Crack down on those polluting air, water

In 2011, an open-air cattle yard was built on six acres, fewer than 700 feet from two houses, one of which has children. The people told me they haven't been able to open their windows or hang clothes on the line since this happened. When I go to visit my friend, who lives there, the smell is so bad it gags me.

In the 70 years I have lived here, I have fed cattle and hogs, so did both the farmers around, and we never had a situation like this. I live three quarters of a mile down the road and the smell is in my yard. When you drive by, the smell takes your breath away. It happens every day.

When the manure pits are full, they haul the manure miles away in trucks. One day the end gate came open on the truck and spilled manure down the highway.

The DNR and the EPA should be cracking down on those who pollute our air and water and quality of life and stand up for everyday people who deal with this kind of pollution every day. To have these things happen in Iowa is criminal.

Tom Ratchford

Independence