The bill establishes comprehensive regulations for anaerobic digester systems associated with animal feeding operations in Iowa, focusing on their construction, operation, and management. It introduces new definitions and provisions, including the establishment of a purpose for regulating animal agriculture and outlining the requirements for obtaining construction permits for digester structures. Significant changes include the deletion of a subsection in Section 459.102 and the introduction of new sections that define terms related to anaerobic digester systems, set minimum requirements for manure control and water quality, and specify conditions for the construction and operation of digester structures. The bill also mandates that digester feedstock be stored in designated structures and requires detailed information for construction permit applications, including descriptions of feedstock and processing capacities, with a maximum application fee of $250 directed to the state’s general fund.

Additionally, the bill outlines regulations for the management and storage of digestate produced from anaerobic digester systems, mandating specific storage requirements for both liquid and dry digestate. It establishes construction design standards to minimize environmental impact, particularly in sensitive areas, and requires annual inspections of unformed digester structures by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The legislation also sets air and water quality standards, including separation distance requirements from residences and commercial enterprises, and mandates that any application of digestate on land be accompanied by a digestate management supplement. Violations of these regulations may result in civil penalties, and the bill will take effect upon enactment, with DNR regulating these systems similarly to previous standards until new rules are adopted.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 459.102, 459.201, 17A.7