The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has issued a consent order to Landus Cooperative - Grant in Greene County, requiring the grain facility to address air quality compliance issues and pay a $10,000 administrative penalty.
The legally enforceable agreement requires the cooperative to submit a compliance plan within 30 days that identifies corrective actions for its grain receiving, handling and loadout operations. The plan must detail operational maintenance, procedural changes, engineering solutions and equipment or control measures needed to meet state and federal air quality standards, including installation of additional dust control measures.
Under the order, Landus Cooperative must apply for standard air quality construction permits for the three operations within 30 days of the compliance plan’s approval. After permits are issued, the facility must complete opacity monitoring to demonstrate compliance with permit conditions.
The cooperative also must certify at least one employee as an EPA Method 9 observer and maintain that certification on staff at all times. The company has 42 days after completing stack testing to provide a written report to the DNR for review.
The DNR says it works with individuals, businesses and communities to help them protect natural resources by complying with environmental laws. This cooperative approach proves effective in most cases. When compliance cannot be achieved through voluntary measures, the agency issues enforcement actions.
