DNR plans virtual public meeting for Supreme Beef, LLC nutrient management plan
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host a virtual public meeting on Monday, Aug. 31, from 6 to 8 p.m., to gather public comment on the nutrient management plan (NMP) recently filed by Supreme Beef, LLC.
The Supreme Beef, LLC facility will be located along U.S. Highway 18, in Giard Township, in Clayton County. It’s the same site as the once-proposed Walz Energy facility, a cattle feedlot and biogas operation that, with the use of anaerobic digesters, planned to turn manure from 10,000 cattle into natural gas.
Construction on the Walz Energy project began in 2017, but little noticeable work occurred in 2018 and 2019. During that time span, the DNR issued several notices of violation for ongoing issues at the site, including illegal discharges to Bloody Run Creek and lack of storm water control measures at the construction area. The DNR also handed down two separate administrative consent orders, both with $10,000 penalties.
Last year, members of the locally-based Walz family sued their partners, the Feeder Creek Group, claiming its managing members lied about having financing for the operation, and accusing them of theft, misrepresentation and breach of contract.
Now, the Walzes are moving forward under the name Supreme Beef, LLC. Instead of converting the manure to energy, however, the plan is to apply it to properties in Boardman, Lodomillo, Giard, Mendon, Wagner, Farmersburg and Franklin townships in Clayton and Allamakee counties, according to a public notice issued regarding the nutrient management plan.
The notice said the open feedlot operation will have the capacity for 11,600 animal units.
To request an electronic copy of the NMP, contact Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov.
Per the administrative rules, comments at the virtual public meeting should be limited to the following topics: that the NMP was submitted according to procedures required by the DNR and that it complies with the provisions of 567 Iowa Administrative Code chapter 65.
To register for the virtual meeting, go to https://forms.gle/mFaPUW2WrzBpxH2x5 or contact Kelli Book at Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov or (515) 210-3408 with your name, email and phone number by noon on Aug. 31.
During the virtual meeting, a moderator will provide a tutorial of how to use the virtual meeting features and the DNR will provide an introduction to the process and the facility. Supreme Beef, LLC will be given the opportunity for a brief statement at the beginning of the meeting. Depending on the size of the group, attendees may be broken into smaller groups and assigned a DNR staff member to collect public comment. Comments will be limited to three to five minutes per person.
If you are unable to attend the meeting, you may submit written comments and other documents to Kelli.Book@dnr.iowa.gov by noon on Sept. 1.
