Gov. Reynolds - we need an immediate 6-month moratorium on factory farms now!
Governor Kim Reynolds and the state of Iowa
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) not only continues to rubber stamp factory farm applications with limited public input, but now has rolled back nearly all environmental protections from the factory farm industry.
Add your name to our citizen letter demanding Reynolds sign an executive order for an immediate moratorium on factory farms.
- Factory farms are a known public health hazard, causing a variety of health problems including respiratory issues, especially for vulnerable populations. This is such a public health concern that the American Public Health Association has called for a moratorium.
- In the midst of a global health pandemic, Iowans are overwhelmed with concern for public safety and health. We should not have to worry about a factory farm moving in, further threatening our public health during this crisis.
- The Iowa DNR has rolled back environmental protections from the factory farm industry, allowing factory farms to cram extra animals into confinements and suspending fines for environmental violations. Currently, 90% of the nitrates and 75% of the phosphorus in Iowa's waterways come from industrial agriculture and factory farms.
- Clean water is a human right and essential in moments like these. Reynolds needs to reign in the leadership she appointed at the DNR and put the interests of everyday Iowans, like clean water, above the corporate interest of the factory farm industry.
- Despite their offices closing and limited activities being switched to virtual teleconference, the DNR rubber-stamped another factory farm permit just last week. With public hearings at the county level out of the question for the foreseeable future, each county board of supervisors is being forced to determine how they will proceed with public comment when they receive a factory farm application.
- The already-rigged process for factory farm permitting has been completely compromised. Reynolds needs to choose everyday Iowans over the factory farm industry in this moment of uncertainty.
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Governor Kim Reynolds and the state of Iowa
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[Your Name]
Iowans overwhelmed with the COVID-19 crisis are infuriated by removal of nearly all environmental protections from factory farms and the compromised democratic process for permitting amid the global health pandemic. Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and concerned individuals across the state are demanding an immediate six month moratorium on factory farm construction permits to prevent public health and environmental exploitation by the factory farm industry.
Iowa has over 10,000 factory farms. Factory farms are a known public health hazard, causing a variety of health problems including respiratory issues especially for vulnerable populations. This is such a public health concern that the American Public Health Association has called for a moratorium. In the midst of a global health pandemic Iowans are overwhelmed with public safety and health. We should not have to worry about a factory farm moving in further threatening our public health during and beyond this crisis.
The leadership you appointed to the Iowa DNR has rolled back environmental protections from the factory farm industry, allowing factory farms to cram extra animals into confinements and suspending fines for environmental violations. Currently 90% of the nitrates and 75% of the phosphorus in Iowa's waterways come from industrial agriculture and factory farms. Clean water is a human right and essential in moments like these.
Despite offices closing and limited activities being switched to virtual teleconference, the DNR continues approving factory farm construction permits. With public hearings at the county level out of the question for the foreseeable future, each county board of supervisors is being forced to determine how they will proceed with public comment when they receive a factory farm application. This is creating 99 different sets of rules and completely compromises the democratic process.
The effects of the COVID-19 are and will continue to impacts Iowans beyond even the immediate crisis we are facing. That's why we are demanding you stand with the interests of everyday Iowans by protecting our public health, our right to clean water and our ability to participate in the democratic process by implementing an immediate six month moratorium.