Rules & Planning

Rules and Planning

The Air Quality Bureau develops standards and regulations to protect human health and the natural environment and promote compliance with environmental protection requirements through cooperative work with Iowa citizens, interest groups, industry, and communities.

A major component of this process is the development of rules. The rule making staff develops air quality rules consistent with statutory authority that are protective of Iowan’s interest in having clean air to breathe. They also develop implementation plans to ensure that the National Ambient Air Quality Standards are met.

Client Contact Meetings

Air Quality Client Contact Meetings
ESD Client Contact Meetings (monthly)

Rule Making - General Information

For more information on air quality rule makings that are open for public input, please visit the Stakeholder Involvement page.
Iowa Administrative Rules for Air Quality (see section 567, ch. 20 - 34)
DNR Rule Schedule and Regulatory Plan
State Implementation Plan

Rule Making - Recently Completed

+ Federal Updates Rulemaking: Final Rules Published

The Environmental Protection Commission (Commission) approved the final air quality rulemaking known as the Federal Updates Rulemaking on August 17, 2021. The Commission approved the final rules after a public comment period and a public hearing. No public comments were provided, and the Iowa DNR made no changes to the final rule from the published Notice of Intended Action.

Summary of Rule Changes

The rules adopt amendments to EPA methods for measuring air pollutant emissions (stack testing and continuous monitoring). The rule changes also adopt updated federal new source performance standards (NSPS) and air toxics standards, also known as National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). Adopting EPA's amendments allows state rules to be consistent with federal regulations and provides certainty to affected businesses and other interested stakeholders.

Published Final Rules

The Adopted and Filed Rulemaking was published as ARC 5898C in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on September 8, 2021, along with updated chapters to 567 Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) (scroll down to Environmental Protection Commission [567] to access updated chapters 22, 23, and 25). If approved by the Legislature's Administrative Rules Review Committee, the rule changes published in the IAC will become effective on October 13, 2021.

Please direct questions or comments to Christine Paulson by email at Christine.Paulson@dnr.iowa.gov or by phone at 515-725-9510.