In a recent release, the DNR’s Water Quality Section states:

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has recently added a document titled “DNR Guidelines for Bacteria Analysis” to the newly re-titled Bacteria Sampling NPDES page at http://www.iowadnr.gov/water/npdes/calculator.html . This document provides sample hold time guidelines for laboratories and NPDES permittees for the analysis of non-potable samples (including NPDES compliance and private septic samples) for fecal coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Any laboratories or NPDES permittees with questions about the holding time for bacteria samples should refer to this document.

The Iowa DNR has also added a new page titled “Permit Delay Reasons” at http://www.iowadnr.gov/water/npdes/delay.html. This page contains an EXCEL spreadsheet with information on the issuance status of individual NPDES permits. The Delay Reasons spreadsheet contains the facility name, facility number, permit writer, permit issuance and expiration dates, permit status, permit application dates, and the reason the permit issuance is delayed. The spreadsheet can be downloaded and manipulated to provide customized lists of information. Both the spreadsheet and the webpage contain a definition of the terms used in the delay list and contact information for current permit writers.

I checked out the permit status pages and they work.