Zachary Nunn: “I rise in support today of an amendment to the PERMIT Act that would establish a new State-led water quality pilot…”

“I rise in support today of an amendment to the PERMIT Act that would establish a new State-led water quality pilot program through the Environmental Protection Agency. This amendment is straightforward, and like my home State in Iowa, it is something that can help in our rural communities. It supports States across the country in working to address water quality challenges using voluntary, science-backed conservation practices that our landowners and local partners are already engaged in implementing. This issue hits particularly close to home for me. In the Hawkeye State, we have seen some of the highest nitrate levels ever recorded in our rivers and streams across Iowa. This year alone, the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers exceeded Federal nitrate limits multiple times, requiring expensive water treatment to provide safe drinking water for more than 600,000 Iowans. More than 600 water segments across Iowa are now listed as impaired, with just over 60 percent of our nutrient-impaired watersheds remaining on the 303(d) list.”