A few bills of interest to BLUZ readers continue to move through the Iowa Legislature:
SF 321, which gives the DNR the authority to regulate wastewater discharges from on-farm processing operations, was signed by the Governor on April 7. “On-farm processing operations” is defined as “any place located on a farm where the form or condition of a food commodity originating from that farm or another farm is changed or packaged for human consumption, including but not limited to a dairy, creamery, winery, distillery, cannery, bakery, or meat or poultry processor.”
SF 407, which delegates to counties the permitting and enforcement powers of the department of natural resources in relation to the construction of semipublic sewage disposal systems, has now passed both the House and Senate.
HF 655 (companion to SF 395, and successor to HF 300 which I discussed in more detail in my March 23 post) passed the House on an 83-13 vote and has been referred to a Senate Ways and Means subcommittee of Joe Bolkcom (D-Iowa City), Herman Quirmbach (D-Ames), and Brad Zaun (R-Urbandale).
