1. A person may file a complaint alleging that an animal feeding operation is in violation of this chapter, including rules adopted by the department, or environmental standards or regulations subject to federal law and enforced by the department.

 a. The complaint may be filed with the department according to procedures required by the department or with the county board of supervisors in the county where the violation is alleged to have occurred, according to procedures required by the board. The county auditor may accept the complaint on behalf of the board.
 b. If the county board of supervisors receives a complaint, it shall conduct a review to determine if the allegation contained in the complaint constitutes a violation, without investigating whether the facts supporting the allegation are true or untrue.

 (1) If the county board of supervisors determines that the allegation does not constitute a violation, it shall notify the complainant, the animal feeding operation which is the subject of the complaint, and the department, according to rules adopted by the department.
 (2) If the county board of supervisors determines that the allegation constitutes a violation, it shall forward the complaint to the department which shall investigate the complaint as provided in this section.
 c. If the department receives a complaint from a complainant or a county forwarding a complaint, the department shall conduct an investigation of the complaint if the department determines that the complaint is legally sufficient and an investigation is justified. The department shall receive a complaint filed by a complainant, regardless of whether the complainant has filed a complaint with a county board of supervisors.

 (1) The department in its discretion shall determine the urgency of the investigation, and the time and resources required to complete the investigation, based upon the circumstances of the case, including the severity of a threat to the quality of surface or subsurface water.
 (2) The department shall notify the county board of supervisors in the county where the violation is alleged to occur prior to investigating the premises of the alleged violation. However, the department is not required to provide notice if the department determines that a clear, present, and impending danger to the public health or environment requires immediate action.
 (3) The county board of supervisors may designate a county employee to accompany a departmental official during the investigation of the premises of a confinement feeding operation. The county designee shall have the same right of access to the real estate of the premises as the departmental official conducting the inspection during the period that the county designee accompanies the departmental official.
 (4) Upon the completion of an investigation, the department shall notify the complainant of the results of the investigation, including any anticipated, pending, or completed enforcement action arising from the investigation. The department shall deliver a copy of the notice to the animal feeding operation that is the subject of the complaint and the board of supervisors of the county where the violation is alleged to have occurred.
 d. A county board of supervisors or the department is not required to divulge information regarding the identity of the complainant.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 459.601

  • Allegation: something that someone says happened.
  • Animal: means cattle, swine, horses, sheep, chickens, turkeys, or fish. See Iowa Code 459.102
  • Animal feeding operation: means a lot, yard, corral, building, or other area in which animals are confined and fed and maintained for forty-five days or more in any twelve-month period, and all structures used for the storage of manure from animals in the operation. See Iowa Code 459.102
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Confinement feeding operation: means an animal feeding operation in which animals are confined to areas which are totally roofed. See Iowa Code 459.102
  • Department: means the department of natural resources created pursuant to section 455A. See Iowa Code 459.102
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, firm, corporation, or association. See Iowa Code 462A.2
 2. a. The department and the attorney general shall enforce the provisions of this chapter in the same manner as provided in chapter 455B, subchapter I.

 b. The department and the attorney general may enforce the provisions of subchapter III in the same manner as provided in section 455B.175.
 3. When entering the premises of an animal feeding operation, a person who is a departmental official, an agent of the department, or a person accompanying the departmental official or agent shall comply with section 455B.103. The person shall also comply with standard biosecurity requirements customarily required by the animal feeding operation which are necessary in order to control the spread of disease among an animal population.
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