Public Participation

  Environmental Protection   >   Air Quality   >   Public Participation
Stakeholder Involvement

The Air Quality Bureau frequently seeks input and recommendations from stakeholders on various planning and rulemaking activities, along with permits that will be issued.

  • Public Input allows opportunities for comment and general information to review Air Quality rulemakings and draft permits. Please see the fact sheet Making Your Comments Count for tips on making effective comments.
  • Meetings are ongoing, regularly scheduled meetings to discuss current and upcoming regulatory issues.
  • Workgroups are established to assist the Air Quality Bureau with specific air quality program implementation activities.

Interested members of the public can view agendas, documents, and general information; meeting and workgroup activities can also be tracked.

Please note that not all categories will have items available for comment at all times. Public meetings being held throughout the state are also available on the State of Iowa public meeting calendar.

Public Input

Construction Permits

* The Iowa DNR is proposing to issue these construction permit(s). Written comments should be directed immediately to the assigned engineer.

Operating Permits

 

Meetings - Fee Advisory Groups

Legislation passed by the 86th session of Iowa General Assembly (Senate File 488) established authority to collect application fees for new source air construction permits at major sources. Construction permit application fees will pay for the reasonable direct and indirect costs of implementing and administrating new source review programs for major sources. The legislation directs the DNR to convene a fee advisory group to obtain recommendations regarding these fees for major source air construction permits, including Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permits. The advisory group will meet at least once annually to consider the fees. For more information contact Jim McGraw at Jim.Mcgraw@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-725-9543.


Meetings - Air Quality Client Contact

Air Quality Client Contact Meetings focus on current and upcoming air program issues and changes. The meetings provide an open forum for stakeholders and the general public to discuss new state and federal air quality rules or air program developments and are a good source of information for anyone who works with or has an interest in activities related to air quality.

All meetings are open to the public.


Workgroups

The DNR Air Quality Bureau Construction Permit section is proposing to make several updates to the permit framework. The framework is the starting point for each permit and outlines the obligations and rights of the owner and operator. The last changes to the framework were made in 2016 and we are proposing to proceed with changes at this time due to the need to make our permit compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Additionally, we have been collecting comments and suggestions since the last update and have made preliminary determinations on those recommendations, including updated wording to the permit sections.

Please direct all comments or questions to Sarah Piziali, Construction Permit Supervisor, at sarah.piziali@dnr.iowa.gov or by phone at 515-795-9549. Comments will be accepted through January 28, 2022. All comments collected will be reviewed prior to finalizing the permit framework.

Individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency are encouraged to participate in all DNR activities, including submitting public comments. If a reasonable accommodation or language services are needed to participate, contact the Air Quality Bureau staff member listed or Relay Iowa TTY Service at 800-735-7942 in advance to advise them of your specific needs. DNR’s language access and disability nondiscrimination plans are available here.

The Environmental Protection Commission (Commission) has approved a proposed air quality rulemaking for formal public comment.


Summary of Proposed Rule Changes

This proposed rulemaking will require electronic submission of all air emissions reporting, air permit applications, and other related air quality documents, starting January 1, 2023.

Under the proposed rule changes, minor sources of air emissions will be required to file emissions data using the State and Local Emission Inventory System (SLEIS). It is a well-utilized resource already, with approximately 70% of minor sources choosing to electronically submit their data in 2020. Major sources have been required to use SLEIS since 2019.

Additionally, under the proposed rule updates, both major and minor sources of air emissions will be required to use the Iowa Environmental Applications System for Air (Iowa EASY Air) for all air construction and Title V operating permit applications. Iowa EASY Air is a popular resource, and has been since its release in 2019. Over the past year, approximately 89% of Title V new and renewal permits and approximately 80% of construction permit applications were voluntarily submitted through the system.


Need for Proposed Rule Changes

Emissions inventory data collection and analysis is critical to understanding and improving Iowa’s air quality. Having all emissions data in one electronic system makes it easier for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to track data, report to the national emissions inventory, and respond to external and internal requests for emissions data. For several years, all paper emission inventories have been manually entered by DNR staff into SLEIS. Staff data entry of paper inventories can be time consuming and costly. A fully electronic submission system will eliminate the need to do this, freeing up support staff to work on other tasks.

Iowa EASY Air makes permit application preparation and other submissions easier and more efficient. This expedites the DNR’s ability to issue permits and increases data accuracy, thereby cutting costs for both applicants and the DNR. Additionally, data available in Iowa EASY Air supplies the DNR’s downstream electronic systems, helping to lessen the data entry burden by industry and the DNR.

Electronic submittals allow permit applications and emissions inventories to be filed and reviewed from any location at any time. This removes the delays inherent in mailing and scanning paper documents.


Public Comments and Public Hearing Information

The DNR will accept written public comments on the rulemaking until 4:30 p.m. on February 14, 2022. Please direct written comments to Christine Paulson by email to Christine.Paulson@dnr.iowa.gov or by mail to Department of Natural Resources, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319.

A public hearing will be held on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, from 1:00-2:00 pm in which participants may participate virtually and by phone. Shortly before the 1:00 start time, participants may access the hearing as follows:

To make comments on the rulemaking at the public hearing, please email a request to Christine Paulson prior to the hearing. Those who wish to make comments at the public hearing will be asked to state their names for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of the proposed rulemaking.

Individuals with disabilities or limited English proficiency are encouraged to participate in all DNR activities, including submitting public comments. If a reasonable accommodation or language services are needed to participate, contact the Air Quality Bureau staff member listed or Relay Iowa TTY Service at 800-735-7942 in advance to advise them of your specific needs. DNR’s language access and disability nondiscrimination plans are available at https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/Environmental-Justice.


Rulemaking Documents

The Notice of Intended Action will be published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin as ARC 6144C on January 12, 2022.

For more information, please contact Christine Paulson at the email indicated above or by phone at 515-725-9510.

The Air Quality Bureau is convening a stakeholder advisory group to receive input on a potential rule making regarding requiring electronic submittal of air emissions inventory reports, air permit applications, and other air quality documents. An advisory group meeting will be held with Zoom on August 19 at 10 am [air electronic submittals advisory group meeting, add to calendar]. Registration details are included in the meeting agenda.

For more information please contact Jessica Reese Mcintyre at jessica.reesemcintyre@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-725-9547, or Jim Mcgraw at jim.mcgraw@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-689-1439. For information on the potential rule making, please contact Christine Paulson at christine.paulson@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-725-9510.

The Air Quality Bureau convened a diverse work group (see members below) to reexamine and provide feedback on the current fees for: minor source and major source air construction permit applications; operating permit applications; title v emissions; and asbestos notifications. Group members developed and endorsed specific recommendations for future changes to funding the Iowa air quality program.

For more information contact Jim Mcgraw at jim.mcgraw@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-725-9543 or Wendy Walker at wendy.walker@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-725-9570.

Agendas and the handouts from each meeting are posted below.

 -----------

June 21, 2017 ....... Agenda

July 13, 2017 ....... Agenda

July 19, 2017 ....... Agenda

July 20, 2017 ....... Agenda

July 25, 2017....... Agenda

~~~~~~~

Workgroup Members

Charter

July 7 Enfotech eApplication presentation

The DNR held a value stream mapping event (VSM) on October 17 – 20, 2016. This was a collaborative event with six industry representatives and was co-facilitated by the Department of Management. The VSM participants thoroughly discussed various opportunities to transform Title V permitting and came to consensus on six key deliverables to improve efficiency:

  • optional pre-application meeting
  • optional pre-technical review meetings
  • improved application forms
  • metrics to determine missing information and customer satisfaction
  • critical information earlier in the process
  • directory for just-in-time sharing of internal data

These deliverables will relate to receiving better information from our applicants, thereby improving the efficiency of the DNR staff who will no longer spend time collecting information that could have been provided up front.

Since three of these improvements are more complex in nature, the DNR is asking for the input of additional team members. Two workgroups will be held between January 17 and 20, 2017 to address the optional pre-meetings and improvements to the application forms. The workgroups will consist of a diverse group of twelve to fifteen industry representatives.

Additional Information:

If you have comments or questions about the VSM event, please contact Marnie Stein, Title V permit supervisor, at 515-725-9525 or marnie.stein@dnr.iowa.gov.

Title V Workgroups

Representatives from eight businesses collaborated with Title V permit writing staff from the DNR and Linn County in two workgroups held between January 17 and 20, 2017. One team addressed optional pre-meetings for hands-on help with the application, likely resulting in a faster application review time a permit that better reflects the needs of the business. The second team simplified the Title V application forms by creating excel spreadsheet versions of some forms, allowing the use of previous versions of the forms, reducing the information requested, and updating the application instructions.

The Iowa DNR Air Quality Bureau hosted two lean events the week of November 30-December 4, 2015. These dual lean events allowed invited participants to explore efficiencies related to the creation of an option for a multi emission point construction permit and a reduction in the length of issued construction permits.

Some of the specific goals and objectives of the 2015 construction permit dual lean events include:

  • Create an option for a permit that includes multiple emission points.
  • Identify and integrate efficiencies created with the new permit option that can apply to existing permit options.
  • Identify key strategies and resources for assuring customer awareness of available permit options.
  • Provide a permit framework that works for all customers that decreases the length of their permit.
  • Capture efficiencies identified during this event to the overall permitting process, as appropriate, to decrease the time required to issue permits.
  • Design a permit that can be easily understood by permit holders, inspectors, other stakeholders.
  • Streamline, eliminate duplication, and ensure all applicable regulations are reflected in the issued permit.

General Information

If you have comments or questions about either of the lean events, please contact Sarah Piziali, Construction Permit Supervisor, at 515-725-9549 or sarah.piziali@dnr.iowa.gov.

Event 1: Multi-permit (November 30th - December 2nd)

Event 2: Reduced Permit Framework (December 3rd & December 4th)

The Iowa General Assembly (House file 2473) directed the DNR to convene a stakeholder group for the purposes of studying the funding of the air quality programs administered by the department. Stakeholder group members will develop recommendations for funding the air quality program for next year and beyond. The department submitted a report to the general assembly regarding the findings and recommendations of the stakeholder group on December 1, 2014.

For more information contact Jim Mcgraw at jim.mcgraw@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-689-1439.

December 1, 2014

November 13, 2014 Meeting

November 5, 2014 Meeting

October 15, 2014 Meeting

September 30, 2014 Meeting

august 20, 2014 meeting

july 17, 2014 meeting

information