2013 Midwest Environmental Health Policy Summit


Iowa CapitolJan. 24-25, 2013
Iowa State Capitol
Des Moines, Iowa

Sponsored by University of Iowa School of Public Health, American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest and the National Conference of State Legislatures

Meeting Summary:

The 2013 Midwest Environmental Health Policy Summit was held in January in Des Moines, Iowa, at the Iowa Capitol. The summit was a joint venture of the National Conference of State Legislators, the University of Iowa, and the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest. This was the fourth in a series of annual meetings that focus on a wide range of environmental health issues facing states in the Midwest. Topics examined included biodiesel, federal regulatory impact on states, the federal farm bill, and natural gas hydraulic fracturing among other topics. The meeting provided a forum for legislators to discuss pressing issues facing their communities and brainstorm with legislators from neighboring states on effective legislative responses.



Day 1 | Day 2 |
Jan. 24, 2013

9:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Tour of Iowa BioDiesel Plant, Newton, Iowa

Participants were bused from the Marriott Downtown Des Moines to Newton, Iowa, to tour the Renewable Energy Group Biodiesel Plant. The plant converts natural fats, oils and greases into advanced biofuels. Sponsored by the American Lung Association of the Midwest.

12:45 - 1 p.m.

 Arrival at Capitol - escort to Senate Room 22 for Radon Presentation

1 - 2:30 p.m.

Radon in Schools Presentation
Senate Room 22

2:30 - 3 p.m.

 Break

3 - 3:30 p.m.

 State Environmental Health Concerns

3:30 - 5 p.m.

 Environmental Health in Schools

5 p.m.

 Reception - Iowa Radon Poster
  • First Lady of Iowa Chris Branstead
Jan. 25, 2013

7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

 Continental Breakfast (Capitol, Senate Room 116)
Shuttles will be departing the Marriott Downtown Des Moines at 7:30am and 8:00am.

8:30 - 10:45 a.m.

 Open Plenary: Agriculture and Environmental Health
  • Brett Lorenzen, Environmental Working Group, Iowa: "Farm Bill and Environmental Protection"
  • Jill Krueger, Public Health Law Center, Minnesota: "Nutrition Title of the Farm Bill"   View Presentation.pdf
  • Michael Heintz, Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL): "Agriculture and Public Health Laboratories"      View Presentation.pdf

10:45 - 11 a.m.

 Break

11 a.m. - Noon

 Biodiesel: Changing Old Attitudes and Shaping New Ones
  • Grant Kimberley, Iowa Soybean Association                              View Presentation.pdf

Noon - 1 p.m.

 Working Lunch: Environmental Health in States
  • Doug Farquhar, National Conference of State Legislatures
  • Professor David Osterberg, University of Iowa

1:30 - 3:30 p.m.

 High Volume Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing (i.e., Fracking)
  • Trevor Penning, University of Pennsylvania                                            View Presentation.pdf
  • Jacquelyn Pless, National Conference of State Legislatures       View Presentation.pdf

3:30 - 3:45 p.m.

 Break

3:45 - 4:30 p.m.
 

6 - 7 p.m.

 Discussion: Environmental Health in States
  • Doug Farquhar, National Conference of State Legislatures
Adjourn

Participants

  • Senator Ed Charbonneau, IN
  • Representative Susan Concannon, KS
  • Representative Mike Fortner, IL
  • Representative Lee Hein, IA
  • Representative Jay Houghton, MO
  • Representative Joe Mullery, MN
  • Representative Heath VanNatter, IN
  • Representative Ann Williams, IL
  • Tim Gary, Legislative Staff, WI
  • Jace Mikels, Research Assistant, IA
  • Lew Olson, Research Analyst, IA
  • Jeff Schoenfeldt, Legislative Staff, WI
  • David Osterberg, University of Iowa
  • Nancy Wyland, University of Iowa
  • John DeRosa, American Lung Association (IL)
  • Matt Marcum, American Lung Association (IL)
  • Kelly Marczak, American Lung Association (MN)
  • Micki Sandquist, American Lung Association (IA)
  • Angela Tin, American Lung Association (IL)
  • Doug Farquhar, NCSL
  • Scott Hendrick, NCSL
  • Claire Lewis, NCSL