DES MOINES – DNR staff work with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect our natural resources by complying with state and federal laws. This approach is very effective. In the few cases where compliance cannot be achieved, the DNR issues enforcement actions. The following list summarizes recent enforcement actions. Find the entire, original orders on DNR’s website at www.iowadnr.gov/EnforcementActions
Consent Orders A consent order is issued as an alternative to issuing an administrative order. A consent order indicates that the DNR has voluntarily entered into a legally enforceable agreement with the other party.
Dubuque County
City of Dubuque
Comply with all terms of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit; comply with the terms of the consent decree between the City and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency related to the elimination of sanitary sewer overflows and bypasses; submit semi-annual status reports on consent decree compliance and progress; and pay a $7,000 administrative penalty.
Wright County
City of Eagle Grove
Cease all illegal bypasses; require Union Pacific to test its wastewater for diesel once every 30 days; require that Union Pacific obtain permission from the City prior to each discharge of the oil/water separator effluent; maintain records that document when Union Pacific's oil/water effluent is discharged and the quantity; hire an engineer to conduct an infiltration and inflow study of all sewer lines that may be contributing to the wastewater backups; complete all construction necessary to prevent wastewater backups up by Dec. 31, 2027; and pay a $10,000 administrative penalty.
Administrative Orders
Responsible parties have 60 days to appeal the order or 60 days to pay the penalty.