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Environmental Covenant Announcement

The legislature passed the "Uniform Environmental Covenants Act" (UECA), 2005 Iowa Acts, S.F. 375 which took effect July 1, 2005. A version of the bill can be found at Iowa UECA.

This legislation creates a new real estate instrument called an environmental covenant which will be required in lieu of the "restrictive covenant" instrument which has been used in the Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (LUST) program (see chapter 567 Iowa Administrative Code (I.A.C.) 135). It also replaces the "environmental easement" used in the Land Recycling Program (LRP) (see chapter 567 I.A.C. 137).  The Department previously informed the regulated community that it would not approve restrictive covenants under the LUST program or environmental easements under the LRP in the existing format under current administrative rules and guidance after July 1, 2005.

For further questions regarding Department requirements for submittal and approval of environmental covenants contact Kelli Book, Attorney, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, at 515-210-3408 or
Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov

 

Environmental Covenant

The Department drafted a model environmental covenant for use in the LUST and LRP programs.  There are certain provisions that must be incorporated into the covenant and there is broad discretionary authority to incorporate other provisions. (See 2005 Iowa Code Supplement chapter 455I).

The Department has prepared the Environmental Covenant Preparation Guidance document which provides the steps and supporting documentation that needs to be submitted for review and approval.

Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) Environmental Covenant Model
Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) Environmental Covenant Model

CSS Environmental Covenant Model
CSS Environmental Covenant Model

Environmental Covenant Submission Steps
Environmental Covenant Submission Steps

Iowa Acknowledgements
Iowa Acknowledgements

Land Recycling Program (LRP) Environmental Covenant Model
Land Recycling Program (LRP) Environmental Covenant Model

Model Recording Cover Sheet **
Model Recording Cover Sheet **

Property Interest Certification Form
Property Interest Certification Form

UST Environmental Covenant Model
UST Environmental Covenant Model


** must be used for recording purposes for both LUST and LRP environmental covenants.  Iowa Code section 331.601A established uniform formatting requirements for all documents filed with the county recorders office, including environmental covenants.

NOTICE: Regardless of the covenant model you use, the submission must comply with the requirements of Iowa Code 455I and 567 IAC 14.

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