Decision Issued on Iowa's Water Quality Standards

(Kansas City, Kan., Jan. 6, 2012) - EPA has approved the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (IDNR) designated use changes for 430 water bodies and disapproved proposed changes for 89 water bodies.  Designated uses describe the achievable recreational activities and aquatic life uses for Iowa's waters.

"Healthy watersheds provide Iowa communities with safe drinking water, recreational opportunities, environmental benefits and clean water for habitat for fish and wildlife," said Karl Brooks, regional administrator. "EPA will continue working with the state to protect Iowa's lakes, rivers and streams."

IDNR submitted these new and revised Iowa surface water quality standards to EPA for review and approval, as required by the Clean Water Act (CWA).  The state based its recommendations on site-specific field data gathered by IDNR in and near streams, lakes and rivers. This submission updates the use designations to determine the highest attainable use for the individual waters.

Designated recreational uses protect for activities such as swimming, fishing and canoeing; and for human consumption of aquatic life.  Aquatic life uses provide for the protection and maintenance of a healthy environment for fish and other animals.

The CWA assigns EPA the duty to oversee state-agency actions to protect water quality. In partnership with IDNR, EPA works with the public, community leaders, local and state agencies to meet the growing needs and demands of our water resources.

EPA's Jan. 5, 2012, decision letter provides a more detailed description of EPA's review and the basis for this action.  The decision letter is available at http://www.epa.gov/region07/news_events/legal/index.htm

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CHICAGO - December 21, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today released the following statement praising a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) rule that will dramatically decrease the amount of harmful mercury released into the air:

"High levels of mercury pose serious health risks, which is why we must do everything we can to ensure clean, healthy air for generations. I would like to thank President Obama and the USEPA for their mercury and air toxics standards rule.

"In Illinois, we have seen the benefits of enacting stringent requirements for reducing mercury emissions over the last several years. As a result, thousands of pounds of harmful mercury emissions have been kept out of our air. The President's action will protect millions of Americans from these dangerous emissions just like we have been doing in Illinois."

AFSCME & Environmental Advocates

WHO: Danny Homan President of AFSCME Council 61

Bill Gearhard, Secretary-Treasurer of Great Plaines Laborers International, President of State Building Trades Council

Matt Ohloff, Iowa Director, Food and Water Watch

Bill Stowe, Public Works Director, City of Des Moines

Jim Piazza, Executive Director of Heavy Highway and Construction Contractors Association

WHAT: The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO (AFSCME) and local environmental advocates applaud the candid findings of a recent report on the nation's water infrastructure and call on the federal government to make immediate improvements to ensure public safety. According to the report, our nation's water infrastructure is outdated, overextended and in crisis.  Not only are we failing to make the investments to meet today's needs, we are also failing to make the investments needed to accommodate a growing population.

Nearly four million people get sick every year from swimming in contaminated water.  Twenty million people get sick each year simply from drinking contaminated water.  Forty percent of rivers and 46 percent of lakes in America are too polluted for fishing, swimming or even aquatic life.

President Obama's jobs bill, the American Jobs Act, would be a start at tackling the water infrastructure gap.  While more investment will be needed, this bill is an important step in the right direction.  We call on all members of Congress to support the American Jobs Act so that we can put people to work and make our communities and our people healthier and safer.

WHERE: Des Moines Water Works Filter Building, Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA

DATE: Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 14, 2011

TIME: 10:30 AM

On Thursday (tomorrow), the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry will hold a hearing examining derivatives reform that will feature testimony from Gary Gensler, chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and Mary Schapiro, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Committee members are likely to ask questions about the agencies' work leading up to the MF Global bankruptcy, which has left farmer clients in the lurch.  Sen. Chuck Grassley, a member of the Agriculture Committee, made the following comment on the hearing.  Grassley has a scheduling conflict with the Judiciary Committee, where he serves as Ranking Member, but plans to attend the Agriculture Committee hearing as much as possible.  If he can't attend, he will pose any questions he thinks were not asked to the witnesses for written responses for the hearing record.  Also, the Agriculture Committee has scheduled an investigative hearing on the MF Global case for Dec. 13, so there will be continued opportunities to ask questions.

"I appreciate the committee leaders' attention to this issue.  It's been weeks since MF Global's bankruptcy.  The public is still in the dark on basic facts.  Unanswered questions include who discovered that client money was missing, how much of that money is actually missing, and how much of the client money can be recovered.  I hope the committee will be able to get some direct answers from Chairman Gensler and Chairman Schapiro.  It's a good opportunity to ask the questions our constituents would ask if they could be there."