Legal Documents
DWD Alleges That Agristar’s Excessive Effluents Violate The Federal Clean Water Act.
On December 30, 2024 Driftless Water Defenders issued Agri Star Meat & Poultry, LLC, and Agri Star General, Inc. a Notice of Violations and Intent to Sue Under the Clean Water Act. Agri Star owns and operates an agricultural processing facility in Postville, Iowa. The notice alleges that long series of violations at the Agri Star slaughterhouse that pollute Hecker Creek and the Yellow River, both of which are classified as “navigable waters” of the United States. DWD is represented by Public Justice, FarmSTAND, and Larew Law Office.
Petition For Writ of Certiorari Challenging Decision to Rezone Land For a Manure Biodigester
On August 30, 2024 Driftless Water Defenders filed the first of two lawsuits in state court to challenge the construction of manure digesters in rural Winneshiek County. The suit opposed a rezoning of land from agricultural to industrial use designation to accommodate the digester. In the second lawsuit, DWD challenged the legality of the Winneshiek County Board of Adjustment’s issuance of a conditional use permit to the digester developers for not including provisions that will protect the public interest. Both lawsuits are pending.
On June 4, 2024, Chris Jones, in his capacity as president of Driftless Water Defenders, sent a letter to Michael S. Regan and Meg McCollister, at the national and regional offices of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, in support of a petition filed by the Iowa Environmental Council and 13 other state, regional and national environmental organizations. The petition calls on the EPA to exercise its emergency authority under the Safe Drinking Water Act to protect people in northeast Iowa from imminent harm from drinking contaminated water
Letter to The EPA
DWD Press Releases
DRIFTLESS WATER DEFENDERS FILES CITIZEN SUPREME BEEF WATER USE PERMIT CHALLENGE TO DNR
January 16, 2025
Events
Our latest event occurred on January 18 at the Northeast Iowa Wellness and Recreation Center in Postville. Some 50 people attended to learn about our work.
Read about our most recent event in our newsletter under the “Our Rousing Public Events” section
Jess Piper and Chris Jones: Clean Water and Rural Decline
On August 7, 2024, Jess Piper and DWD president, Chris Jones, drew in a crowd of 125+ clean water advocates to Big Grove in Iowa City, IA
