Master Matrix

2018 Master Matrix Adoption of Construction Evaluation Resolution

• ISAC Educational Webinar: Counties and the Master Matrix
• Construction Evaluation Resolution

To:       Boards of Supervisors
From:  Kristi Harshbarger, ISAC General Counsel
Re:       Master Matrix
Date:   October 10, 2017

If a county chooses to use the master matrix to evaluate applications for construction permits for large animal confinement operations, the board of supervisors must adopt a “construction evaluation resolution” annually.

According the DNR’s administrative rules, if the board of supervisors wants to use the master matrix between February 1, 2018 and January 31, 2019, the board of supervisors must submit an adopted “construction evaluation resolution” to the DNR between January 1 and January 31, 2018.

A sample construction evaluation resolution is available above to this memo.

The construction evaluation resolution should be faxed to 515.725.8201 attn Kelli Book or mailed to:

Kelli Book
Iowa Department of Natural Resources
502 East 9^th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0034

Counties will receive a confirmation email for all construction evaluation resolutions received.

The board of supervisors can adopt the resolution at any time, as long as it is actually mailed or faxed to the DNR during January of 2018.

Pay attention to this deadline.  It seems like every year there is a county or two that misses the deadline.

If a county board of supervisors does not adopt a construction evaluation resolution for 2018, then the county cannot:

1)submit a formal recommendation to the DNR concerning a particular construction permit application; the county can submit comments, but they are not given nearly as much weight by DNR as a formal recommendation would be;

2)send county employee along on a DNR site inspection; or

3)appeal the DNR’s decision regarding a construction permit application to the Environmental Protection Commission.

In addition, if the county chooses to use the master matrix, then applicants must meet stricter environmental standards than they would have to meet otherwise.  So using the master matrix provides greater environmental protection for the county.

Roughly 80+ counties participate annually.   Here is a link to a map showing those counties:  http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/LandStewardship/AnimalFeedingOperations/Confinements/ConstructionRequirements/Permitted/MasterMatrix.aspx

If you have any questions about this memo, you can call Kristi Harshbarger at ISAC (515) 244-7181, or Kelli Book at the DNR at (515) 725-9572.