Protecting Missouri's Natural Resources is a monthly newsletter that informs readers about environmental issues.
OCTOBER 2002
MISSOURI STRENGTHENS COMMITMENT TO BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY RECYCLING
Randolph named director of state's Solid Waste Program
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is strengthening its commitment to helping Missouri businesses and communities further develop economic initiatives that emphasize reducing, reusing and recycling waste and promoting product stewardship. Product stewardship is managing a product and its waste from its production to its disposal.
To assist with this effort, the department's Air and Land Division has appointed Roger Randolph to lead its Solid Waste Management Program. "Roger will be leading a terrific team of staff, businesses and communities to make Missouri's economic growth environmentally sustainable," said James D. Werner, director of the department's Air and Land Protection Division. "We want to be competitive with other states that are realizing the overall economic and environmental benefits of promoting product stewardship and operating with the basic waste management watchwords: reduce, reuse and recycle."
Randolph currently serves as the agency's Air Pollution Control Program
director, a position he has held for more than eight years. "Roger
has led state efforts to improve overall air quality and attain federal
air quality standards," said Steve Mahfood, director of the Department
of Natural Resources. "Thanks to Roger's leadership and the efforts
of Missouri citizens and businesses, the air we breathe in Missouri
is much cleaner."
Randolph brings more than 30 years of experience in managing air,
water and solid waste control programs to the position. He has worked
for the Department of Natural Resources since 1988. Randolph is a
registered Professional Engineer in Missouri and Oklahoma.
Randolph begins his new duties in the Solid
Waste Management Program Nov. 1, 2002. Leanne Tippett will serve
as interim director of the Air Pollution
Control Program until a permanent director is named. Tippett,
currently a policy and legislative specialist in the department director's
office, worked in the department's air program on permitting and enforcement
issues from 1994 to 1999.
NEW CLANDESTINE DRUG LAB COLLECTION STATION AUTHORIZED
Missouri's Clandestine Drug Lab Collection Station (CDLCS) Program continues to expand across the state. The CDLCS Program is an innovative approach in managing the chemicals left behind from methamphetamine production processes. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources certifies individuals and provides technical support and assistance with dismantling of methamphetamine laboratories and proper disposal of hazardous chemicals and debris. The department has authorized 21 local fire and law enforcement agencies to host CDLCSs.
In July, the department delivered operations and technical support training at the Maryville Department of Public Safety. Mark Hermelink and Aaron Jones, detectives with the Maryville Department of Public Safety, will manage operations at the CDLCS.
Because agriculture is an extremely important part of the economy in northwest Missouri, anhydrous ammonia, a crucial precursor in producing methamphetamine, is readily available at local farm cooperatives in the area. Methamphetamine labs are a significant problem in this area and management of the hazardous chemicals remaining after a seizure has always been a challange. Now with the placement of the collection station at the Maryville Department of Public Safety, this burden should be lifted. The Maryville Department of Public Safety should also be recognized for efforts in assisting law enforcement officials from other sheriff and police departments in northwest Missouri with seizing methamphetamine labs.
There are now 21 CDLCSs to effectively serve law enforcement across the state. The program to install the stations began in 1999.
In 2001, the Missouri State Highway Patrol recorded 2,130 methamphetamine lab incidents for all Missouri law enforcement. Out of that total, 1,491 were delivered to the CDLCSs. The Patrol estimates 2,500 methamphetamine lab incidents will occur by the end of 2002. The department estimates 1,900 methamphetamine lab incidents will be delivered to the CDLCSs during 2002.
The Department of Natural Resources attributes the success of the CDLCS program to the strong support from all agencies that comprise the Missouri Interagency Clandestine Lab Task Force, a group that formed after the initial Governor's Meth Summit hosted by the late Gov. Mel Carnahan in 1997. In addition, without the support and dedication of the fire departments and law enforcement agencies that host the collection stations, the CDLCS Program may have failed from the onset. Missouri's CDLCS Program has caught the attention of law enforcement and environmental agencies from across the country. A great deal of information on the CDLCS Program has been mailed out and many agencies have visited Missouri to learn first hand of the department's efforts.
For more information on Missouri's CDLCS program, call Brad Harris of the Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-4794 or e-mail brad.harris@dnr.mo.gov.
MIDWESTERN GOVERNORS' CONFERENCE SUMMIT ON METHAMPHETAMINE
The Midwestern Governors Conference held a Summit on Methamphetamine Sept. 18-20 in Sioux City, Iowa. The summit was co-sponsored by the National Crime Prevention Council, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Community Oriented Policing Services under the U.S. Department of Justice. Delegations from 13 states met to discuss meth-related problems, barriers, possible solutions and best practices.
Missouri delegates included the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Attorney General's Office, Department of Public Safety, Department of Mental Health, Department of Social Services, Department of Health and Senior Services and two local law enforcement agencies.
State delegates represent disciplines whose services are either required or affected by meth producers, abusers, families and communities. Although law enforcement is the state's front-line offense, meth affects social service agencies' ability to provide treatment and other services that are unique for meth abusers and their families. The environment is impacted by the hazardous by-products that are often left behind or dumped, affecting air, land and water resources. Protecting the public health from these environmental contaminants is of utmost concern. Meth continues to be a prevalent challenge to society's wellbeing.
Department staff will use the new information to implement better ways to combat meth in Missouri. The summit allowed for the comparison of the meth-associated problems incurred by Missouri agencies, to those in other states, as well as comparisons of the techniques used to respond to the problem. Missouri's Inter-Agency Clandestine Lab Task Force and Clandestine Drug Lab Collection Station Program were highlighted at the Summit as a model system, because of their effectiveness and low cost.
Assignment of this delegation to the Summit is part of Gov. Holden's commitment to ensure a safe and secure environment in Missouri.
For more information on Missouri's Task Force and Collection Station Program, call Brad Harris at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-4794 or e-mail brad.harris@dnr.mo.gov.
ST. LOUIS MEETS OZONE STANDARD FOR FIRST TIME:
DEPARTMENT PLANS TO REDESIGNATE AREA
The St. Louis region has reached a major milestone this fall. The
area met the federal standard for ozone for the first time since monitoring
began in the early 1970s.
In summer 2002, monitors in the area registered five exceedances of
the health-based standard in Missouri and two in Illinois but were
able to avoid recording a violation. U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency rules state that to attain the standard, a non-attainment area
can have no more than three exceedances over a three-year period at
any monitoring site. None of the monitors in the St. Louis area recorded
more than three exceedences.
The Department of Natural Resources is now in the process of redesignating the St. Louis nonattainment area to a maintenance area and has developed a plan to preserve the air quality in the region over the next 10 years.
The St. Louis community has been instrumental in reaching this milestone. Industry, government agencies and residents joined together to reduce ozone. In recent years, several controls have been implemented to reduce the amount of ground-level ozone. Some of the control measures include reformulated gasoline, Stage II vapor recovery nozzles on area gas pumps, the Gateway Clean Air Program (an enhanced vehicle emissions testing program) as well as numerous industrial controls.
Citizens have also altered their daily activities to help in the efforts. By carpooling, waiting until the evening to refuel their cars, using mass transit, and other voluntary behavioral change, residents have reduced ozone-causing emissions, especially on days forecasted to have high ozone concentrations.
Exposure to ground-level ozone, or smog, can contribute to health problems. Those who suffer from asthma, heart disease, emphysema and other cardiopulmonary diseases could experience increased breathing difficulty. Long-term exposure to high levels of ozone can even cause healthy adults to experience breathing difficulty, especially those who exercise or work outdoors.
Ground-level ozone is not emitted directly into the atmosphere, but forms in the presence of strong sunlight and warm temperatures when oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react with oxygen.
Ozone season officially begins April 1 and ends Oct. 31. Throughout the season, monitors in the St. Louis non-attainment area record the ozone levels at 11 sites in Missouri and five sites in Illinois. The non-attainment area includes St. Louis City, St. Charles, Jefferson, St. Louis and Franklin counties in Missouri and Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties in Illinois.
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4817.
SITE ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE ANNUAL MEETING
The Site Assessment Committee conducted its annual meeting Aug. 21 to evaluate the sites listed on the Registry of Confirmed Abandoned or Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites in Missouri (Registry) and to recommend cleanup priorities.
The Site Assessment Committee is made up of representatives from the department's Hazardous Waste Program, Public Drinking Water Program, Environmental Services Program and Geological Survey and Resource Assessment Division. A fifth member represents the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS).
Members of the committee analyze sites in terms of the potential for fires and explosions, and for groundwater, surface water, soil and air contamination. Members of the committee draw upon their own special expertise when assessing the sites.
Each year, the Site Assessment Committee meets to assess new sites and reassess sites in the previous fiscal year's annual report, based upon new information available or upon remedial measures taken at a site to reduce potential risk.
According to the state law, the sites are placed in one of the following categories:
- Class 1: Sites that are causing or presenting an imminent danger of causing irreversible or irreparable damage to the public health or environment-immediate action required;
- Class 2: Sites that are a significant threat to the environment-action required;
- Class 3: Sites that do not present a significant threat to the public health or the environment-action may be deferred;
- Class 4: Sites that have been properly closed-require continued management;
- Class 5: Sites that have been properly closed with no evidence of present or potential adverse impact-no further action required.
The relative need for action at each site is based solely upon the potential impact on public health and the environment. The type of action required, the feasibility of such an action and its cost or benefit are not the primary factors in deciding whether action is needed for the purpose of evaluating a site's Registry classification.
This year, the committee assessed 66 hazardous waste sites. Five sites were placed in class one, 16 sites in class two, 22 sites in class three, 23 sites in class four and none in class five.
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Hazardous Waste Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3176.
USTFIELDS PILOT AWARD
On July 1, 2002, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources received a USTfields Pilot Cooperative agreement in the amount of $100,000 for the city of St. Louis. Ustfields Pilots are part of EPA's initiative to promote cleanup and reuse of abandoned Underground Storage Tank (UST) sites.
St. Louis, like many urban areas, is fighting migration trends that have led to a loss of half its jobs and population over the past 45 years. The city's Land Reutilization Authority has an inventory of more than 9,000 vacant sites and 2,000 abandoned buildings, yet lacks the resources to assemble this land into marketable residential or commercial packages. Two active neighborhood revitalization efforts have been selected to concentrate the limited resources from the pilot grant, the Jeff VanderLou Initiative, and the 5th Ward Neighborhoods Revitalization Initiative. In these neighborhoods six to nine publicly owned abandoned gas station sites have been identified for possible investigation and cleanup.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will work on this project in a cooperative partnership with St. Louis Development Corporation, St. Louis Planning and Urban Design Agency, Greater St. Louis Regional Empowerment Zone and the Missouri Petroleum Storage Tank Insurance Fund. The objective of this partnership is to assess and clean up as many abandoned gas station sites as possible.
This is one of 40 grants awarded nationwide by EPA. EPA hopes to use the lessons learned from these pilots to formulate a comprehensive, long-term strategy for dealing with the widespread problem of abandoned USTs.
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Hazardous Waste Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3176.
DEPARTMENT ISSUES CONTINENTAL CEMENT PERMIT TO REPLACE KILN
On Sept. 24, the Department of Natural Resources' Air Pollution Control Program issued Continental Cement a permit to build a new plant at its existing site in Hannibal. This plant would replace the current plant in Hannibal and would increase production capacity from 600,000 tons of cement clinker (incombustible residue) per year to 1.6 million tons of clinker. In order to increase production without impacting the air quality, Continental will install several control devices to reduce emissions and particulate matter.
By working closely with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, this one million-ton production increase will create only a minimal increase in air emissions. Continental conducted an analysis to calculate the net emissions increase that would result from the replacement of the old cement plant. As a result of this analysis, the net emissions increase, with all emission control devices installed, will be minimal.
By working with the department, Continental Cement will increase production and profit in Hannibal without sacrificing air quality.
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Air Pollution Control Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4817.
NATIONAL WATER MONITORING DAY TO BE HELD IN CELEBRATION OF CLEAN WATER ACT 30TH ANNIVERSARY
To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act and the Year of Clean Water, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the first National Water Monitoring Day, encouraging people to take part by monitoring their local water quality on Oct. 18.
The monitoring will help present a snapshot view of water quality in streams, lakes and coastal waters throughout the United States. Individuals and local water monitoring and watershed groups around the country will perform four key tests: dissolved oxygen, pH, water clarity and temperature. Logon to www.yearofcleanwater.org to register a monitoring site, purchase a kit or input sample data.
The Department of Natural Resources is working with EPA, America's Clean Water Foundation, federal agencies, and local entities and citizens on events throughout the year. Ways to get involved include learning about local watershed organizations in your area; helping to organize a stream or beach cleanup; talking to school children about water pollution and what they can do to help. For information, visit www.epa.gov/water/yearofcleanwater.
DEPARTMENT PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
The Department of Natural Resources has initiated a program called the Missouri Environmental Management Partnership to encourage businesses, local governments, state agencies, educational institutions and other organizations to improve environmental performance by developing and implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS). An EMS is a process through which an organization determines it's effect on the environment and defines procedures and responsibilities for employees to recognize, correct, or reduce environmental impacts to avoid negative effects and regulatory violations. Organizations develop and carry out EMSs to ensure environmental compliance, improve public image and value, reduce costs, improve efficiency, gain market or trade advantages and improve their relationship with governmental agencies. The Department promotes EMSs because they improve environmental compliance rates and decrease the amount of wastes created and released to the environment.
The program is strictly voluntary but will hold members to generally recognized EMS conformance criteria that include commitment to regulatory compliance as well as broader environmental goals.
For more information, call Todd Crawford at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-6892.
DEPARTMENT OFFERS NEARLY $20 MILLION IN LOW-INTEREST DRINKING WATER LOANS
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources announces the availability of approximately $20 million in low-interest loans to public drinking water suppliers. The loans will be provided through the State Revolving Fund Leveraged Loan Program. The program provides subsidized loans to community water systems and to non-profit, non-community water systems to construct and improve drinking water facilities. Amounts are based on ability to repay debt. The deadline for applications is Nov. 15.
The interest rate for State Revolving Fund loans is half the rate of a conventional loan. The amount of savings would depend on the market interest rate at the time of the loan. For example, if a utility borrowed $1 million from the state revolving fund at 2.5 percent for 20 years (maximum term) when the market rate is five percent, it would save $200,585.
The Missouri Safe Drinking Water Commission recently approved the criteria for prioritizing projects within the program. Projects are scored and ranked according to the number or points assigned. Some of the criteria used to assign points include public health protection, security, Safe Drinking Water Act compliance and affordability. The department also proposes to make special financing available for source water protection. These loans could be used to purchase land and install security measures at water sources.
For more information or to request a loan application for water system improvements, security measures or source water protection activities, call Stephen Jones of the department's Public Drinking Water Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5331, or e-mail at stephen.jones@dnr.mo.gov.
FIRE INCIDENT AT NEWTON-MCDONALD COUNTY SANITARY LANDFILL
On Oct. 9, the Newton-McDonald County Sanitary Landfill operator notified the Missouri Department of Natural Resources that smoke was coming out of a subsidence crater on the landfill. The landfill has been closed for approximately seven years and is located in Neosho.
The local fire department and first responders were on scene. The cause of the underground fire is unknown at this time.
The landfill operator and the local fire department completed a preliminary site assessment and found a crater approximately 20 feet in diameter and six to seven feet deep. Grass around the area is also scorched. A gas-monitoring probe is typically used to determine gas levels around the area. However, due to the extremely hot surface, the tip of the probe melted.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources immediately mobilized emergency response, solid waste and regional office staff to the scene to provide assistance. The department mobilized a track mounted geo probe to conduct a field investigation and determine the extent of the fire.
The department will continue to cooperate with the local fire department. The department notified the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the situation. A contractor for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided aerial photography and thermal images used to locate the extent of the vents and fire.
The Newton-McDonald County Landfill Board has been in contact with experts in the field of landfill gas and putting out landfill fires. In discussion with the experts and the Neosho Fire Department, for this situation the best way to approach this fire is to smother it much like you put out a candle with a snuffer. The top and sides of the landfill will be sealed with soil to prevent oxygen from getting to the fire. The first concern is for the safety of the people working on the landfill surface as well as the public and buildings on adjacent property.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will continute to coordinate with the Newton McDonald County Landfill Board to handle the fire and protect the environmental around the landfill. The EPA is also prepared to provided any assistance needed to the department and the landfill board.
If you have questions or would like more information, please contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401.
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES' SOUTHEAST REGIONAL OFFICE RELOCATES
The Southeast Regional Office of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is now open in a new location, 2155 North Westwood Boulevard, in Poplar Bluff.
"We are very happy to open the new office in Poplar Bluff," said Steve Mahfood, director of the Department of Natural Resources. "We plan to place more resources in our regional offices in the future to better serve the citizens of Missouri, and this new office fits well with those plans."
"Our primary work is seeing that the environmental laws and regulations of the state are being followed," said Southeast Regional Office Director Gary Gaines, "but we do a lot more, like engineering reviews, technical assistance and training. We invite the public to contact our office when they need assistance from the department." The office employs over 30 environmental specialists, environmental engineers and support staff. Personnel inspect environmental control facilities, investigate environmental complaints and respond to environmental emergencies. The previous office on Lester Street in Poplar Bluff was home to department activities in the southeast Missouri region for over 30 years.
"We take seriously our responsibility of stewardship to protect and enhance the environment," said Mahfood. "We want to provide excellent public service as we work to preserve and protect Missouri's natural resources."
The Poplar Bluff office serves 24 counties in southeast Missouri including Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dent, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Texas, Washington and Wayne.
The Southeast Regional Office mailing address remains the same, P.O. Box 1420, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901-1420. The department has six regional and seven satellite offices to serve Missouri citizens. A map of regional offices is available on the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/regions/deqregions.htm.
For more information, contact Gary Gaines at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Southeast Regional Office at 573-840-9750.
MISSOURI BEGINS CLEANUP OF RED'S TIRE SALES
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has launched the cleanup of one the largest waste tire dumps remaining in the state. Red's Tire Sales waste tire dump in Neosho has approximately 300,000 tires at the site. The cleanup began Oct. 7, 2002.
Red's Tire Sales, owned by Windel (Red) Harris, has generated numerous complaints from the local community for nearly a decade. The department issued the company numerous Notices of Violation pertaining to the improper storage of waste tires. The Department of Natural Resources subsequently revoked the site's permit.
The state-funded cleanup will remove the remnants of the waste tire dump where a half-million tires caught fire in 1997 and smoldered, pouring out toxic fumes for more than a year until late 1998. A Newton County judge found Harris in contempt of compliance orders on three separate occasions. Harris filed for bankruptcy on Oct. 25, 1999.
Due to nationwide media reports on the West Nile Virus this summer, Red's Tire Sales waste tire dump continued to receive attention. Harris voluntarily signed an Access Authorization with the Attorney General's Office permitting the cleanup of the dump on Sept. 9, 2002.
Mac's Tire Recyclers Inc. of Saltillo, Miss. was awarded the cleanup by the competitive bidding process conducted by the Office of Administration. The cleanup is expected to cost about $550,000 and will take approximately nine months to complete. The cleanup is funded from the state's 50-cent-per-tire waste tire fee, which expires in Jan. 1, 2004 unless it is reinstated by the legislature. The Attorney General's Office will continue its legal efforts to recover the cleanup costs from the parties responsible for the site. The Department of Natural Resources has been working with Mac's Tire Recyclers to start the cleanup.
For further information, contact the department's Solid Waste Management Program by calling 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401. Additional information is available on the Web at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp.
HOLDEN ANNOUNCES $160,000 IN GRANTS AWARDED TO RECYCLE OR REDUCE WASTE
Gov. Bob Holden announced that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded $160,000 in grants to projects to recycle or reduce waste. The grants are funded by the Solid Waste Management Fund, which is made up of fees collected in conjunction with tipping fees collected for each ton of waste disposed of in Missouri landfills, as well as fees collected from transfer stations that transfer waste out-of-state.
"The reduction of solid waste is pertinent to the economic future of Missouri," Holden said. "This is a no-brainer as it also means healthier environment for Missourians."
These grants enable Missouri's Solid Waste Management Districts to fund operational costs, administration of activities related to implementation of the district's solid waste management plan and expenses related to the administration and operation of the district:
- $20,000 grant to the East Central Solid Waste Management District, which includes Franklin, Lincoln, Montgomery and Warren counties. For more information, call the East Central Solid Waste Management District at 636-456-3473.
- $20,000 grant to the Northeast Missouri Solid Waste Management District which includes Adair, Clark, Knox, Lewis, Schuyler and Scotland counties. For more information, call the Northeast Missouri Solid Waste Management District at 660-465-7281.
- $20,000 grant to the Northwest Missouri Regional Solid Waste Management District, which includes Atchison, Holt, Gentry, Nodaway and Worth counties. For more information, call the Northwest Missouri Regional Solid Waste Management District at 660-582-5121.
- $20,000 grant to the Region D Solid Waste Management District, which includes Andrew, Buchanan, Clinton and DeKalb counties. For more information, call the Region D Solid Waste Management District at 816-393-5250.
- $20,000 grant to the Southwest Missouri Solid Waste Management District, which includes Barry, Dade, Lawrence, Stone and Taney counties. For more information, call the Southwest Missouri Solid Waste Management District at 417-466-2758.
- $20,000 grant to the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management
District, which includes Jefferson, St. Charles and St. Louis counties.
For more information, call the St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management
District at 314-645-6753.
Grants to projects to recycle or reduce waste: - $15,000 to Bridging The Gap of Kansas City. The funds are to provide waste assessments, technical assistance and recommendations to the University of Missouri - Kansas City facilities and recycling staff to highlight the university's potential for diverting significant amounts of materials from landfills and also educate students and faculty of the importance of recycling and waste reduction. To date, Bridging the Gap has received a total of $1,142,365 in funding for Waste Reduction and Recycling projects.
- $10,000 to the Discovery Center of Kansas City for the development of a cost effective recycling program for wastes that are generated at the Discovery Center and in its administrative offices, leading to the establishment of a comprehensive resource conservation program. To date, the Discovery Center has received a total of $10,000 in funding for waste reduction and recycling projects.
- $15,000 to the South Central Solid Waste Management District for a waste assessment study of 30 schools in the South Central District area to enable the 30 schools to reduce the amount of wastes generated and to maximize waste recovery and recycling. To date, the South Central Solid Waste Management District has received a total of $60,406 in funding for waste reduction and recycling projects.
For more information, call Rachel L. Griffin of the department's Solid Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401.
2000 TRI REPORT NOW AVAILABLE
The Department of Natural Resources has recently published the fourth annual State of Missouri Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Summary Report: 2000 Data. The 2000 reporting year is the most recent data available.
The purpose of the state TRI report is to inform Missouri citizens of toxic chemical releases in their community. The TRI documents the releases of toxic chemicals to the air, land and water from manufacturing facilities throughout the state. Since 1998, it has also included releases from electric utilities and metal mining facilities.
The 2000 reporting year is also the first year companies have been required to report for persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals (PBTs). Because these chemicals, such as mercury and dioxin, persist in the environment for long periods of time, bioaccumulate in animal tissue and are highly toxic, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lowered the reporting thresholds for this group of chemicals. Special emphasis was given to reporting these chemicals in this year's report.
As an outreach effort to Missouri citizens, the report has been sent to over 250 public libraries throughout the state. The report is also available on the Web. A copy of the report may be obtained by calling the department's Environmental Assistance Office at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-6627.
DEPARTMENT ISSUES CONSTRUCTION PERMIT FOR WACO LANDFILL IN WASHINGTON COUNTY
On Sept. 17, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources issued a permit to Waco Landholding Inc. for Waco Landfill. The proposed site is located approximately 0.5 mile west of the Jefferson County line and 1.5 miles south of the Franklin County line, approximately three miles east of Richwoods.
The department issued the permit after an extensive public consultation process that included public review of the permit application submitted by Waco Landholding Inc. and a public hearing in St. Claire in August 2001. The department estimates that it will provide approximately 28 years of landfill capacity for solid waste disposal and will ensure economically competitive waste disposal options.
In issuing the permit, the department indicated that it is committed to reducing, reusing and recycling our state's waste and encouraged Waco Landholdings Inc. to use and support any recycling and reuse techniques and programs that reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill. The department also urged Waco Landholdings Inc. to ensure that not only the construction and operation of the landfill be done in full compliance with all requirements but also that Waco maintain proper stewardship of the site in closure and post-closure.
Two disposal areas, 80 acres and 90 acres on either side of the existing Turkey Creek, will cover approximately 60 percent of the total 273 acres of the permitted tract. The remaining approximately 102 acres will be used for sanitary landfill-related design features such as borrow area, all-weather access roads, buffer zone, leachate collection and removal system, gas monitoring system and storm water diversion structures.
The approved permit will require constant removal of water and gas from the landfill to prevent migration of contaminants into the environment. Storm water removed from the surface of the landfill will be tested to meet water discharge standards under the Clean Water Act.
The permit also requires monitoring for landfill gas around the fill and monitoring of groundwater at the site. After the landfill has been constructed, the company will still need to apply for and receive a Solid Waste Disposal Area Operating Permit.
The Department of Natural Resources inspects sanitary landfills at least four times a year to assure that they are operated in accordance with state law and regulations and meet all their design specifications.
For more information about the Waco Landfill construction permit, call the department's Solid Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401.
FREE SOFTWARE AVAILABLE TO ANALYZE SEWER AND WATER RATES
Show-Me Ratemaker, a software program developed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, can be used by local governments to analyze sewer and water rates and performance quickly and accurately. This analysis allows localities to show current and future financial status under various scenarios, make grant and loan applications and give graphical illustrations for management decisions and public meetings.
The Show-Me Ratemaker software is a Microsoft Excel-based spreadsheet program that makes it easy for water and sewer systems to fix their finances and rates. Using the program, systems can examine their rates, set new rates that are more equitable, encourage customers to support new rates and inform funding agencies or the bond market that their sewer or water project would be a good investment for the agency's funds. The software produces a five-year projection of rates, costs, reserve balances and numerous financial condition indicators. It generates tables and visual charts that make it easier for decision-makers and ratepayers to understand what the analysis is telling them. Show-me Ratemaker software also makes it quick and easy to do "what if" scenarios by changing any inputs to see what the results would be.
Call 800-361-4827 for more information.
SIGN-UP NOW FOR THE 2002 EPA REGION 7 BROWNFIELDS FUNDING WORKSHOPS
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 Brownfields Team and state environmental agencies of Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska to host several workshops to assist communities interested in applying for brownfields assessment, cleanup and revolving loan fund grants. This will be the first year that funding for brownfields grants will be awarded under the new Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (SBLRBRA) signed by President Bush on Jan. 11, 2002.
The grants will provide funding to assist communities that plan to return contaminated (or potentially contaminated) properties back to productive reuse. The workshops will focus on helping participants to understand the basic elements of the grant programs, the new process for submitting grant proposals, and the required proposal elements. Representatives from EPA and the state programs will be present to help answer questions.
For more information, call Christine O'Keefe of the Department of Natural Resources' Hazardous Waste Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3176.
EPA REPORTS 2000 NATIONAL WATER QUALITY INVENTORY SHOWS LITTLE OR NO CHANGE IN NATION'S WATER QUALITY
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its biennial national summary of water quality, based on water monitoring findings reported by the states, territories, jurisdictions and tribes in 2000 under Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act. The information in this report applies only to the waters that were assessed for one or more of the uses, such as swimming, fishing and fish consumption, designated for them by the states.
States assessed 19 percent of the nation's 3.7 million total river and stream miles, 43 percent of its 40.6 million acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs, and 36 percent of its 87,300 estuary square miles for this report. EPA reports that 39 percent of assessed river and stream miles, 45 percent of assessed lake acres and 51 percent of assessed estuary square miles in the nation were found to be impaired for one or more uses.
EPA found that the percentage of assessed river or stream and estuary waters found to be impaired has increased somewhat from the last report in 1998, although that difference is more likely due to changes in assessment approaches than actual water quality changes. Many states are choosing to use higher quality data than in the past in making their assessments, discarding older or less quality-assured data. They are also moving toward more comprehensive examination of fish tissue and issuing statewide advisories limiting the consumption of certain species of fish. Mercury, which originates from air transport from power generating facilities and incinerators, mining, natural rock weathering and other sources, was cited in approximately 2,240 of the nation's 2,800 fish consumption advisories reported in 2000 and is reported as a leading cause of impairment in U.S. lakes and estuaries.
According to G. Tracy Mehan, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, this report points out the need for more effective controls to address the nation's water quality problems, especially those originating from diffuse, non-permitted sources such as runoff from agricultural and urban areas, as well as air deposition. As in the past, these non-point sources continue to dominate as sources of pollution. "EPA and the states need to work together as partners to solve this problem and implement more effective solutions," said Mehan.
EPA is working to improve identification and cleanup of impaired waters through the Clean Water Act Section 303(d) program. This program calls for participation of the public in the identification of impaired waters and in the development of pollution budgets used to restore the health of those waters. EPA is also developing a national monitoring strategy to improve water quality assessment and reporting and ensure that state water quality findings are comprehensive and comparable among states and over time. Under the Clean Water Act, states have primary responsibility for water quality monitoring.
This 2000 National Water Quality Inventory is the 13th in a series published since 1975. New EPA guidance issued in November 2001 calls for future reports to include information on impaired waters as reported by the states under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act.
The National Water Quality Inventory: 2000 Report is available at www.epa.gov/305b/2000report
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SAFE DRINKING WATER COMMISSION TO MEET NOV. 12
The Missouri Safe Drinking Water Commission will hold a public meeting at 9 a.m., Nov. 12 at the Department of Natural Resources' Conference Center, 1738 E. Elm St., Jefferson City. Items on the agenda include a drought update a discussion of the state revolving fund, and a presentation on the proposed acquisition of American Water Company by RWE.
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Public Drinking Water Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5331.
CLEAN WATER COMMISSION TO MEET NOV. 6
The Missouri Clean Water Commission will hold a public meeting at 9 a.m., Nov. 6 at the Sheraton Hawthorne Park Hotel, 2431 N. Glenstone, Springfield. Items on the agenda include legal matters, discussions on enforcement cases, reports on the state revolving fund, permit efficiency and the Missouri Total Maximum Contaminant Program.
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Water Pollution Control Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
The Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Assistance Office is offering the Environmental Management Institute (EMI) training workshop at four separate locations this fall. EMI is a two-day workshop that features a variety of environmental and government-related topics. Local government officials, city administrators, water or sewer system district managers, decision-makers, consultants and other assistance providers will find this workshop a unique opportunity to enhance their environmental knowledge and stewardship. The workshops offer up-to-date information on issues pertinent to Missouri cities, towns and villages as well as to the unincorporated areas of the state.
Topics presented at the workshops include Planning, Public Meetings, Sunshine Law, Drinking Water, Wastewater, Hazardous Waste, Solid Waste, User Charge Analysis, and Storm water. There is a registration fee for EMI, but scholarships are available. Dates and locations of the remaining sessions this year are listed below:
- Oct. 23-24 Excelsior Springs, Elms Resort and Spa
- Nov. 13-14 Rolla, University of MO Campus, University Center West
For more information call 800-361-4827.
SEVENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TO BE HELD NOV. 22-24
The Missouri Environmental Education Association and the Office of Environmental Education announce the seventh annual Conference on Environmental Education to be held Nov. 22-24, at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach. People who attend this conference will learn about innovative environmental education efforts throughout Missouri, take home environmental education activities, join other educators and obtain college credit if desired.
This conference typically draws about 350 formal and non-formal educators from across Missouri to explore current issues and trends in environmental education and share ideas for improving environmental literacy.
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-6627, or visit www.successlink.org.
RUN, WALK, HOP OR FLY TO THE FOURTH ANNUAL ENDANGERED SPECIES WALK/RUN
The fourth annual Endangered Species Walk/Run will be held Saturday, Oct. 19. There will be three races; a 10k run, 5k run and 5k walk, all on the KATY Trail in north Jefferson City. Event headquarters will be the North Jefferson City Park pavilion at the intersection of highways 63 and 54.
Participants and volunteers will receive long-sleeved T-shirts with artwork created by Conservation Department artist Mark Raithel. The artwork features species of conservation concern that live in prairies, with the natural community being highlighted at this year's race.
Registration is $15 for participants 15 and older, and $10 for those 14 and younger. Entry forms are available from Endangered Species Walk/Run, Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180, or call 573-751-4115 ext. 3807. Registration forms can also be found at www.missouriconservation.org and type in keyword: walkrun.
T-shirts are available for a donation of $18 for those wishing not to participate. Just make a note of it on the registration form.
This year's walk/run is sponsored by the Missouri departments of Natural Resources and Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Jefferson City Parks and Recreation and several other conservation organizations.
Contributions generated from the walk/run will benefit endangered species by funding recovery, research, protection and education activities. More than 500 walkers and runners participated last year to support Missouri's endangered plants and animals.
RULE UPDATE
For more information, contact the Department of Natural Resources' Air and Land Protection Division at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-6892. For the latest updates visit the Regulatory Agenda Web page.
Air Pollution Control |
Restriction of Emissions of Lead from Specific Lead Smelter-Refinery Installations |
| Rule Number: 10 CSR 010-06.120 - Lowers the blast furnace total daily throughput limit and raises the rotary melt and reverb furnace throughput limits with no net lead emissions increase. | |
| Public comment ends:
Oct. 31, 2002 |
Public hearing: Oct. 24, 2002 |
| Missouri Register Citation:
Filed, not yet published |
Department contact: 573-751-4817 |
Air Pollution Control |
Construction Permits Required |
| Rule Number: 10 CSR 010-06.060 - Removes offsets and banking requirements and instead references 10 CSR 10-6.410. | |
| Public comment ends:
Oct. 31, 2002 |
Public hearing: Oct. 24, 2002 |
| Missouri Register Citation:
Filed, not yet published |
Department contact: 573-751-4817 |
Air Pollution Control |
Emissions Banking and Trading |
| Rule Number: 10 CSR 010-06.410 - Establishes program to bank and trade air emissions offsets as required by state statute. | |
| Public comment ends:
Oct. 31, 2002 |
Public hearing: Oct. 24, 2002 |
| Missouri Register Citation:
Filed, not yet published |
Department contact: 573-751-4817 |
Air Pollution Control |
Control of Odors from Processing of Animal Matter |
| Rule Number: 10 CSR 010-05.170 - Corrects a rule citation. | |
| Public comment ends:
Oct. 31, 2002 |
Public hearing: Oct. 24, 2002 |
| Missouri Register Citation:
Filed, not yet published |
Department contact: 573-751-4817 |
Air Pollution Control |
Operating Permits |
| Rule Number 10 CSR 010-06.065 - Addresses operating permit program deficiencies identified by the Sierra Club and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | |
| Public comment ends:
Oct. 31, 2002 |
Public hearing: Oct. 24, 2002 |
| Missouri Register Citation:
27 MoReg 699 |
Department contact: 573-751-4817 |
