Mission Statement
The purpose of the ABI Environment Committee is to inform its members about state and federal environmental legislation, regulations and policy, and to advocate for environmental legislation and regulations based on sound science in an effort to eliminate burdensome provisions, and to promote common sense practices and legislation. This will protect and improve the quality of our state’s natural resources thereby improving the quality of life for all Iowans.
General Statement
A quality environment not only enhances the attractiveness of Iowa as a location for business and industry, but it also adds to the quality of life and enjoyment of all who live here; including our employees, our families, and future generations. To assure a quality environment and good jobs in a world economy we must wisely spend our available resources following sustainable practices.
We support the efforts of environmental regulatory authorities to work proactively with business and industry, including expeditious review, to enhance economic growth and development. Decision-making should use sound scientific evidence, environmental impact, and should strictly adhere to the rules. The resulting decisions should be consistently applied throughout the state.
Environmental regulations should be based on sound scientific evidence and show significant environmental benefits and health-risk reduction. We encourage the state and federal government to use risk/benefit criteria in the review of existing and new environmental programs. We also encourage the state and federal government to achieve regulatory compliance primarily through cooperative agreements and assistance, rather than enforcement.
Iowa Water
ABI believes that accessible and safe water is a benefit to all Iowans and makes Iowa a more attractive place to live and do business. ABI promotes legislative remedies that do not put business and industry at a disadvantage regionally or nationally. Iowa’s water quality program should be modified to address the principal sources of water degradation in the state.
ABI recognizes that water is an important resource and its availability is important to all Iowans. Therefore, ABI supports statewide water use planning that addresses the interests of all Iowans. ABI opposes excessive fees that unfairly discriminate against industry verses other users. Because Iowa’s water resources are owned by the citizens and the uses are to benefit all Iowans, water resource planning should be funded through general fund monies.
Iowa Air Quality Program
ABI believes good air quality is a benefit to all Iowans and makes Iowa a more attractive place to live and do business. ABI believes Iowa’s air quality can best be protected by focusing the resources of the IDNR on significant air-emission and air-quality concerns. Reforms are needed in the IDNR’s air permitting programs to streamline the permitting process and reduce unnecessary burden on industry. ABI is committed to work with IDNR to prioritize and develop these reforms. ABI encourages IDNR to proactively deal with potential non-attainment areas through planning, sound scientific evaluation and review and by coordinating voluntary programs to assure continued compliance with all air quality standards.
Environmental Stringency
ABI advocates that state and local environmental legislation, regulations, policies, and practices be no more stringent than federal environmental legislation, regulations, and policies.
Environmental Protection Funding
Environmental programs benefit all Iowans and therefore general fund appropriations should be the primary source of environmental program funding. User fees should be approved by the legislature and used only to supplement general fund appropriations as needed.
To ensure legislative oversight and IDNR accountability, permit fees collected pursuant to a specific legislative provision should be restricted in their use to the purposes and objectives set forth in legislation. Permit fees should be assessed equitably among regulated entities. Fines should continue to be deposited in the general fund.
Environmental Permitting
ABI supports consistent application of statutory and regulatory requirements within and between IDNR permitting programs. ABI believes IDNR should utilize a streamlined permitting process and grant or deny a permit within a timeframe that assures business can compete in a fast-paced global economy. This process will improve department efficiency and set Iowa ahead of competing states in attracting new businesses. ABI supports the elimination of duplicative regulatory programs.
Administrative Procedures Act
ABI supports strict compliance with Iowa Code Chapter 17A, Administrative Procedures Act.
Global Climate
Climate change as a global environmental issue is best addressed at the international and federal level utilizing sound science and current data. ABI cautions against state and regional regulation and mandates that put Iowa business and industry at a competitive disadvantage. State and federal climate policies must be complementary and invigorate Iowa business and industry.
ABI will continue to advocate for incentive policies that help position Iowa business and industry as leaders with significant competitive advantage in energy efficiency and clean technology.
New Source Review Reform
ABI supports the revision of Iowa’s NSR regulations to increase flexibility and decrease regulatory burdens through the adoption of these revisions into the State Implementation Plan (SIP). ABI supports the elimination of burdensome and excessive permitting practices and other obstacles in order to use the EPA regulatory reforms.
Brownfields
ABI supports enhancement of the state Brownfields program by expanding property eligibility, expediting the redevelopment of Brownfields by using economic incentives and protecting the land owner/purchaser/lessee from liability.
Consent Orders
ABI supports the adoption of legislation that will give the Department of Natural Resources authority to enter into mutually agreeable administrative consent orders irrespective of amount.
Environmental Audits
ABI believes that business and industry should be allowed to perform environmental self-audits without fear that the audit results might be used in legal actions. ABI supports the adoption of federal legislation which would similarly provide immunity from penalty and protect a company’s self-evaluation as privileged information. ABI supports a voluntary means of certifying or registering those who conduct audits.
Technical Compliance Assistance
ABI encourages the legislature and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa Department of Economic Development to provide environmental education, technical information, and confidential compliance assistance services for business and industry.
Flow Control
ABI is opposed to legislation that would regulate the flow control of solid wastes. Flow control violates the free market concept, makes solid waste service more expensive, does not increase environmental protection, and provides for an increased potential of Superfund liability to companies.
Resource Management
Recycling of waters, by-products and reducing solid waste are important to Iowa’s environment. ABI believes the state and federal government should support, with incentives, education and technical assistance, waste reduction, waste minimization, composting, waste energy facilities, and recycling activities that are cost-benefit justified. The state and federal government should remove regulatory burdens that limit such incentives.
Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA)
ABI supports continued management of the RCRA program by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
