An Iowa district court judge has dismissed a lawsuit that sought to stop the state from enacting new rules governing the oversight of large livestock facilities. Iowa Citizens For Community Improvement’s Jess Mazour says they brought the legal action because five of the environmental protection commissioners who voted on the rule have a conflict of interest because of their financial stake in large livestock operations. She says they’ll now consider other legal options.
Mazour says ICCI wants tougher environmental rules placed on large livestock facilities and would like to see better enforcement of the clean water act.
District Judge Richard Blane said Iowa CCI failed to show evidence that the EPC commissioners with agricultural ties had closed minds.