House Concurrent Resolution 18 - Introduced

PAG LIN





  1  1           HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.    
  1  2                        BY  MERTZ
  1  3 A Concurrent Resolution requesting that the
  1  4    legislative council establish an interim study
  1  5    committee to consider issues relating to and to
  1  6    recommend a comprehensive policy for the closure of
  1  7    agricultural drainage wells and the establishment of
  1  8    related alternative drainage systems.
  1  9    WHEREAS, since 1997, the state, local communities,
  1 10 and landowners have cooperated to close agricultural
  1 11 drainage wells and establish alternative drainage
  1 12 systems in order to prevent possible groundwater
  1 13 contamination originating from these sources; and
  1 14    WHEREAS, according to registration records
  1 15 maintained by the department of agriculture and land
  1 16 stewardship, there remains as many as 137 agricultural
  1 17 drainage wells that have not been closed as required
  1 18 by Iowa in Code chapter 460; and
  1 19    WHEREAS, the state has established financial
  1 20 incentive programs, including cost=share programs
  1 21 supported by moneys available in the alternative
  1 22 drainage system assistance fund, in order to assist
  1 23 persons in closing agricultural drainage wells; and
  1 24    WHEREAS, the department of agriculture and land
  1 25 stewardship has accepted applications to close
  1 26 agricultural drainage wells and establish related
  1 27 alternative drainage systems with an associated cost
  1 28 totaling $19 million to be expended in a number of
  1 29 counties primarily located in north central Iowa; and
  1 30    WHEREAS, there is a critical need to establish a
  2  1 comprehensive policy necessary to close these
  2  2 agricultural drainage wells and establish alternative
  2  3 drainage systems; NOW THEREFORE,
  2  4    BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE
  2  5 SENATE CONCURRING, That the legislative council is
  2  6 requested to establish an interim study committee to
  2  7 consider issues relating to and to recommend a
  2  8 comprehensive policy for the closure of all remaining
  2  9 agricultural drainage wells and the establishment of
  2 10 alternative drainage systems; and
  2 11    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the interim study
  2 12 committee examine the existence of remaining unclosed
  2 13 agricultural drainage wells, the usefulness of
  2 14 provisions in Iowa Code chapter 460, the needs of
  2 15 landowners and local communities, and the prudent and
  2 16 effective level of financing necessary in order to
  2 17 carry out a comprehensive policy; and
  2 18    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the interim study
  2 19 committee complete its charge and submit a final
  2 20 report with recommendations which may include proposed
  2 21 legislation to the legislative council and the general
  2 22 assembly by December 1, 2005.
  2 23 LSB 3665HH 81
  2 24 da:rj/gg/14