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Iowa lawmakers not eager to take up hog confinement rulesDES MOINES,Iowa (AP)--State legislators don't seem eager to wade back into the hot-button issue of regulating giant livestock production centers, despite pleas from environmental officials for help. The issue has dogged the Legislature for nearly a decade, since livestock production techniques began to shift toward giant confinement operations. Many operations, especially hog production sites, now raise thousands of animals under the same roof. The matter has come up again following a decision Aug. 19 by the state Environmental Protection Commission to deny permits needed to build two operations in Dallas County that together would house nearly 15,000 hogs. The panel made the decision, although the proposed operations met all the standards set out by a state matrix that assigns point values to different qualities, such as manure management plans, distance from neighbors and construction standards. A lawsuit is likely, and environmental regulators on Aug. 19 called upon lawmakers to revamp the system. "We need the Legislature to change the law," said Henry Marquard, who heads the commission. Key legislators didn't sound optimistic about the chances they'd take up the matter. "If we do, it would surprise me," said Sen. Gene Fraise, D-Fort Madison, who heads the Senate Agriculture Committee, which has jurisdiction over the issue. Senate Minority Leader Ron Wieck, R-Sioux City, added, "We obviously have some problems there, but I'm not sure the Legislature will wade into that." Supporters of the current rules argue that it's needed to ensure the viability of an industry that has made Iowa the nation's leading hog producer, with about 25 percent of U.S. production. Critics have claimed, however, that the operations' foul air and water make life miserable for neighbors. After a lengthy disagreement, the Legislature in 2002 developed the matrix used by environmental officials in deciding whether to grant a permit needed to build a hog facility. "It's a very tough political issue," said Sen. Dennis Black, D-Grinnell, who heads the Senate Natural Resources Committee. The debate pits some of the most powerful groups in the state against each other. Producer groups like the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and the Iowa Corn Growers worry about damaging the industry, while consumer groups argue for quality of life issues and contend the huge sites favor corporate giants over family farmers. The measure on the books gives state environmental officials the final say on whether to grant the permits, though they seek input from local officials. Black said he'd like to keep that structure in place, though he's willing to talk about toughening the standards. One of the hottest issues in the debate is whether local officials should decide where production facilities are developed. Black calls for statewide rules. "When it comes to our environment, that's a statewide issue and we should absolutely have statewide standards," said Black. He argued that part of the problem with the current law is the way it was passed. During the 2002 session, legislative leaders created a "working group" to develop details of the regulation, largely operating in secret. "It was closed to everybody," said Black. "I couldn't even get into the meetings. The suspicion that was created over the last years on the matrix was based on the fact it was developed in secret." That's a crucial issue, because Department of Natural Resource officials have taken the position that any application that meets the matrix requirements must be granted a permit. The Environmental Protection Commission decided on Aug. 19 it could consider larger environmental issues. When state officials and citizen regulators disagree, "that tends to tell me we have a problem," Black said. Fraise said lawmakers are simply looking for a commonsense solution. "What we're trying to do would not drive the industry from the state," said Fraise. "It would just make people better neighbors. Don't build them in the headwaters of some river or lake. Put them back from people's homes." Fraise noted that during the last session, he was unable to bring a measure out of the committee he heads, and the issue died without debate. Little has changed in the political dynamic since that time. 9/8/08 Date: 9/3/08
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