Protecting the Environment

• MidAmerican seeks to release coal ash leachate into Missouri River

• Inflation Reduction Act Funding Clinic

• Iowa Rejects Climate Planning Money

• Pipeline Update:  We’re Winning!

Plus

• Join us for interesting and informative Lunch and Learns

• Contribute to the Iowa Chapter

• Volunteer for the Iowa Chapter

• Calendar of events

• To see the archive of previous Iowa Chapter newsletters

• To see the White Pine Needle newsletter

MidAmerican seeks to release coal ash leachate into Missouri River

MidAmerican is planning request an NPDES permit to reconfigure its handling of water in its coal ash impoundment at the George Neal North coal plant. 

An NPDES permit is a permit granted by the Department of Natural Resources, as part of the federal Clean Water Act, to regulate point source wastewater discharges into a waterbody.  Point source discharges can be thought of as coming from a pipe.

The coal ash impoundment is in the open air and gets rainwater on top of it.  The water runs through the coal ash waste and picks up minerals and chemicals.  After it runs through the coal ash, it is called leachate.  At some point, there is so much leachate that it cannot be held within the impoundment and it has to be released somewhere.  The impoundment needs a certain amount of room to hold the water before it is dumped and that space is called freeboard.  Coal ash contains toxic and polluting substances, including arsenic, mercury, lead, dissolved metals, and more.

As a result of the work MidAmerican is doing at the George Neal coal plant, it will need a new option for disposing of the leachate, and, thus, a new NPDES permit.  MidAmerican hired a consultant to help explore the options.  As part of that exploration and analysis for an NPDES permit, an antidegradation analysis must be performed.  Antidegradation is intended to prevent further reduction of water quality in the receiving water body (ie, degradation).

There are several options that the company considered, including sending the leachate into the Missouri River, sending it to a local wastewater treatment facility, using evaporation and a fan system to encourage evaporation, and chemical treatment.

The consultant did identify that the amount of arsenic planned to be discharged into the Missouri River will be above the effluent limits currently allowed for arsenic, a toxic substance.  Also mercury and lead will be included in the discharge.

The Missouri River is a major migratory bird corridor.  It is home to the pallid sturgeon, a fish on the endangered species list.  Plus the Missouri River is used by boaters and people who fish the river - all who have contact with the water.  All of these uses will be affected by toxic chemicals and polluting releases into the river.

It was obvious in looking at the consultant's work that the full requirements of the antidegration policy were not followed.  The Sierra Club provided comments about the draft antidegradation alternatives analysis.  We are suggesting that the consultant start over with the review.  Once the consultant completes its work, MidAmerican will be asking the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for an NPDES permit.  EPA will have to approve of the NPDES permit.  We will continue to monitor the proposal through the permitting process.

Inflation Reduction Act Funding Clinic

9:30 to 3:30 on Friday, April 28, 2023 (lunch included), Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 2606 W Burlington Ave, Fairfield, IA

Pre-registration is required at http://bit.ly/3JLScz9?r=qr. Clinic fee is $35 if paid in advance online; $40 (cash or check) at the door.  For an information flyer, see IRA-poster-print.pdf

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has appropriated $500 billion to boost economic development and community resilience and has designated 40% of its benefit for underserved rural communities.  Participants from Wapello, Jefferson, Washington, Davis, Van Buren, Louisa, Henry, Lee, and Des Moines counties are specifically invited, because we think this is a “leg-up” that Southeast Iowa needs.  Of course, attendance is open to individuals from elsewhere, too.

MORNING PROGRAM: Experts from multiple Federal, State, regional agencies and organizations will provide information about the amount and type of IRA funds that will flow through each department, how their organization will be involved, and what types of projects each can support. Those present will include: DOT, EPA, USDA, FEMA, IRS, and more.

AFTERNOON PROGRAM:  Those same representatives, as well as grant writers, will staff “round tables” where participants can ask questions about specific projects and learn how best to proceed and who to contact to access funds.

The state of Iowa rejected a $3 million grant to plan for climate pollution reduction.  The money was being offered to every state by the federal Environmental Protection Agency through its Climate Pollution Reduction Grants program, which was part of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Iowa joins Florida, South Dakota, and Kentucky in refusing to participate in the program.  Debi Durham, head of Iowa Economic Development Authority, indicated that she recommended to Governor Reynolds that Iowa not participate because the program had strings attached.[1,2]  It is not clear what the strings were or are.  However, a spokesperson for Iowa Economic Development claimed that the state has the Iowa Energy Plan which was published in 2016[1,2] and they claim that the 2016 plan is sufficient and that there is no need for a plan to reduce climate change pollutants.

The grant would have provided the state money to develop plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful air pollution.  The first step was to submit a Notice of Intent to Participate by March 31, 2023.  The second step of the process was to submit an application and work plan for your climate planning grant by April 28, 2023.  Next year, additional money is to be available to implement the plans.  Unfortunately Iowa will not be able to receive that money.

The energy plan is 7 years old and a lot has happened in those 7 years.  The Iowa legislature reduced the energy efficiency requirements placed upon investor-owned utilities.  A number of coal plants have ceased operation.  More renewable energy has been installed in the state.  It is time to update the plan and review work that could reduce Iowa's greenhouse gas emissions.

The last time Iowa participated in serious climate change reduction planning was during Governor Chet Culver's administration.  In 2008, The Climate Change Advisory Council Final Report recommended a number of policies that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Iowa.  Subsequent governors put the plan on a shelf and ignored the policy recommendations. 

Climate change is already impacting Iowa and the need to reduce emissions is a growing concern.  Iowa’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory[3] shows the source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state for 2021 as 

Implementing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would provide good paying jobs, would protect Iowa’s economy, would reduce energy costs, and would reduce harmful pollution that results in burning fossil fuels.  Instead of being a leader, we are letting other states leave us in the dust.  It is unfortunate that the state will not be developing plans to reduce climate pollution.

[1] Erin Jordan, “Iowa shuns $3M federal grant for climate plans”, Cedar Rapids Gazette, April 6, 2023

[2] Todd Dorman, “Iowa’s approach to climate change is daffy”, Cedar Rapids Gazette, April 16, 2023

[3] Iowa Department of Natural Resources, “2021 Iowa Statewide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory Report”, December 27, 2022

Pipeline Update:  We’re Winning!

By Jess Mazour, Conservation Program Coordinator for the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club

Despite what Summit, Navigator and Wolf want you to think, we are winning against the proposed carbon pipelines projects.  Across the state, Iowans are coming together to oppose the Summit, Navigator and Wolf carbon pipelines. 

It’s been nearly two years since the carbon pipelines were announced and we have successfully delayed the projects over a year, preventing the pipeline companies from meeting their announced pipeline construction schedules.  And let’s not forget - there is still time for the Senate to pass HF565 now before they adjourn. 

HF565 - 90% Threshold Bill

HF565 would require a carbon pipeline company to get 90% of the route voluntarily before they can ask to use eminent domain.  We’ve been up at the Capitol weekly to lobby our elected officials. We successfully passed the bill out of the Iowa House with 73 votes!  Now the bill is stalled in the Senate Commerce Committee. 

We know the bill would pass if brought to the Senate Floor today but Commerce Committee Chairman Waylon Brown, Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, and Governor Reynolds do not want the bill to pass.  The only thing stopping our bill from moving forward is the political will. Our growing coalition combined with the 2024 elections coming up means their political will is something we can change. 

If their hope is that we’ll give up, they’re wrong. 

Please contact your Senator and Representative and tell them to do everything in their power to pressure Senate leadership to pass HF565 before they adjourn.

Our Coalition Is Growing!

A recent Des Moines Register poll showed that 78% of Iowans opposed eminent domain for carbon pipelines.  We’ve been working hard to build a united coalition with everyday Iowans, local governments and other organizations that can take action to help stop the carbon pipelines.  Here’s what we’ve achieved so far:

• Thousands of objections submitted to the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) by impacted landowners and everyday Iowans

• 44 Iowa Counties have formally objected with the IUB

• 25 Towns/Cities have formally objected with the IUB 

• 22 State Representatives co-sponsored our bill

• 21 Local Entities have formally objected (School Districts, Boards of Health, Republican Party County Central Committees, Emergency Management, Farm Groups, Etc)

• 6 Counties have passed land use ordinances to protect their communities (11 more are working on ordinances)

• 5 other impacted states organizing and building coalitions to stop the carbon pipelines

(Click here to see a list of the Counties, Towns/Cities, and Local Entities that have objected)

Victory - Summit still has 1008 unsigned parcels!

Summit recently filed with the IUB that they still have 1008 unsigned parcels in Iowa alone.  This is bad news for Summit considering they’ve been using high-pressure tactics on Iowa landowners for over a year.  Last month, IUB released a draft proposal setting Summit’s final hearing to begin in October 2023, almost a year after Summit’s original hearing request of November 2022. 

We are pushing back against this fast-tracked hearing proposal.  There are too many unanswered questions and a clear lack of support from Iowans.  The IUB has not finalized the schedule and the more it is delayed, it appears that we may be successful in delaying Summit’s hearing date yet again.

We are winning.  Don’t let Summit, Navigator and Wolf and their fancy PR let you think otherwise.  We need all Iowans to come together to protect Iowa from the carbon pipeline boondoggle.  Let’s stop these carbon pipelines!

Things we’re reading & watching

Watch Sierra Club Iowa Chapter Conservation Program Coordinator Jess Mazour debate Navigator on Iowa Press!

Read Cedar Rapids Gazette Staff Column on the carbon pipelines by Todd Dorman: Iowa’s approach to climate change is daffy

Learn more about the sequestration side of Carbon Capture and Storage: Why injecting CO2 underground is a legal morass

Lunch and Learns

Every Friday at noon, we do a Lunch and Learn livestream.  See us on Facebook at "Sierra Club Iowa Chapter".  These will be recorded so you can watch them anytime.  Topics will be selected based on what is happening during the week and will be announced the day before the livestream.  During the legislative session, we cover issues coming before the Iowa legislature.

In case you missed our past webinars and lunch and learn sessions, you can still see them.

Volunteer for the Iowa Chapter

Almost everything we do is done by volunteers like you.  If you would like to volunteer for the Iowa Chapter, please let us know by sending an E-mail to Iowa.chapter@sierraclub.org.  Or sign up by using the online form.  There are many opportunities for you to make a difference:

• making phone calls

• developing graphics for banners and flyers

• working on legislative issues

• working on elections

• fundraising

• organizing events

• joining an issue committee 

If you would like to join our legislative action team, sign up here.  Keep on top of what is happening at the Iowa legislature.  Be alerted when you should contact your legislators about pending legislation.

Photo by Pam Mackey Taylor

Sierra Club - working every day on Iowa’s environmental problems

Sierra Club is Iowa’s oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization.  Not only that, we are the best bet in the state for achieving bold solutions to Iowa’s environmental problems.

We work in the courts, before Iowa’s public agencies, and in the halls of the legislature.  The Iowa Chapter's effort to protect the environment takes financial support.  The Chapter receives very little financial support from the national Sierra Club.  Can we count on you for a donation to ensure even more victories?  Your contribution will be put to work here in Iowa on issues that affect every day Iowans – water quality, clean air, protection of Iowa's soil, parks and natural areas, and a strong democracy.  The Iowa Chapter is relentless in fighting back bad legislation that affects every one of us. 

Your non-deductible contributions make it possible for us to fight bad legislation and to promote good legislation.  We appreciate your past and on-going support of these efforts.  You can make a non-deductible donation with a credit card.   A non-deductible donation supports the Chapter's effective, citizen-based advocacy and lobbying programs.  If you prefer, a non-deductible check can be written to the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter and mailed to:

Treasurer
Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter
PO Box 1058
Marion, IA 52302

You can also make a tax-deductible donation with a credit card.  Tax-deductible activities are limited to public interest education, research and legal actions.  A deductible check can be written to the Sierra Club Foundation with “Iowa Chapter” written in the memo line.

Thank you for your support.

Photo of bloodroot by Pam Mackey Taylor

Donate your used vehicle

As the Sierra Club Foundation's Iowa Chapter continues to raise charitable funds to support its work in Iowa, won’t you consider participating in our vehicle donation program?  Our partners over at CARS have made the process of donating your unused or unneeded car, truck, motorcycle, boat or RV easy, efficient and secure.  They’ll take care of everything from picking up your vehicle to sending you a tax receipt for your generous gift.  To learn more about The Sierra Club Foundation's Iowa Chapter vehicle donation program, please call 844-674-3772.  Or visit our webpage to get started today!

Sierra Club Foundation promotes climate solutions, conservation, and movement building through a powerful combination of strategic philanthropy and grassroots advocacy. The Foundation is the fiscal sponsor of Sierra Club’s charitable environmental programs.

For more information 

Planned giving . . . naming the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter in your will 

Ensure your environmental legacy by naming the Iowa Chapter in your will or trust. These gifts cost you nothing now. You can hold onto your assets for as long as you need them.

Thank you for supporting our work!