Date/Time
Date(s) - 06/13/2023
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
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The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public input on a proposal to rescind Iowa Administrative Code 567 Chapter 14, Environmental Covenants.
While the environmental covenant program itself has many benefits to landowners and the public at large, these rules are not necessary to implement the Uniform Environmental Covenants Act in Iowa Code chapter 455I. On review of the rule and the code, the DNR has determined the rule either expressly or implicitly duplicates the code in many areas. Additionally, there is questionable rulemaking authority to implement these rules, further supporting the legislative intent for the Iowa Code to stand on its own. Rescinding these rules will not impact the department’s ability to enter into effective environmental covenants with interested landowners.
This proposal is in response to Governor Reynolds’ Executive Order Number 10. Executive Order 10 directs state agencies to conduct a comprehensive evaluation and rigorous cost benefit analysis of existing rules to evaluate their public benefits, whether the benefits of the rules justify the cost, and whether there are less restrictive alternatives to achieve their intended goal. Rescission of this chapter is in accordance with the Executive Order’s goals to eliminate rules that do not provide substantiated benefits to Iowans, to adhere to the rulemaking authority granted by the legislature, to reduce page and word count of the administrative code and to avoid repetition of statutory language.
The DNR is hosting a public meeting to discuss and receive feedback on the proposed rescission of IAC 567 chapter 14 Environmental Covenants. The meeting will be held on June 13, 1:00 – 2:00 via video call. To join the call either go to https://meet.google.com/cva-
Following this informal comment period, DNR will review all comments and prepare a draft Regulatory Analysis and draft Notice of Intended Action. A public comment period for the draft Regulatory Analysis and draft Notice of Intended Action will take place in September 2023, with a public hearing at the end of September 2023.
Please feel free to share this with anyone who may have an interest in the Environmental Covenants program.