Recent manure spills in Iowa point to the needfor preventative planning by local officials.
Another major manure spill from a large hog confinement operation just occurred along the South Fork of the Iowa River, leaving thousands of dead fish and miles of polluted water in its wake. Apparently, the leak was caused by a poorly sealed storage basin on an operation in north-central Iowa owned by SNB Farms. Sadly, this tragedy has not been an isolated incident. To date, at least three such major spills from confinement facilities have occurred in the state, not to mention the many smaller spills that have also happened in recent years. Although the Iowa Legislature has established stiffer penalties for those who violate state environmental laws, Burns fears that more problems are bound to occur.