A Greene County organization recently had their request for an extension review of an approved concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) denied.

The Concerned Neighbors and Farmers of Greene County Coalition filed a 30 day extension request to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for further review of the Stumpf Finishers hog facility that was recommended for approval by the Greene County Board of Supervisors on May 11th. The two hog buildings are to be located in Highland Township. 

The coalition, working in conjunction with a national organization called Socially Responsible Agricultural Project, claimed to the DNR in their request that the Supervisors failed to follow correct protocol and calculate the deficiencies that were pointed out in the master matrix scoring by Greene County residents at the public hearing that was held on May 11th. The two groups wanted the DNR to allow for another public hearing on the Stumpf project at a Greene County Supervisors meeting. The letter was signed by Justin Stream, Charles and Dean Hoskins, John and Jayne Tiffany and Dr. Chuck Boyage.

However, the DNR General Counsel and Legal Services Chief Kelli Book tells Raccoon Valley Radio the request was denied due to state and administrative codes. Book says by law the DNR is allowed to grant one extension per project, which the Supervisors were already granted a 30 day extension to review the Stumpf project on March 19th. Book notes because the Supervisors already used an extension, no outside party or the Supervisors could ask for another extension. 

Book says since the Supervisors agreed to use the master matrix process for this calendar year, they are only required to publish a public notice that they received an application for a proposed CAFO, but they don’t have to hold a public hearing. However, it has been the practice of the Supervisors to hold a public hearing for every CAFO application in the County to give the public the opportunity to voice their opinion. 

Book adds, there is one process left for the Stumpf project that the Supervisors can trigger. When the draft permit to building the facility is issued, the Supervisors have 14 days to file an intent to appeal to the Environmental Protection Commission. If the Supervisors don’t file an intent letter before the 14 days expires, then Book says a finalized permit will be issued.