DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld water quality regulations that business and farm groups say are costly and burdensome. The rules require anyone with new or expanded wastewater discharges into waterways to seek permits and certification from the state. The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and others sued the Environmental Protection Commission which voted in December 2009 to adopt the new rules. The lawsuit attempted to disqualify two of the commissioners’ votes and get the regulations thrown out.

Carrie La Seur moved to Montana in July 2009 but remained on the commission. The lawsuit says her vote shouldn’t be counted. The lawsuit claims Commissioner Susan Heathcote, who worked for a nonprofit environmental group, had a conflict of interest.

A majority of the court found the votes were proper under Iowa law.