USDA approves loans for rural development; more

USDA approves loans for rural development

WASHINGTON ? The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a guaranteed loan of $5,000,000 to Grundy Electric Cooperative Inc. and a guaranteed loan of $24,628,000 to Associated Electric Cooperative Inc.

Associated Electric Cooperative will use the funding to build two new substations, one new switching station, and a spare transformer. It will affect Appanoose, Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Lee, Louisa, Van Buren, Wapello, Wayne, Keokuk, Lucas, Marion and Monroe counties.

Gundy Electric Cooperative will use the funding to serve 332 consumers, build and improve 18 miles of distribution line, and make other system improvements in Wayne, Decatur, and Ringgold counties.  The loan amount includes $703,000 in smart grid projects.

Comments sought on DNR?s response to CAFO report

KANSAS CITY, Kan. ? EPA is seeking public comment on the Iowa Department of Natural Resources? response to EPA?s initial findings from its informal investigation of DNR?s permit and compliance program for concentrated animal feeding operations.

DNR submitted its response to EPA Sept. 11 outlining a number of actions to improve its animal feeding operations program.

On July 12, EPA released a report outlining its initial findings, which identified deficiencies in DNR?s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program that the state agency will need to correct.

The 30-day public comment period on IDNR?s response and proposed actions ends Oct. 17.

DNR?s response and EPA?s initial report are available at www.epa.gov/region7/water.  A link to the public notice, which describes how to submit comments, is at www.epa.gov/region7/public_notices.