This bill amends Iowa's laws concerning water quality standards and the regulation of animal feeding operations (AFOs) by updating definitions and establishing new management requirements for effluent and manure. It introduces more stringent effluent limitations to ensure compliance with water quality standards and mandates the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) to adopt rules for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. Notably, the bill redefines "medium concentrated animal feeding operation" to "medium animal feeding operation" while allowing the EPC to set permitting requirements that exceed federal standards for medium and large concentrated AFOs.

Additionally, the legislation enhances compliance measures and penalties for violations of water quality regulations. It clarifies that compliance includes adherence to rules set by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and establishes civil penalties for violations, with administrative penalties reaching up to $10,000 and judicial penalties up to $5,000. The bill also ensures that penalties collected will contribute to the Iowa nutrient research fund and extends the application of these penalties to open feedlots, promoting consistent enforcement across various types of AFOs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 455B.173, 17A.7, 459.102, 459A.102, 459.311, 459.314, 459A.502