Putting a happy face on yesterdays news Sen. Ernst "Here's some dirty water for ya'll"

[IADEMO2004]

https://www.ernst.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=67192FC2-E6E5-4F01-9F3D-1EDB8F3A6A89



“I am pleased that the Trump administration is taking another important step toward eliminating this burdensome WOTUS rule,” said Senator Ernst. “In Iowa, 97 percent of the land is subject to extensive overregulation by the EPA and unnecessarily hamstrings our farmers, businesses and manufacturers. All across Iowa, folks are calling for this rule to be scrapped, which is why I have led efforts in the Senate to do just that.

“This is good news for Iowa and rural communities across the country as we move closer to finally eliminating this overreaching rule.”

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Let the states decide. What could go wrong?

http://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/guest-columnists/lawmakers-look-at-what-youve-done-to-rural-iowa-20160828

But a hog confinement of fewer than 1,250 head --- defined under state law as an animal feeding operation, or AFO --- can be built and operated without regard to its distance from another person’s home or business; from a church or school; or from a park, preserve or other public-use area.

There’s more. An AFO needs no manure management plan (MMP). No concrete standards when located in porous topography (for example, karst areas as found in northeast Iowa). No notice requirements in counties with zoning ordinances. And no notice of intent to build to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Too many hogs, too much manure in the Pine Lake watershed? If not manure, farmers would use commercial fertilizer. Still, we left with many questions after also learning that a $2 million watershed project to clean up Pine Lake and the Iowa River is threatened by — you guessed it — a hog confinement one animal below a tougher set of state rules and regulations.

[progressoid]

1. I remember when Iowa was a leader in education.

Now we seem to only lead in water pollution, failing bridges, racial disparity and excessive drinking.