Know your Factory Farm Five: Brent Rastetter

Iowa’s Environmental Protection Commissioner Brent RastetterFive out of the nine Iowa Environmental Protection Commissioners own, or have a direct financial interest, in factory farms. Despite this blatant conflict of interest, they sit on the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC).The EPC is deciding whether or not to strengthen the Clean Water Act rule on August 19. Strengthening the rule means addressing the factory farm manure pollution that has contributed to Iowa’s 630 polluted waterways. Here’s a closer look at one of those meant to protect our environment, and why he should absolutely recuse himself from a vote.Brent RastetterAppointed to the EPC by Governor Branstad in 2011

•  Brent is a major donor to Governor Branstad and the younger brother of Bruce Rastetter, an ethanol and hog baron, GOP political power-broker, and major Branstad donor.
• Brent is the owner and CEO of Quality Ag, Inc – a construction firm that specializes in building factory farm barns and manure pits.  Iowa CCI members in a number of Central Iowa counties have fought proposed construction by Rastetter in the last three years.
• Rastetter also runs a hog confinement housing 4,800 hogs.

Brent Rastetter needs to hear from more Iowans like you that we want strong rules that protect our water.  www.cleanwaterfight.org