Iowa Admin. Code r. 561-1.3

Current through Regsiter Vol. 46, No. 26, June 12, 2024

Rule 561-1.3 - Organization

(1)Director and deputy director. The director is the chief administrative officer of the department. The director shall appoint a deputy director, who shall be in charge of the department in the absence of the director. The deputy director also may carry out other duties as assigned by the director. The director has rule-making authority for the general operation of the department, and the rules relating to this subject are found under agency number 561 of the Iowa Administrative Code.

(2)Natural resource commission. The natural resource commission, created by Iowa Code section 455A.5, consists of seven members appointed by the governor. The natural resource commission is responsible to establish policy and adopt rules for the programs specified in Iowa Code section 455A.5(6) "a"; hear appeals in contested cases for the programs specified in Iowa Code section 455A.5(6)"b "; approve or disapprove proposals submitted by the director for the acquisition or disposal of state lands and waters relating to state parks, recreational facilities, and wildlife programs; approve the budget request prepared by the director for the programs specified in Iowa Code section 455A.5(6)"d"; adopt, by rule, a schedule of fees for permits and for the administration of permits; and approve or disapprove proposals involving lake dredging or renovation, and the acquisition, development, and maintenance of boating facilities and recreational facilities associated with recreational boating. The substantive rules of the natural resource commission are found under agency number 571 of the Iowa Administrative Code.

(3)Environmental protection commission. The environmental protection commission, created by Iowa Code section 45 5 A. 6, consists of nine members appointed by the governor. The environmental protection commission is responsible to establish policy and adopt rules for the programs specified in Iowa Code section 455A.6(6) "a"; hear appeals in contested cases for the programs specified in Iowa Code section 455 A.6(6)"b "; approve or disapprove the issuance of hazardous waste disposal site licenses under Iowa Code chapter 455B; and approve the budget request prepared by the director for the programs specified in Iowa Code section 455A.6(6)"d." The substantive rules of the environmental protection commission are found under agency number 567 of the Iowa Administrative Code.

(4)State advisory board for preserves. The state advisory board for preserves, created by Iowa Code section 465C.2, consists of seven members, six of whom are appointed by the governor. The director shall serve as a member of the board. The state advisory board for preserves approves land or water areas for dedication as preserves, makes rules, and performs advisory functions related to the establishment and maintenance of preserves. The substantive rules of the state advisory board for preserves are found under agency number 575 of the Iowa Administrative Code.

(5)Divisions and bureaus. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 45 5A. 7, the director may establish administrative divisions, bureaus, or other administrative entities to most effectively and efficiently carry out the department's responsibilities.

a. Conservation and recreation division. The director has established the conservation and recreation division, which includes the state forester, implements the resource enhancement and protection program and consists of the following bureaus:

(1) Fisheries bureau. The fisheries bureau is responsible for managing fish, turtle, and aquatic organism populations in public waters; providing technical advice and assistance regarding diseases and aquatic invasive species avoidance and mitigation in both public and private waters; collecting creel statistics; fish hatching and stocking; conducting research studies for the purpose of setting fishing seasons and for scientific knowledge; providing fishing information to the general public and conducting other outreach education programs; and developing fishing areas and angler accesses.

(2) Land and waters bureau. The land and waters bureau is responsible for engineering and realty services for the department's facility and public lands and waters projects. Services include professional engineering and architectural design, surveying, construction contract administration, consultant contract management, property appraisal, land acquisition negotiation and closing, conservation easement administration, land management leases and agreements, environmental review, sovereign land construction permits, and threatened and endangered species oversight. The bureau also oversees the department's river programs, which include water trail development and low-head dam mitigation projects.

(3) Law enforcement bureau. The law enforcement bureau is responsible for enforcing Iowa's natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation laws. Other activities include assisting in wildlife and fisheries scientific surveys; providing hunter, boating, and all-terrain vehicle/snowmobile safety training and other outreach education programs; and supervising Iowa's private shooting preserves.

(4) Parks bureau. The parks bureau manages Iowa's state parks, recreation areas, and state forests. The bureau operates and maintains park, recreation area, and state forest infrastructure and facilities, such as multiuse trails, beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas, lodges, shelters, and cabins; protects and manages the natural resources inside such areas, including wildlife, wildlife habitat, and woodlands and timber stands; monitors concession operators; provides naturalist activities and other outreach education programs; and enforces Iowa's natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation laws.

(5) Wildlife bureau. The wildlife bureau is responsible for managing Iowa's wildlife held in trust for the public; maintaining and enhancing wildlife habitat on public lands and waters; advising the public on wildlife habitat development and improvement on private lands, including the development and protection of woodlands and timber stands on private lands; and conducting research for the purpose of setting hunting and trapping seasons and to ensure biological balance of all of Iowa's wildlife.

b. Environmental services division. The director has established the environmental services division, which consists of the following bureaus:

(1) Air quality bureau. The air quality bureau is responsible for air pollution control, including air quality new source review permitting, operating permitting, emissions inventory, air quality monitoring and assessment, and air quality improvement.

(2) Land quality bureau. The land quality bureau is responsible for providing technical assistance and oversight for management of solid waste, remediation of contaminated sites, cleanup of underground storage tanks, flood plain management, dam safety, coordination of geographic information systems, and development of sustainable environmental practices through financial and professional assistance.

(3) Water quality bureau. The water quality bureau is responsible for national pollutant discharge elimination system permitting, wastewater engineering, water supply engineering and operations, water quality monitoring and assessment, and watershed improvement.

(4) Field services bureau. The field services bureau conducts investigations of facilities or activities regulated by the environmental services division, including air quality, land quality, water quality, and animal feeding operations, on its own initiative or in response to citizen complaints; monitors compliance with the statutes and rules administered by the division; and provides technical and compliance assistance.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 561-1.3

Amended by IAB May 9, 2018/Volume XL, Number 23, effective 6/13/2018