Washington and Keokuk Counties are two of just 10 counties in the state that have not adopted the livestock master matrix. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources was notified in January that 89 of Iowa’s counties plan to evaluate construction permit applications and proposed animal confinement locations by using the master matrix. The master matrix is a scoring system used to evaluate locations for confinement feeding operations during the permitting process for building or adding on to existing facilities. Practices to reduce impacts on air, water, and the community are considered. According to the DNR, “while all counties may submit comments to DNR during the permitting process, counties that adopt the master matrix can also appeal a preliminary permit to the state Environmental Protection Commission.” The counties not using the matrix include Washington, Keokuk, Davis, Des Moines, Lee, Mahaska, Osceola, Plymouth, Wapello, and Warren.