CO2 Pipeline Update

• Summit Sued by Pipe Maker

• CO2 Pipeline Leaks in Sulphur, Louisiana

• Eminent Domain Legislation, HF2664, dies in the Senate, yet again

Legislative Updates

• Legislative Wrap-up

• Constitutional Amendments Advance

Climate Change

• April 25, webinar - What's the dirty truth about our electric utility?

• May 4, Berkshire Hathaway Rally and link to RSVP

Protecting the Environment

• Catastrophic Spill into East Nishnabotna River

• EPA issues two rules on PFAS

• May 4, Outing to Whiterock Conservancy

• Lunch and Learns Fridays at noon

Plus

• 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

Catastrophic Spill into East Nishnabotna River

Between March 9 and March 11, 2024, a valve was left open on a large fertilizer storage tank at NEW Cooperative, Inc. near Red Oak, Iowa.  The open valve allowed 1,500 tons (265,000 gallons) of liquid nitrogen fertilizer (32% solution) to drain from the tank into a drainage ditch, which then flowed into the East Nishnabotna River.  Over the next few days, the pollution traveled all the way downstream in Iowa, through Missouri, and to the confluence of the Nishnabotna River with the Missouri River.  Not only was the valve left open, nobody was monitoring the site over the weekend.  The company had not installed any detection equipment for monitoring open valves.

Effects of the spill

According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), contaminated soils were removed from the tank site, water was pumped from a site near a levee, and  the water was held until it was tested for the fertilizer content and then land applied.

The DNR stated that nearly all fish were killed in the nearly 50-mile Iowa stretch of the river – 749,242 fish.  A New York Times article by Mitch Smith and Catrin Einhorn reported that Missouri officials estimated an additional 40,000 fish were killed in the 10-mile stretch of the Nishnabotna River in Missouri.  Jared Strong reported in Iowa Capital Dispatch that Missouri Department of Conservation staff indicated that they were seeing “a near total fish kill”.

In Iowa the fish killed include game fish such as catfish, bass, and sunfish as well as over 707,000 minnows.  The spill affects other living animals – frogs, snakes, mussels, earthworms - and plants along the river.

The spill also would affect Iowans who want to use the river, for fishing, for paddling, for wading, and for watching wildlife.  Further the contamination may affect drinking water wells downstream of the spill.

It will take a long time for the fish numbers to recover.

Concern about Iowa DNR staff to enforce a stiff penalty

This is a flagrant violation of the Clean Water Act.

With the current Environmental Protection Commission and the state Attorney General, the Sierra Club is not confident that the state will pursue adequate punishment for this egregious violation of the Clean Water Act.

The amount of fertilizer released in this spill is breathtaking.  Likewise, the amount of fish killed is breathtaking.  This is not a simple accident.  This is a very serious release of a pollutant. 

In Iowa, the normal penalty is restitution for the killed fish along with a civil penalty.  Sierra Club believes that a large civil penalty and criminal action is appropriate.

Given that a number of segments of the East Nishnabotna River have been on the impaired waters list (303(d)) since 2008, it is very clear that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has not been able or willing to ensure that efforts are taken to improve its water quality.  It is time to take the long-standing pollution in the East Nishnabotna seriously.  Now is the time to undertake efforts to improve water quality in the river, while recovery and restoration efforts are underway due to this spill.

Conclusion

The Sierra Club asked that EPA become engaged in enforcement actions against NEW Cooperative, Inc. and would encourage both civil and criminal actions to be taken against the cooperative and its employees.  Further, the penalties assessed against NEW Cooperative and its employees need to be large enough so that other businesses and industry are encouraged to avoid similar carelessness.  Most importantly, the penalties need to be more than slaps on the wrist.

Further, it is appropriate for the Environmental Protection Agency to engage in the long-term repair of the river, including restoring the river inhabitants and testing of private wells. 

Sierra Club Iowa Chapter Director Pam Mackey-Taylor sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 Administrator requesting EPA to engage in enforcement actions against NEW Cooperative, Inc.   Read the letter here.

Resources

DNR press release, “Montgomery County fertilizer spill killed more than 749,000 fish”, March 28, 2004

Jared Strong, “Fertilizer killed more than 750,000 fish in Nishnabotna”, Iowa Capital Dispatch, March 27, 2024

Mitch Smith and Catrin Einhorn, “Iowa Fertilizer Spill Kills Nearly All Fish Across 60-Mile Stretch of Rivers”, New York Times, March 29, 2024

Dac Collins, “Midwestern Fertilizer Spill Kills Nearly Every Single Fish in 60-Mile Stretch of River”, Outdoor Life, April 1, 2024

Legislative Wrap-up

The legislature adjourned during the early morning hours on April 20.  The old saying about the legislature is "it's not over until the final gavel falls".  It was a nail-biter all the way to the end.   A summary of some of the bills we were following and lobbying on follows.

• A bill that the Sierra Club supported – HF2364 – will require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to publish a list of the state parks and their trails and features that are accessible for folks with disabilities, with the results published online and in brochures.  The DNR is also required to research and develop recommendations to increase the accessibility of people with disabilities in state parks and public recreation areas.
• The legislature appropriated $250,000 to the Iowa Geological Survey for a groundwater planning and resources assessment project.  The project will map and assess the condition of the state’s aquifers.  It may include measuring the volume of groundwater available for use, current and predicted allocations of the groundwater, the recharge rate for the aquifers, and developing modes for budgeting the water resources.  The Sierra Club supports this project and advocated for this study.  This appropriation is in bill SF2421.
• The appropriations bills continued to under-fund the Department of Natural Resources.  It is estimated that $100 million of repairs are needed for our state parks, for such things as fixing picnic shelters, updating septic systems, and repairing park structures damaged by the 2020 derecho.
• Unfortunately, the legislation leveling the playing field for the landowners dealing with eminent domain for the carbon dioxide pipeline failed – HF2664.
• The bill authorizing Iowa to join the Midwest Passenger Rail Compact failed – HF591 and SF2135.  However, the bill advanced farther than it has ever moved in prior sessions.
• The protection for the black bear stalled earlier in the session – HF175.  This bill advanced farther this year than in any prior session.
• We were able to block establishing a bounty for raccoon tails - HF2665
• Luckily we were able to block legislation that would begin assessing property taxes on forest and fruit tree reserves – HF2672.  This was a nail biter since the bill remained live until the very end.
• Another disappointing bill was SF2370, which enshrined the Governor’s Executive Order 10 – a process of repealing every rule and reinstating those rules that provide less regulatory burden.  It is expensive and time-consuming process for the agencies, the regulated community, and the public watchdogs.  It is unnecessary, it creates chaos, and it creates regulatory uncertainty.  All of this is at a time when state agencies are being squeezed in terms of budgets and staff.
• We are disappointed that the legislature decided to remove the requirements that government boards and commissions be balanced so that both men and women are given seats – SF2096.  The legislature also reduced the number of boards and commissions, which we opposed – SF2385.
• A number of our cities and counties have passed ordinances on the amount of topsoil that must be returned to a building site and the stormwater protection that is required.  The legislature decided to ban cities and counties from passing those ordinances – SF455.  We were disappointed that this bill passed.

Throughout the legislative session, we asked you to reach out to your legislators.  Some of you came to the capitol to meet with your representative or senator.  Some of you wrote emails, sent letters, made phone calls, and attended forums.  All of this helps.

During the interim, continue to discuss environmental issues with your legislators and the candidates.  You can bet our opponents are making contacts.

Bills forwarded to the Governor

Of the bills we followed and lobbied on during the session, the list below shows the bills that were passed by both chambers and sent to the Governor for her signature or veto.

Advocates in support of the legislation leveling the playing field for the landowners dealing with eminent domain for the carbon dioxide pipeline – HF2664 - stand at head of the table during the House committee meeting discussing the bill.

Constitutional Amendments Advance

Two proposed constitutional amendments related to tax policy advanced this legislative session. 

• The first constitutional amendment would require a single income tax rate for individuals.  The income taxes cannot be graduated, based on income.

• The second amendment would require a two-thirds super-majority of both bodies of the legislature to increase an individual income tax rate or a corporate tax rate.  Only a simple majority would be needed to reduce income tax rates.  Any new tax based on income would also require a two-thirds super-majority.

Sierra Club opposes these constitutional amendments.  Neither of these constitutional amendments are necessary.  Both of them will tie the hands of future legislatures, should there be a need to raise taxes or change the tax structures.  These amendments do not fix things that are broken and they do not move our state forward.  Instead they will tie the hands of future legislators in ways that may significantly reduce state revenues and in ways that place unfair burdens on our lower-income residents.  We need to be very careful with changes to the constitution.

Currently income taxes fund about half of state government.  The rest of the state government funding comes from sales and use taxes (taxes from on-line sales), fees, fines, beer tax, franchise taxes, federal government support, and other miscellaneous sources.

The state revenue funds the government services that the public needs, expects, and wants - plowed roads in the winter, public schools, public parks, nursing home inspections, enforcement of traffic laws, enforcement of environmental laws, and much more.

Of all of the forms of generating state revenue, the least regressive tax is the income tax.  By building a graduated income tax, those who are most able to pay the tax due to higher incomes are assessed a higher tax rate.  Alternatively, those with the least income would pay a lower share of their income, due to a lower tax rate.

The Republicans in the legislature and the Governor have been on a mission to reduce tax rates and to implement a single tax rate.  They are even working toward completely eliminating the income tax.  Their vision is to shrink government and to rely on other revenue sources to provide the government services.   

As the lower income tax rates are fully implemented, or the elimination of the income tax rates, a future legislature may find that the revenues are not satisfactory to fund their obligations and services that Iowans expect and demand.  There may be a time when increased revenues are needed - taking care of a disaster or a need for some special program.  These two constitutional amendments will severely restrict the actions that the future legislature can take.  Aside from cutting expenses, laying off staff and reducing services, there would be few options for raising revenue.  And those options for raising revenues would be regressive and would harm those least able to pay the increased sales taxes, fines, or fees.

Further, the two-thirds majority needed to increase income tax would allow a minority of legislators to control the tax policy of the state, instead of the majority of legislators.

And more significantly, if the tax cutting that has been happening and is contemplated results in far less revenue than is predicted, the citizens of the state may clamor for tax increases.

Future legislatures may want to make the income tax more fair for all tax payers, via the graduated income tax.  These constitutional amendments would make that much more difficult, since it is a lengthy process to change the constitution.    Over the years, there have been numerous successful efforts to shift taxes onto sales tax and away from income tax and to lower the top tax brackets, which has a greater adverse impact on lower income families and working families.

The net result from these constitutional amendments will be shifting tax collection to sales tax, property tax, fines, and fees.  Sales tax is under pressure every year from entities who want to be exempted from collection of the tax.

If the income tax cutting experiment fails and we hit rock bottom, then future legislators will need all of the tools in the tax toolbox to recover.  We should not tie the hands of those legislators by banning graduated income taxes and requiring a super-majority to increase income taxes.

For these reasons, Sierra Club opposes both the constitutional amendments - a single income tax rate and a super-majority to increase income tax rates.

A constitutional amendment has to be passed by two consecutive legislative sessions (a legislation session lasts two years, starting the January following a general election) plus a vote at the next general election – a process that requires at least three years.  In other words, the proposed amendments must be passed in 2025 or 2026 in order to be placed on the 2026 election ballot.  All Iowa voters will have an opportunity to decide if they support or reject the ballot measures.

Summit Sued by Pipe Maker

On Monday, April 15, pipe-manufacturer Welspun Tubular LLC filed a lawsuit against Summit Carbon Solutions and SCS Transport for terminating a Purchase Agreement for 4,142,185 feet of pipe for $182.5 million.

Welspun declined a request from Summit for an indefinite suspension of the order after learning that Summit’s project was “dramatically off-schedule”.

Summit and Welspun entered into a Purchase Agreement on September 16, 2022, which allowed Summit to request suspension of the project and allowed Welspun to move forward with other contracts during those suspension periods.

Summit asked for suspensions of the project and Welspun took on other contracts.  But early 2024, after Welspun learned the project was “dramatically off-schedule”, they declined to extend the contract.  In February, 2024, Welspun notified Summit of a breach of contract and sued Summit for $15 million and material costs.

This raises alarm bells that Summit is in financial trouble and reiterates that Summit’s word means nothing. Summit has misled about their project, made false promises, failed to timely pay bills and backed out of contracts. If Summit can’t pay its bills and is getting sued, then it’s time for IUB to deny their permit request.

CO2 Pipeline Leaks in Sulphur, Louisiana

On Wednesday, April 3, the Denbury CO2 pipeline owned by Exxon leaked in Sulphur, Louisiana, resulting in a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents.  This is the same pipeline that ruptured near Satartia, Mississippi in 2020 sending over 40 people to the hospital and the evacuation of over 300 people.  There have been at least 9 reported incidents from the Denbury Pipeline since 2010.

The National Response Center (NRC) put out a short statement saying the leak was due to an O Ring failure on the launcher PIG trap door.  The leak was reported at 6:05pm on April 3 and wasn’t secured until 8:29pm, leaking 2,548 barrels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.  Read the National Response Center Report here.  The National Response Center is a federal agency designated for reporting all oil, chemical, radiological, biological and etiological discharges into the environment, anywhere in the United States and its territories.

The federal Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) has not released its investigation report yet.

Read more and see picture of the leak: The Guardian published an eye-opening article about the leak and CO2 pipeline dangers titled "‘Wake-up call’: pipeline leak exposes carbon capture safety gaps, advocates say".

A discussion about sheltering in place

As mentioned above, the neighbors were told to shelter in place until the plume passed.  During testimony before the Iowa Utilities Board for the Summit CO2 pipeline, an EMT who was on-site after the Satartia, Mississippi, rupture testified that sheltering in place might not be the best option.

During testimony before the Iowa Utilities Board for the Summit CO2 pipeline, landowners showed how many Iowa communities and farms are served by volunteer EMTs.  Some of those EMTs are many miles away from the pipeline route.  Waiting for an EMT or advice on what to do in the event of a rupture could result in serious consequences.  High concentrations of carbon dioxide are an asphyxiant when released into the environment, as occurs during a pipeline leak.

Numerous landowners testified during the IUB hearing about how close the Summit pipeline would be to homes and farm buildings, some only a few hundred feet.  A rupture or leak would put the occupants at great risk.

County ordinances

Landowners and Iowans across the state are asking County Supervisors to pass carbon pipeline zoning ordinances to protect communities from the Summit and Wolf carbon pipelines proposed in Iowa.  The leak is another example of why these ordinances are important.  It is also why the Iowa Utilities Board should deny Summit's request for a permit to build the pipeline in Iowa.

Eminent Domain Legislation, HF2664, dies in the Senate, yet again

For the third session in a row, the Iowa Senate killed legislation to address the carbon pipeline boondoggle being proposed across the state.  In 2024, HF 2664 passed the Iowa House with 86 votes and made it through a Senate Ways and Means Subcommittee with unanimous support.  The bill was killed in the Senate Ways and Means Committee, where it never even had a hearing. 

Sierra Club Iowa Chapter is disappointed that Senate Leadership’s loyalty lies with Bruce Rastetter and Summit rather than 78% of Iowans who oppose eminent domain for carbon pipelines.  Landowners joined Sierra Club weekly at the capitol where we became a powerful force.  Our group had hundreds of conversations, attended many meetings, held 3 powerful lobby days and built relationships with dozens of Iowa legislators.

HF2664 had two sections. Section 1 offered landowners relief from years of stress related to the threat of eminent domain by creating a process for landowners to seek a Declaratory Order from a judge. Section 2 would have balanced the appeal process for the IUB's final decision by removing bonding requirements to pause construction while waiting for a decision from a Judge.

EPA issues two rules on PFAS

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released two rules that deal with PFAS.  The first rule regulates that amount of PFAS that can be in drinking water while the second rule deals with cleanup of PFAS contamination.

PFAS Drinking Water Regulation

On April 10, 2024, EPA issued its final rules for a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation which established legally enforceable levels - maximum contaminant levels - for 6 PFAS chemicals that can be found in drinking water.  Additionally, the rules require that 

• Public water systems monitor for the six PFAS chemicals and must complete the initial monitoring by 2027 and must follow that with ongoing compliance monitoring. Water systems must also provide the public with information on the levels of these PFAS chemicals in their drinking water beginning in 2027.

• Public water systems must implement solutions to reduce these PFAS chemicals by 2029 if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed the maximum containment levels.

• Beginning in 2029, public water systems that have PFAS chemicals in their drinking water which violates one or more of these maximum containment levels must take action to reduce levels of these PFAS in their drinking water and must provide notification to the public of the violation. 

For more information, see www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas

EPA Announces a Critical Rule to Clean Up Forever Chemicals and Protect Public Health

The Biden administration announced the completion of a critical rule that will clean up pollution from two per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Both will be deemed as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), otherwise known as Superfund.

This final rule recognizes the potential dangers to the environment and public health by increasing transparency of any discharges of these pollutants, as well as eliminating barriers to clean-up. Exposure to PFAS substances known as “forever chemicals” persist and accumulate in the body over time. They have been linked to impacts on the liver and heart, various cancers, and are known to cause immune and developmental problems in children. 

May 4 Outing to Whiterock Conservancy

The Chapter will be having an outing to Whiterock Conservancy in Guthrie County, outside of Coon Rapids, Iowa, on May 4, 2024.  We are planning three hikes.  One hike will be a shorter, easier hike along the Raccoon River.  A second hike will last a couple of hours and will be a little more strenuous, starting along the Raccoon River.  A third shorter hike will be on the trail that leads from the Visitor Center to the Garst homestead.  We will have hike leaders who can point out flowers and birds.  This will be in the prime of the song bird migration and the blooming wildflowers.   Sign up to attend

See a Map of Whiterock Conservancy

Whiterock Conservancy, is a gift of nature to Iowa and its citizens from the Garst family. The 5,500-acre non-profit land trust sits in and along the valley of the Middle Raccoon River in a rugged and ecologically diverse landscape. Whiterock Conservancy is a great example of a “working landscape.” A working landscape is an approach to managing land and natural environments that balances social, economic and ecological needs. Business and social activities are done in a way that minimizes the disturbance of native plants and animals. A working landscape is an area where humans work as responsible members of a natural ecosystem. The outcome is mutual sustainability for people and for nature.

The mission of Whiterock Conservancy is threefold. It integrates 1) ecological restoration and conservation of biodiversity, 2) regenerative agriculture with sustainable farming practices, and 3) recreation and education featuring 40 miles of trails and 8 miles of river.

Field trip participants will learn more about what Whiterock does to achieve this mission and see first-hand the results of Whiterock’s first 20 years of land stewardship.

Schedule:

12:30 – Meet at the River Campground for outdoor program.

12:30 to 12:45 – Introduction to Whiterock Conservancy, Kate Zimmerman, Director of Whiterock Conservancy.

12:45 to 3:00 – Option of two short hikes - Hike #1 or Hike #2 - to see Whiterock Conservancy.

3:00 to 3:30 – Break.  Meet at the visitor center to use the restrooms, fill water bottles, and pick up information about Whiterock Conservancy and the Sierra Club.

3:30 to 5:00 – Hike #3 Low Difficulty hike to the Historic Garst Farmhouse.  Meet at the Visitor Center and hike to the Farmhouse or drive to the Farmhouse and meet those who are hiking.

RSVP

In case of Adverse Weather – The occurrence of light rain or a drizzle will not change the outdoor hikes. If necessary, come prepared for such conditions. The threat of lightning or a thunderstorm will prompt a change in plans for the afternoon. The hikes will be delayed or cancelled and replaced with an indoor program at the Whiterock Conservancy visitor center located along Highway 141 one mile east of Coon Rapids.

Description of hikes:

Hike #1 - Low Difficulty – Kate Zimmerman will lead a group downriver from the campground. Forest, grassland, wetland and stream habitats will be observed. Participants will hike about 0.5 miles on a riverside trail to a turn around point. On the way back there will be two options. 

Option A – Continue back to the river campground on your own. This option has a total distance of 1.0 mile and no elevation gain.

Option B – Kate will lead participants on a side loop trail back to the campground that will take you out of the floodplain and on to the adjacent upland where you should see a greater variety of flora and fauna.  This option has a total distance of 1.25 miles and 60 feet of elevation gain.

Hike #2 - Medium Difficulty – Tom Rosburg, Professor of Biology at Drake University and consulting research ecologist at Whiterock Conservancy, will lead a group upriver from the campground.  Habitats observed will include a large wet seep (a special type of wetland), riparian, upland forest and reconstructed prairie. The total distance is about 1.5 miles with 170 feet of elevation gain. There will also be a short distance of off-trail hiking.

Hike #3 Low Difficulty.  Kate and Tom will lead a group to the Historic Garst Farmhouse, where participants will learn about its important history as the home of Roswell and Elizabeth Garst, the site of the 1959 visit by Soviet Premiere Nikita Khrushchev, and the cradle of hybrid seed corn. Total distance for the hike is 1.5 miles and there is no significant elevation gain.

On your own

For those who want to spend more time at Whiterock, there are many activities you can do on your own - biking, hiking, camping, staying in one of the farm houses on the property, exploring the history of the Garst family, and more. 

Save the date - May 4, 2024 - and plan to join us on one of the hikes.  Sign up

What's the dirty truth about our electric utility?

Last Fall, Sierra Club released its third version of the annual Dirty Truth About Utilities' Climate Pledges Report [1]. The report analyzed the plans of 77 utilities owned by 50 parent companies and assigned scores and grades to the utilities based on three criteria: coal retirement, new gas build-outs, and investment in clean energy through 2030.

For the third year in a row, Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary MidAmerican Energy (MidAm) earned a D grade because of its five massive coal plants in Iowa and lack of plans to make a clean energy transition.

At present, MidAm simply lacks the resolve to move toward clean energy in the timeframe needed to avoid the worst of the climate crisis. That's why it's up to ordinary Iowans to envision and achieve a clean energy future.

Join us at 6pm CT on April 25th to learn more about the dirty truth on MidAm and Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE) from special guest Cara Fogler, one of the co-authors of the report.

By sharpening our knowledge together, we can build community and the people power we need to build a sustainable future for all!  Register here

1Dirty Truth About Utilities' Climate Pledges Report

Photo of George Neal North by Emma Colman

May 4, Berkshire Hathaway Rally

Berkshire Hathaway, which owns MidAmerican Energy, operates one of the largest fleets of coal plants in the nation. Last year, dozens of Iowans and Nebraskans rallied outside of their annual shareholder meeting calling on the company to make a plan to close their outdated, expensive, and dangerous coal plants. 

We have plans underway to rally at this year’s annual shareholder meeting on May 4 in Omaha, Nebraska.  We are part of a coalition called Clean Up MidAm that is organizing the day's event.  We plan to have buses that will transport people from Des Moines and Sioux City to Omaha.  Make an RSVP to attend.  Contact Emma Colman, Iowa Beyond Coal Organizing Representative, at emma.colman@sierraclub.org for more information.

Photo of Louisa Generating Station, by Emma Colman

Lunch and Learns Fridays at noon

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.

• See  "Summit Sued for Terminating Purchase Agreement with Pipe Maker", April 19, 2024
• Watch "Nishnabotna Fish Kill", April 12, 2024
• Watch "Summit expansion - 14 new dockets at Utilities Board", March 8, 2024
• You Tube recording "Inflation Reduction Act", March 6, 2024, this recording lasts an hour

Rue anenome

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.

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.

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!