's rural citizens and your help is needed to fight the outside influence
of corporate cash.


What We Are Supporting:
House File 873 (Kuhn / Frevert Bill) The Clean Air and Clean Water Bill
offers additional protections to confinement neighbors and the environment.

H.F. 873 would:
1. Increase separation distances between new CAFOs and residences, churches,
cities, lakes and tourism destinations.
2. Require all counties to use the Master Matrix to evaluate new CAFO
applications.
3. Require manure to be applied farther away from waterways, homes, schools
and churches, etc.

Senate File 550 (The Matrix Improvement Bill) – This bill will give a voice
to elected county officials in the permitting process of new confinements.

S.F. 550 would:
1. Require all counties to adopt the Master Matrix.
2. Give all county board of supervisors the authority to approve or
disapprove a construction permit for a new CAFO.
3. Require county board of supervisors to appoint five persons to a
construction evaluation committee, including: a. soil and water
commissioner, b. a real estate broker, c. a city resident, d. a livestock
operator, e. a county environmental health office.
4. Allow a board of supervisors to accept the construction evaluation
committee's recommendation.

Why We Support These Bills:
Each bill would offer additional protection to Iowa's rural citizens and
keep our air and water clean. Farm Bureau and industry lobbyists are trying
to scare farmers by making alarmist claims about how these commonsense
pieces of legislation would drive the livestock business out of Iowa. The
opposite is true. Responsible legislation would allow for the responsible
expansion of livestock in Iowa.

Updates on CAFOs and House File 873:
1. H.F. 873 is still under consideration in the Iowa House. More information
about H.F. 873 is at http://www.legislativealert-ia.net

2 . S.F. 550 is under consideration in the Iowa Senate also. More
information about S.F. 550 is at http://www.legislativealert-ia.net

3. Last week, 10,000 gallons of manure were released into Chariton Creek in
SW Iowa from a factory farm. http://www.iowadnr.com/news/07mar/clarke.html

4 .. Four Environmental Protection Commissioners had their last day on the
commission on April 3. A Des Moines Register article titled " Replaced
appointee blasts Culver" can be found at
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070404/NEWS/704040360/1001/NEWS
A blog covering this issue is at
http://ruralpopulist.org/2007/04/04/fired-for-doing-his-job/


5. Be sure to call or email your legislators and the Governor,  if you're
already done so already… contact them again!

Thanks,

Cathy Bolkcom
Progressive Action for the Common Good
hm      563-289-4155

www.qcprogressiveaction.org
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