Iowa Code § 459.310 - Distance requirements

1. Except as provided in subsections 3 and 4, the following shall apply: a. A confinement feeding operation structure shall not be constructed closer than five hundred feet away from the surface intake of an agricultural drainage well. A confinement feeding operation structure shall not be constructed closer than one thousand feet from a wellhead, cistern of an agricultural drainage well, or known sinkhole. However, the department may adopt rules requiring an increased separation distance under this paragraph in order to protect the integrity of a water of the state. The increased separation distance shall not be more than two thousand feet. If the department exercises its discretion to increase the separation distance requirement, the department shall not approve an application for the construction of a confinement feeding operation structure within that separation distance as provided in section 459.303. b. A confinement feeding operation structure shall not be constructed if the confinement feeding operation structure as constructed is closer than any of the following: (1) Five hundred feet away from a water source other than a major water source. (2) One thousand feet away from a major water source. (3) Two thousand five hundred feet away from a designated wetland. c. (1) A water source, other than a major water source, shall not be constructed, expanded, or diverted, if the water source as constructed, expanded, or diverted is closer than five hundred feet away from a confinement feeding operation structure. (2) A major water source shall not be constructed, expanded, or diverted, if the major water source as constructed, expanded, or diverted is closer than one thousand feet from a confinement feeding operation structure. (3) A designated wetland shall not be established, if the designated wetland is closer than two thousand five hundred feet away from a confinement feeding operation structure. 2. Except as provided in subsection 4, a confinement feeding operation structure shall not be constructed on land that is part of a one hundred year floodplain as designated by rules adopted by the department pursuant to section 459.301. 3. A separation distance required in subsection 1 shall not apply to any of the following: a. A location or object and a farm pond or privately owned lake, as defined in section 462A.2. b. A confinement feeding operation building, an egg washwater storage structure, or a manure storage structure constructed with a secondary containment barrier. The department shall adopt rules providing for the construction and use of a secondary containment barrier, including construction design standards. 4. A separation distance required in subsection 1 or the prohibition against construction of a confinement feeding operation structure on a one hundred year floodplain as provided in subsection 2 shall not apply to a confinement feeding operation that includes a confinement feeding operation structure that was constructed prior to March 1, 2003, if any of the following apply: a. One or more unformed manure storage structures that are part of the confinement feeding operation are replaced with one or more formed manure storage structures on or after April 28, 2003, and all of the following apply: (1) The animal weight capacity or animal unit capacity, whichever is applicable, is not increased for that portion of the confinement feeding operation that utilizes all replacement formed manure storage structures. (2) The use of each replaced unformed manure storage structure is discontinued within one year after the construction of the replacement formed manure storage structure. (3) The capacity of all replacement formed manure storage structures does not exceed the amount required to store manure produced by that portion of the confinement feeding operation utilizing the formed manure storage structures during any eighteen-month period. (4) No portion of the replacement formed manure storage structure is closer to the location or object from which separation is required under subsection 1 than any other confinement feeding operation structure which is part of the operation. (5) The formed manure storage structure meets or exceeds the requirements of section 459.307. b. (1) A formed manure storage structure that is part of the confinement feeding operation is constructed on or after April 28, 2003, pursuant to a variance granted by the department. In granting the variance, the department shall make a finding of all of the following: (a) The replacement formed manure storage structure replaces the confinement feeding operation’s existing manure storage and handling facilities. (b) The replacement formed manure storage structure complies with standards adopted pursuant to section 459.307. (c) The replacement formed manure storage structure more likely than not provides a higher degree of environmental protection than the confinement feeding operation’s existing manure storage and handling facilities. (2) If the formed manure storage structure will replace any existing manure storage structure, the department shall, as a condition of granting the variance, require that the replaced manure storage structure be properly closed. 5. A person shall not construct or expand an unformed manure storage structure within an agricultural drainage well area as provided in section 460.205. 95 Acts, ch 195, §26 CS95, §455B.204 98 Acts, ch 1209, §35, 53; 2002 Acts, ch 1137, §44, 45, 68, 71 ; 2002 Acts, 2nd Ex, ch 1003, §259, 260, 262 C2003, §459.310 2003 Acts, ch 84, §3 – 6; 2003 Acts, ch 108, §84, 85; 2011 Acts, ch 25, §143 Referred to in §459.304, 459.305, 459.307, 459.318, 459A.404 For regulation of surface water entry into and closure of agricultural drainage wells, see chapter 460