DES MOINES – The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans’ health and the air where we live. DNR’s permitting staff review the applications to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality standards. The public has the right and is encouraged to comment on draft permits. DNR considers public comments before finalizing the permits. Submit comments in writing to the assigned permit writer before 4:30 p.m. on the last day of the comment period.
Title V Operating Permits
Title V Operating permits are reviewed and re-issued every five years. Facilities with a Title V permit have the potential to emit large amounts of air pollutants compared to other facilities. The five-year reviews are a federal requirement and ensure adequate monitoring is included in the permit. The DNR plans to issue Title V Operating Permits for the following facilities. Find permit details at www.iowadnr.gov/titlev-draft or through the Iowa EASY Air Public Inquiry Portal and then click on the Public Notice tab.
Black Hawk County
Bertch Cabinet, LLC-Waterloo located at 4747 Crestwood Dr, Waterloo
The application was submitted to operate their existing Wood Kitchen Cabinets facility. The public comment period ends April 4.
Worth County
POET Biorefining - Hanlontown located at 3638 Fir Avenue, Hanlontown
The application was submitted to operate their existing Industrial Organic Chemicals, NEC facility. The public comment period ends April 4.
Construction Permits
DNR engineers review and issue construction permits to facilities before they build new or modify existing sources of air pollution. The public may review the following air quality construction permits available online at https://idnraqrr.iowadnr.gov/ConPermitSearch or through the EASY Air Public Inquiry Portal and then click the Public Notice tab.
Cerro Gordo County
Heidelberg Materials US Cement LLC, 700 25 th St NW, Mason City 50401
Project Number 22-252
This project is for the addition of requirements on the existing Kiln, Clinker Cooler, and Coal Mill. The requirements are from an EPA Global Consent Decree [United States of America v. Lehigh Cement Co., LLC, No. 5:19-cv-05688-JFL, Consent Decree (E.D. Pa. Nov. 19, 2020)], an EPA Region 7 Consent Agreement Docket No. 07-2021-0012 (Nov 17, 2021), and an agreement with the Iowa DNR to add “testing trigger language.” The public comment period will begin March 6, and end April 6. A public hearing will be held if requested by the public.
Project Number 25-154
This project is for the replacement of the aging electrostatic precipitator (ESP) that is used to control particulate matter emissions from the Kiln. The ESP will be replaced with a new, more efficient baghouse. The public comment period will begin March 6, and end April 6. A public hearing will be held if requested by the public.
Linn County
Vantage Corn Processors, LLC (VCP) – 1425 60th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404.
Project No. 25-357
VCP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) that operates an ethanol dry mill in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. VCP has applied for a minor modification to existing Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) sources. This is a correction to the equipment associated with the south grain receiving and storage (EP-400) and north grain receiving and storage (EP-401). This change will not result in an increase in emissions from the facility. The public comment period commences on March 5, 2026. The public comment period ends April 5. A public comment meeting can be held, provided a written request is received before April 5.
Pottawattamie County
Bunge North America, Inc. (“Bunge”) – 19560 Bunge Ave, Council Bluffs, IA
Project No. 26-038
Bunge operates a Soybean Processing Plant. This project is for the amendment of PSD Construction Permit No. 97-A-383-P2 (Soybean Oil Extraction, EP-E1) to reflect the proposed replacement of the existing DT units with a single, functionally equivalent DT unit. Public comment period ends April 7.