Today is the first day for the public to comment on a proposed clean water act rule from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The 28 day comment period runs until May 13.  Iowa Citizen’s for Community Improvement’s farm and environment organizer David Goodner says the proposed rule is an important one that needs amending if it’s to ensure the state’s water is protected from polluters.

Goodner says ICCI is recommending that the D-N-R following four specific steps to strengthen their proposed rule to make it effective.

Goodner says the fourth and final recommendation is that D-N-R have an on line friendly user database that contains all manure spills that occur, clean water act inspection actions and permitting decisions. Besides the public comment period which runs until May 13, there will be six public meetings held to take input on the proposal.