ABI participates in DNR meetings

Members of the ABI public policy staff participated in several meetings related to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this week. On Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Commission had its monthly meeting where commissioners heard updates from DNR staff on several contracts. Four of the contracts were for air quality services and the majority of funding comes from industry through fees collected by DNR. ABI worked with DNR last fall to encourage efficiencies in the state’s air monitoring network. The EPC approved the recommendations made by DNR staff and it will result in more than 20 percent decrease in costs from the State Hygienic Lab.

On Wednesday, ABI participated in a stakeholder meeting to look at funding of the DNR Air Quality Bureau and how to handle continued emission decreases while still having enough funds for the bureau to operate. For more than a decade, ABI has tried to convince the DNR that industry should not be rewarded for decreasing emissions by having to pay more fees. The state’s over reliance on Title V fees has gotten the bureau into this conundrum and industry has increased its support of the bureau in the past two years and provided funding alternatives. If you would like more information about this workgroup or would like to be added to the ABI Environment Committee, contact Nicole Crain, ncrain@iowaabi.org.