Iowans to DNR: Just Say No To Scott County Factory Farm
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI)
built, the cattle factory farm would potentially be the largest in the
state, finishing 9,500-head of cattle a year, consuming more than
200,000 gallons of water every day, and producing more than 11 million
gallons of manure every year inside the already impaired Mud Creek,
Wapsipinicon, and Mississippi watersheds.“
Cattle Factory Farm Forced To Request Extension After DNR Raises Concerns About Operation
Iowa CCI members call on DNR to deny construction permit immediately
Davenport, Iowa –
Factory farm developer Bryan Sievers' July 26 request to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (Iowa DNR) for a 30-day extension for a review of a construction permit for a proposed cattle factory farm in Scott County should not be granted, and the DNR should immediately deny the permit application because it is incomplete and because the 60-day time frame for a decision expired on August 2, Iowa CCI members said Tuesday.
Mr. Sievers requested a 30-day extension on July 26 after the DNR wrote a three page letter July 16 raising major concerns about more than 20 different items on the construction permit application. Copies of both letters are enclosed here and here. (PDF documents)
“The DNR has validated Iowa CCI members' concerns that Scott County should have never voted to recommend approval for this factory farm,” said Jen Broders, an Iowa CCI member and farmer from Stockton who lives a few miles from the proposed site. “The developer has failed to prove his claim, the 60 day time frame has expired, and the Iowa DNR should immediately deny the construction permit for this site.”
If built, the cattle factory farm would potentially be the largest in the state, finishing 9,500-head of cattle a year, consuming more than 200,000 gallons of water every day, and producing more than 11 million gallons of manure every year inside the already impaired Mud Creek, Wapsipinicon, and Mississippi watersheds.
On June 24, the Scott County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to recommend that the Iowa DNR approve the construction permit for the proposed cattle factory farm despite organized community opposition from both rural and urban residents of Scott County. More than 75 Iowa CCI members also voiced their opposition to the factory farm proposal during a July 22 meeting in Davenport with Iowa DNR Director Rich Leopold.
Iowa CCI members and allies will also mobilize on August 5 during a Scott County public hearing on a proposed expansion to a factory hog farm outside of Eldridge, Iowa.
“Scott County already has too many factory farms and too much manure,” said Christy Pogue, an Iowa CCI member from Davenport. “We were right last time and we are right this time. The Scott County Board of Supervisors and the Iowa DNR need to vote no to factory farms in our communities.”
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement is a group of everyday people who talk, act and get things done on issues that matter most. With thousands of members from all walks of life — urban and rural, black and white, immigrants and lifelong Iowans — CCI has been tackling tough issues and getting things done for more than 30 years.
For more information about Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, visit iowacci.org
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