SF 2197 – Eliminating conditional air and water permits for electric utilities
SF 2198 – Authorizes paddle fishing Missouri/Big Sioux Rivers
SF 2212 – Land disposal of yard waste from storm damage or invasive tree pests
HF 499 – Crossbows allowed hunting deer during late muzzleloader season
HF 2067 – Allows youth to hunt beyond the youth wild turkey hunting season
HF 2346 – Defines steel slag to allow for use as a byproduct
HF 2397 – Provides liability protection to certain volunteers on state land
SF 2197 eliminates the ability of the Department of Natural Resources to issue conditional air or water quality permits to an electric generating facility. The goal had been to speed along these facilities while they sought approval from the Iowa Utilities Board. Changes in regulations by the board, however, eliminated the need for the conditional permits and none has been issued. Because of this, this language is unnecessary and will be eliminated from the Iowa Code. [2/24: 49-0 (Ernst excused)]
SF 2198 establishes resident and nonresident paddlefish fishing licenses for use on the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers. The licenses will cost $20 for a resident and $40 for a nonresident. The Department of Natural Resources is proposing this license because paddlefish populations on those rivers have achieved a sustainable level and there is sufficient interest in a season. The license fees are similar to those in Nebraska and South Dakota. [3/17: 47-0 (Bertrand, Greiner, Houser excused)]
SF 2212 allows for the landfill disposal of yard waste associated with storm damage in connection with a presidentially declared disaster area or when the yard waste is collected for disposal to control, eradicate or prevent the spread of insect pests, tree and plant diseases, or invasive plant species problems. This will allow for the landfill disposal of waste associated with the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer in the event there is no other suitable disposal method available. [3/26: 48-0 (Ernst, Houser excused)]
HF 499 requires the Natural Resources Commission to establish rules allowing the use of crossbows during late muzzleloader deer season. [4/8: 49-0 (Houser excused)]
HF 2067 allows those who have received a youth spring wild turkey hunting license but have not taken a wild turkey during the youth spring season to use that license in any other wild turkey season established by the Natural Resource Commission. [3/4: 49-0 (Ernst excused)]
HF 2346 exempts steel slag from the definition of solid waste, which removes it from the regulatory requirements for diverting solid waste from a landfill. Steel slag is a byproduct of the manufacturing process and has a variety of beneficial uses that are already approved by the Department of Natural Resources. By removing steel slag from the definition of solid waste, the product will by default be used in a beneficial manner. [3/17: 47-0 (Bertrand, Greiner, and Houser excused)]
HF 2397 directs the Department of Natural Resources to establish a state lands volunteer program to allow qualified non-profit organizations or individuals affiliated with those organizations to provide services at state areas for no compensation while being afforded the same liability protections that are already afforded those who volunteer on state lands for no compensation. [3/18: 45-0 (Greiner, Hogg, Houser, Zaun, and Zumbach excused)]