Public Comment Meetings held for Ammonia and Hydrogen Sulfide Standards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9-11-02

DES MOINES-The DNR is offering public comment opportunities on draft rules that establish air quality standards for hydrogen sulfide and ammonia.

The draft rules establish outdoor air quality standards set to protect human health for hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. The proposed hydrogen sulfide standard is 15 parts per billion (ppb) for a one hour average at a residence or public use area. The proposed ammonia standard is also 150 ppb for a one hour average also at a residence or public use area. Both standards allow up to seven annual exceedances to accommodate various waste handling procedures and associated emissions from animal feeding operations. Enforcement shall not occur prior to December 1, 2004 as stipulated by the Legislature.

The outdoor air standards would apply statewide and are not restricted to air quality adjacent animal feeding operations.

The proposal is based on recommendations made by Iowa State University and the University of Iowa in the Iowa Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Air Quality Study presented last February.

Draft rules are located at www.iowacleanair.com.

An informational meeting will be held 3:00 p.m. to 5 p.m. on September 11 at the DNR's air quality offices located at 7900 Hickman Road in Urbandale. DNR staff will be available to answer questions.

Five public hearings will be held. Locations include:

Spencer
September 17 at 7 p.m. in Room 108A of the Iowa Lakes Community College's Gateway North Center, located at 1900 North Grand Avenue.

Atlantic
September 24 at 7 p.m. in the conference room of the Iowa Western Community College, located at 906 Sunnyside Lane.

Mason City
September 30 at 7 p.m. at the North Iowa Area Community College's Muse-Norris Center, located at 500 College Drive.

Urbandale
October 2 at 7 p.m. in the conference rooms of the Urbandale Public Library, located at 3520 86th Street.

Davenport
November 6, 2002 at 7 p.m. at the Davenport Public Library at 321 Main Street.

Either oral or written comments are accepted during the public hearings. Written comments can be sent to Bryan Bunton, DNR Air Quality Bureau, 7900 Hickman Road, Suite 1, Urbandale, IA 50322 or bryan.bunton@dnr.iowa.gov or faxed to 515-242-5094. All comments must be received no later than November 6, 2002.