ROCK ISLAND, Ill., - As repairs to property damaged by 2010 flooding takes place, the first thing that comes to mind may be obtaining the proper building permits. There is one permit that is often overlooked, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit.

Many damages are on high ground and do not require permits under the Corps' authorities. However, some repairs must be permitted by the Corps.

Repair of Structures

If repairs involve a discharge of dredged or fill material into a stream or wetland for the replacement of a previously authorized, currently serviceable, structure or fill to its pre-disaster condition, the work is authorized by Nationwide Permit Three. Any work related to repairing flood damage should commence, or be under contract to commence, within two years of the flood.

Removal of Flood-Deposited Sediment and Debris

If the removal involves flood-deposited sediment and debris from the navigable waters listed on our website, http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/Regulatory/Documents/navwaters.pdf, you are required to file an application and receive a response from the Corps. This type of work is limited to an area within 200 feet of an existing structure. All excavated material must be deposited and retained in an upland, non-wetland location.

Permits are not needed from the Corps if work does not involve the above rivers or flood-deposited sediment and debris is not returned or placed in any water of the United States, including wetlands.

Restoration of Altered Streams

If stream channels have completely changed course due to this year's flooding, or if a secondary channel has scoured out on the flood plain, the area may be restored to the 2010 pre-flood conditions under Nationwide Permit 27. Restored stream banks should be protected with riprap or water-tolerant vegetation. Written verification should be received from this office prior to starting work.

Restoration of Upland Areas

If discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States are necessary to restore upland areas lost because of the flooding, the work can be conducted with a Nationwide Permit 45. Property lost through gradual erosion over a period of years may not be reconstructed under this nationwide permit. Written verification should be received from this office prior to starting work.

Work on Federal Lands

Individuals proposing any work on federal land should contact the Rock Island District Real Estate Division office at (309) 794-5234 or (309) 794-5201 to determine what permissions are needed before commencing work.

All terms and conditions for the above Nationwide Permits are included in the Fact Sheets available at http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/Regulatory/. Please select the Nationwide Permit section for your state. Application forms and instructions are also available at this website.

Should you have any questions about Corps permits or need an application, please call Donna Jones at 309-794-5371, email donna.m.jones@usace.army.mil, or write to the Rock Island District, ATTN: Regulatory Branch, P. O. Box 2004, Rock Island, IL 61204

- 30 -

Independent Scholar's Evening

Poetry

of

Salvatore Marici

The Midwest Writing Center poet-in-resident will

present a one-timed reading about

Mortals, Nature, and their Spirits.

October 14 2010

2nd Floor of

^{The Moline Commercial Club}

^{513 16th Street}

^{Moline Il 61265}

^{Wine, beverages and light refreshments are hosted.}

^{Cash bar is available at 6:30 pm.}

^{Salvatore Marici is the 2010 Collins Poetry Residency poet. Sal will serve as poet-in-residence at the Midwest Writing Center (MWC) throughout the month of October. He will encourage community-based poets who are developing their craft outside of a formal academic setting, and to provide a forum to showcase their work through an online poetry journal and in a public reading of their poems at 7 p.m. on October 27 at MWC. He will also conduct 3 readings and 2 workshops. See http://communitybasedpoetry.blogspot.com/ for dates and updated events.}

^{Sal began writing poetry in 2002 and has never looked back. Since then, his poetry has seen print in numerous literary journals and regional and national publications. In 2009 and 2010, he took second place in MWC's Iron Pen contest, and this year was a national finalist in the Mississippi River Valley Poetry contest. He is a member of the Quint City Poets and the LeClaire Writers, and is a regular participant in MWC's Out Loud monthly open reading.}

^{The Independent Scholars' Evenings are sponsored by}

^{The Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, Ltd.}

^{A 501(c)3 organization at state and federal levels incorporated in 1996}

^{www.qcinstitute.org}

^{The event is free and open to the public}

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa - October 4, 2010 - Iowa Farm Bureau Federation's (IFBF) grassroots farmers work hard to protect the soil and water of this state which, for generations, have provided food for their families and yours.  That is why IFBF has joined with the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and the Iowa Water Environment Association to file litigation challenging a rule adopted by the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) over inappropriate voting by an out-of-state resident Commission member and the conflict of interest by another EPC member.

A lawsuit, filed October 4, 2010, raises questions about the legality of the EPC vote last December which approved a new water quality rule. "The livelihoods of farmers, rural businesses and all Iowans are adversely affected by the new antidegradation rules," said IFBF President Craig Lang.  "The rule will stifle new economic development and job creation, especially in rural areas of Iowa."

"We know that the antidegradation rule will likely increase sewer and storm water rates for many Iowans, whether they live in small, rural towns or large Iowa cities," said Ted Payseur, government relations chair of the Iowa Water Environment Association.  The IRFA agrees; "While Iowa is the nation's leader in renewable fuels production, this new EPC rule threatens the future of that status," said IRFA executive director Monte Shaw.  "Imposing excessive costs and limitations that go above and beyond the Clean Water Act will severely hamper the ability of current biofuels producers to expand and will discourage new producers from locating in Iowa."

The lawsuit contends two EPC members had significant issues that should have prevented them from voting on the antidegradation rule.  Residency was the issue for regulator Carrie LaSeur, founder and president of the environmental activist group, Plains Justice.  LaSeur was already living and voting in Montana when she cast her vote on the Iowa antidegradation rule. That is a clear violation of the residency laws governing the EPC, which require members to be registered Iowa voters.

Susan Heathcote is an employee of The Iowa Environmental Council, an environmental lobbying group which pushed EPC adoption of the antidegradation rule; she had a clear conflict voting on a measure that affects her employer and her paycheck.

The lawsuit also spotlights procedural irregularities with the adoption of the antidegradation rule.  "Iowans need to believe they are represented by lawmakers who have their best interests in mind; not appointed members of a board, serving their own agendas," said Lang.

-30-