Tell Your Representative to Ditch the Digester Bill

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House File 987, a bill regarding community anaerobic digesters and animal manure, poses serious threats to human health and Iowa's environment, including our groundwater and drinking water.

Anaerobic digester technology, according to some recent studies, may offer a path slightly better than the status quo of dumping untreated animal waste directly on fields. However, this bill continues to incentivize large-scale animal confinement operations without providing appropriate protections for surface and groundwater. This bill also does not provide the Iowa DNR with enough guidance for writing effective rules that protect waterways and human health. As it is written, HF 987:

Does not require adequate groundwater monitoring, despite known risks of nutrient leakage in containment structures.
Introduces new risks to local infrastructure due to increased waste transport from animal feeding operations by trucking or pipeline, which elevates spill and contamination risks that communities will have to pay for.
Does not include sufficient setback requirements between digestate stockpiles and aquifers, which is especially concerning in vulnerable karst regions of Iowa.
Allows uncovered stockpiles of manure and feedstock, leading to runoff during rain events that pollutes surface and groundwater.
Additionally, digestate has different physical and chemical properties, so it should not be regulated exactly the same as manure.

Ask your Representative to oppose HF 987. Regulation of digesters, animal manure, and digestate material is needed in Iowa, but any legislation should include a broader range of expert voices — not just the industrial agriculture interests who helped to write the bill.

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Iowa Environmental Council
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All members of the 2025 Iowa House of Representatives

Subject: I'm Concerned About the Anaerobic Digester Bill — And You Should Be, Too.

Message:

Dear Representative, I have serious concerns about House File 987, a bill regarding community anaerobic digesters and animal manure. Anaerobic digester technology, according to some recent studies, may offer a path slightly better than the status quo of dumping untreated animal waste directly on fields. However, this technology continues to incentivize large-scale animal confinement operations without providing appropriate protections for surface and groundwater. This bill also does not provide the Iowa DNR with enough guidance for writing effective rules that protect waterways and human health. This bill is a threat to human health and Iowa's environment. As it is written, HF 987: - does not require adequate groundwater monitoring, despite known risks of nutrient leakage in containment structures. - introduces new risks to local infrastructure due to increased waste transport from animal feeding operations by trucking or pipeline, which elevates spill and contamination risks that communities will have to pay for. - does not include sufficient setback requirements between digestate stockpiles and aquifers, which is especially concerning in vulnerable karst regions of Iowa. - allows uncovered stockpiles of manure and feedstock, leading to runoff during rain events that pollutes surface and groundwater. - Additionally, digestate has different physical and chemical properties, so it should not be regulated exactly the same as manure. Please oppose HF 987. Regulation of digesters, animal manure, and digestate material is needed in Iowa, but any legislation should include a broader range of expert voices. Thank you for your time.

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House File 987, a bill regarding community anaerobic digesters and animal manure, poses serious threats to human health and Iowa's environment, including our groundwater and drinking water.

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