Environmental Business Assistance Portal
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Land Quality Programs
There are several land quality programs which provide for the protection and enhancement of this key environmental resource.
Brownfield Redevelopment
On-site environmental testing and assessment, review of environmental testing results, and resources including identifying public records or resources such as aerial photography, groundwater characteristics, and mapping are available from the IDNR. Limited financial assistance for your brownfield redevelopment project may be available from the Iowa Department of Economic Development (IDED).
Contaminated Sites
IDNR administers some programs for property that involve contamination caused by the release of hazardous materials or hazardous waste products.
Environmental Review for Natural Resources
You may request from the IDNR a “Natural Resource Review.” This is record of review for protected species (including state and/or federally listed endangered or threatened species), rare natural communities, state lands and waters in the project area. The review is completed by IDNR staff from program areas including parks, preserves, recreation, fisheries and wildlife personnel. The “Natural Resource Review” is not a required permit but can provide helpful planning information.
Flammable Liquids and Aboveground Petroleum Storage Tanks
Transportation, storage, handling and use of flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel or alcohol (ethanol or methanol) are regulated by the Iowa Department of Public Safety (IDPS) Fire Marshal Division. Requirements include minimum specifications for storage tanks, piping, and dispensers, containment requirements to prevent spills and leaks and to mitigate their effects when they occur, and minimum separation distances between tanks and between tanks and dispensers and nearby structures, including residences.
Construction plans must be submitted to the State Fire Marshal for any facility producing, storing, or dispensing flammable liquids, including refineries, bulk storage facilities, and motor fuel dispensing operations. Approval of plans is required prior to construction of a facility or installation of additional tanks or dispensers to an existing facility. Any AST which is used to store a petroleum product and has a capacity equal or greater than 1,101 gallons must be registered with the State Fire Marshal. Installation plans must also be submitted for stationary installations of liquid propane containers if any individual tank has a capacity of over 2,000 gallons, or the installation has an aggregate capacity for propane storage in excess of 4,000 gallons.
Hazardous Spill Reporting
A responsible party is required to report within six hours to IDNR at 515.281.8694 the onset of any “hazardous condition” where actual, imminent or probable spillage, leakage or release of a hazardous substance onto the land, into a water of the state, or into the atmosphere
Land Recycling Program (LRP)
The (LRP) allows owners or other stakeholders of a property to voluntarily assess and implement remedial actions at a site that is affected by non-petroleum based contamination. Risk based clean up criterion are determined by the future planned use of the site. IDNR provide a No Further Action Certificate following appropriate cleanup activities or other remedies which provides limited liability protection and may be recorded with the deed.
Sovereign Land Construction Permit
Constructing facilities on, above or under lands or water that are state-owned requires a sovereign land construction permit from (IDNR) before beginning construction. This includes “fee-title lands,” meandered streams, and most natural lakes. Meandered streams ”border rivers” (Big Sioux, Mississippi, and Missouri) as well as portions of the Cedar, Des Moines, East Fork Des Moines, West Fork Des Moines, Iowa, Little Maquoketa, Maquoketa, Nishnabotna, Raccoon, Skunk, Turkey, Upper Iowa, and the Wapsipinicon.
Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan
Storing oils that are not water soluble (such as animal and vegetable oils, fuels, solvents and similar materials) at a facility requires a Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan. The SPCC Plan must be kept onsite at the facility and available for review by EPA. An SPCC is for required for facilities that have an aggregate aboveground storage capacity greater than 1,320 gallons or a completely buried storage capacity greater than 42,000 gallons;
Underground Storage Tanks
The installation of new underground storage tanks is regulated by IDNR. Regulations specify certification requirements for tank installers, acceptable methods of corrosion protection, owner financial responsibilities and mechanisms for spill prevention and release detection. If you buy property with contamination from a leaking petroleum underground storage tank (LUST), you may be eligible for reimbursement of the costs from the Iowa UST Fund.