Maquoketa company fined for burning tires along with trees
Tires were used as fuel to burn trees north of Clinton in December. (Photo courtesy of Iowa DNR)
An eastern Iowa company was fined $4,500 for placing waste tires among tree debris to hasten its burning in December, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Someone reported on Dec. 5 a sudden accumulation of tires and a subsequent fire in a rural area north of Clinton near the Mississippi River, DNR records show.
A DNR officer who responded to the report saw dark smoke emanating from a stand of trees and talked to the property owner, Thomas Stevenson, who said up to 10 tires had been burned.
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It’s illegal to burn tires in Iowa. Their fires emit toxic chemicals and can leach oil into the ground.
“Open burning of tires damages air quality and can cause significant acute and chronic health effects,” the DNR said in a recent administrative order that levied the fine.
An excavator was used to pile tree debris and tires. (Photo courtesy of Iowa DNR)
A Maquoketa Company, Brandenburg Drainage, was knocking down trees and burning them as part of a creek stabilization project to help with water drainage in the area, said Anthony Kerker, a DNR environmental specialist who investigated the incident. Many of the tires had been transported to the site from a nearby dairy farm.
On Dec. 6, someone reported that more tires were burning on the property. A Brandenburg employee who was operating an excavator to pile the debris and tires told the DNR “he thought it was legal to burn tires if they originated on the property,” a DNR report said.
Stevenson, the property owner, also said he assumed it was legal.
Kerker said up to 30 tires might have been burned. Those that remained on the site were removed from the property.
The DNR issued notices of violation to Stevenson, Mike Burken of Blue Hyll Dairy and Joe Brandenburg, who is president of the company.
Ultimately, the DNR fined Brandenburg and his company for the illegal burning. Brandenburg could not be reached to comment for this article.
The post Maquoketa company fined for burning tires along with trees appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Counties with the most emergency shelters in Iowa
Counties with the most emergency shelters in Iowa
As climate change drives weather to greater extremes, and devastating hurricanes, wildfires, droughts, and blizzards preoccupy an increasing number of Americans, it is hard to avoid comparing the reality of everyday news coverage to the computer-generated images seen in disaster movies.
Over the last 50 years, natural disasters have become five times more common due to climate change, according to the World Meteorological Organization. They’ve also become more economically debilitating—the five most expensive climate disasters in American history have all taken place over the last two decades.
The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters means that the need for emergency evacuation and shelter plans has never been greater. According to the Federal Emergency Management Association, understanding your climate risk, or proximity to probable natural disaster, is an important first step for making a plan. Tools like the Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation allow you to assess your risk by location.
Knowing where nearby emergency shelters are located is another way to prepare for the worst. In the event of flooding, hurricane-level winds, or other disasters, emergency shelters offer a place to sleep, and also often provide food, water, and first aid services. Stacker examined the Department of Homeland Security’s National Shelter System Facilities database to identify the counties with the most emergency shelters in Iowa. Counties are ranked by emergency shelters per 100K people, with total capacity per 100K people serving as a tiebreaker.
#50. Hardin County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 58.8 (10 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 7,646,608 people (1,299,694 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#49. Des Moines County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 58.9 (23 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 10,711,188 people (4,184,754 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 2
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#48. Calhoun County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 60.2 (6 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 11,415,449 people (1,137,207 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#47. Mills County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 61.4 (9 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 20,985,482 people (3,076,052 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#46. Wayne County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 61.5 (4 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 6,546,648 people (425,794 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#45. Chickasaw County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 66.6 (8 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 11,263,506 people (1,353,986 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 2
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#44. Tama County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 70.3 (12 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 8,967,539 people (1,531,566 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#43. Louisa County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 73.5 (8 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 16,614,921 people (1,809,531 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 1
#42. Boone County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 78.6 (21 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 10,046,840 people (2,684,616 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 1
#41. Cedar County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 81.1 (15 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 9,864,475 people (1,824,336 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 1
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#40. Wapello County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 82.1 (29 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 9,468,712 people (3,346,527 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 3
#39. Sioux County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 84.2 (30 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 10,385,250 people (3,702,030 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#38. Washington County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 84.4 (19 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 13,194,943 people (2,972,161 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#37. Buchanan County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 87.4 (18 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 11,748,806 people (2,420,019 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 1
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#36. Cerro Gordo County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 88.0 (38 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 22,387,579 people (9,668,076 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#35. Audubon County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 88.4 (5 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 29,518,915 people (1,669,885 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 4
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#34. Hancock County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 92.3 (10 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 14,179,847 people (1,536,670 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#33. Lucas County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 92.5 (8 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 15,463,861 people (1,337,624 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#32. Floyd County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 95.7 (15 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 31,298,717 people (4,905,135 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 1
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#31. Poweshiek County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 96.6 (18 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 11,673,604 people (2,174,559 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#30. Jones County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 96.7 (20 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 10,314,831 people (2,133,107 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 6
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#29. Fayette County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 97.0 (19 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 14,190,073 people (2,778,700 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#28. Delaware County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 97.1 (17 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 13,058,939 people (2,286,359 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#27. Jackson County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 97.4 (19 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 11,615,088 people (2,264,826 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 1
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#26. Keokuk County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 99.5 (10 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 10,593,522 people (1,064,649 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 2
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#25. Shelby County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 102.1 (12 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 35,871,234 people (4,214,870 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 3
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#24. Monroe County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 105.4 (8 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 14,346,963 people (1,088,791 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#23. Van Buren County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 111.2 (8 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 15,154,127 people (1,090,491 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#22. Pocahontas County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 112.8 (8 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 11,989,903 people (850,204 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#21. Clinton County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 113.8 (53 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 17,955,745 people (8,365,402 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 7
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#20. Mitchell County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 114.0 (12 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 14,375,594 people (1,513,175 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#19. Butler County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 117.9 (17 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 14,199,168 people (2,047,662 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#18. Cherokee County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 120.6 (14 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 16,924,668 people (1,964,277 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#17. Appanoose County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 130.0 (16 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 15,768,773 people (1,941,136 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#16. Winnebago County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 130.3 (14 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 18,245,769 people (1,960,143 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#15. Mahaska County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 131.0 (29 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 13,960,062 people (3,089,641 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 1
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#14. Greene County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 135.9 (12 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 24,618,446 people (2,174,055 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#13. Franklin County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 139.2 (14 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 47,719,193 people (4,798,642 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#12. Clayton County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 157.2 (27 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 20,828,818 people (3,576,933 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#11. Osceola County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 162.1 (10 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 21,000,730 people (1,295,325 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#10. Bremer County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 172.9 (43 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 46,907,730 people (11,662,669 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 1
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#9. Lyon County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 192.4 (23 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 20,497,206 people (2,450,031 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#8. Palo Alto County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 211.2 (19 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 22,474,133 people (2,021,773 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#7. Worth County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 214.8 (16 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 42,106,362 people (3,136,924 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 1
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#6. Monona County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 229.0 (20 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 29,628,745 people (2,587,182 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#5. Allamakee County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 234.6 (33 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 24,939,252 people (3,508,454 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#4. Ida County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 243.6 (17 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 39,445,049 people (2,752,870 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#3. Adams County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 324.6 (12 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 53,663,268 people (1,983,931 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 1
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#2. Winneshiek County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 328.4 (66 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 38,575,114 people (7,753,598 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
#1. Howard County
– Emergency shelters per 100K people: 391.3 (37 shelters in database)
– Emergency shelter capacity per 100K: 57,679,621 people (5,454,185 total capacity)
– Shelters with generators: 0
– Shelters in 100-year floodplain: 0
