Protecting Missouri's Natural Resources is a monthly newsletter that informs readers about environmental issues.
SEPTEMBER 2003
PUBLIC DRINKING WATER PROGRAM DIRECTOR JERRY LANE ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
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| EPA Region 7's Bob Dunlevy (l) congratulates retiring Public Drinking Water Program Director Jerry Lane (r) at a ceremony held in Jefferson City. |
Jerry L. Lane, director of the Department of Natural Resources' Public Drinking Water Program announced his retirement effective Aug. 31, 2003.
Lane, 56, has served Missouri in various drinking water protection capacities since he began as a sanitary engineer for the Department of Health in 1969. When the Department of Natural Resources was formed in 1974, he and his responsibilities were transferred to the newly-created Public Drinking Water Program. Lane became the director of the Public Drinking Water Program in 1985 and staff director to the Safe Drinking Water Commission since its inception in 1992.
"Jerry's effective and dedicated leadership has been a tremendous benefit to the commission, the regulated community and the citizens of Missouri," said Dr. John Witherspoon, Chairman of the Safe Drinking Water Commission. "He will be sincerely missed." The commission assists the Public Drinking Water Program to ensure that all public water systems provide safe and adequate drinking water to the public.
Lane's technical knowledge, expertise and experience, coupled with his fiscally responsible management style, has enabled the program to be proactive in assisting Missouri's drinking water industry in planning and preparing for future challenges, thus resolving potential problems before they become issues.
"Under his leadership, the Public Drinking Water Program has a proud tradition of going beyond minimum requirements in seeking public input and ensuring every voice is heard," said Linda McCarty, Planner for the Public Drinking Water Program. "His negotiation and consensus-building skills have developed and fostered an attitude of cooperation and understanding between the drinking water industry and the state agency."
"I truly appreciate the opportunities advance my knowledge and career," said Lane. "I had the privilege of rubbing elbows with numerous high-caliber professionals within the drinking water field within this state and across the country and enjoyed many rewarding experiences during my career."
Lane has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the prestigious George W. Fuller Award, and the W. Victor Weir Award for "outstanding and devoted service to the public."
Lane is an active member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Waterworks Association, Missouri Water and Wastewater Conference (lifetime member), Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, Missouri Society of Professional Engineers, and Missouri Rural Water Association, and has held various offices in these organizations.
Lane's decision to retire came as a result of the 2003 legislative session when the Public Drinking Water Program director position was eliminated. As a merit system employee, Lane had the option to bump fellow employees within the department's Water Protection Soil Conservation Division, but chose to retire.
For more information, call Karla Fisher of the Department of Natural Resources' Public Drinking Water Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4827.
RECORD LOW WATER LEVELS IN MISSOURI SPELL TROUBLE
Water levels in the Missouri River are at the lowest recorded level in August since the 1950s, when the Missouri River main stem reservoirs were constructed to protect downstream states from drought.
Hermann is one of the locations that set a new record for low water flow on Aug. 21. The National Weather Service is projecting that the river will continue to fall in the coming weeks. As the river has fallen, water temperatures have increased and are close to exceeding Missouri's water quality standards for temperature.
Low water on the Missouri River comes at a time when the Mississippi River also is low. The Army Corps of Engineers cut in Missouri River reservoir releases has reduced water levels on the Mississippi River at St. Louis. The National Weather Service is projecting water levels in the Mississippi River will fall to levels not seen since the drought of the 1930s, long before the massive Missouri River reservoirs were built to ease such conditions.
One concern is the impact of low water levels on power generation. Missouri River water is used to provide coolant for power generation at several power plants along the river. AmerenUE, Missouri's largest power producer, is monitoring the river levels carefully because of concerns about potential impacts to power generation.
"Part of the reason the Missouri River is low is drought conditions that exist in the region," Missouri Gov. Bob Holden said. "However, another reason is that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is not releasing enough water to meet its obligations in the lower Missouri River."
The low flows are making an already difficult situation worse. Navigation on the Missouri River has completely halted, and the U.S. Coast Guard has issued navigation restrictions on the Mississippi River due to low water levels.
The mismanagement of Missouri River water releases to downstream states threatens the reliability of the Mississippi River at the Port of St. Louis, the third largest inland port in the United States. St. Louis is at the upper end of the "bottleneck reach" of the Mississippi River.
Reduced shipping on the Mississippi River due to lower water levels could cause millions of dollars in economic losses. "The impacts we are seeing due to low water flows underscore the importance of the debate about the management of the Missouri River," Gov. Holden said. "The Bush Administration needs to ensure its decisions do not do permanent damage to the reliability of the Mississippi River as an avenue of commerce."
For more information, please contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 573-751-1010. The Department of Natural Resources is the water resources agency for Missouri.
UNHEALTHY OZONE LEVELS RECORDED IN ST. LOUIS
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources issued a public notice for three monitoring sites in the St. Louis metropolitan area that measured unhealthy ozone concentrations (urban smog) on Aug. 26.
Hourly concentrations of ozone above 125 parts per billion are considered unhealthy and can cause problems for those with existing heart or respiratory conditions, or even healthy individuals spending extended periods of time outdoors. In the general population, an elevated ozone level can lead to irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and make breathing difficult.
Monitors recorded elevated ozone levels ranging from 134 to 141 parts per billion in the St. Louis region. The monitoring network recorded exceedances of the one-hour ozone standard at the Margaretta, South Broadway and Arnold sites.
More information on these monitoring sites is available on the department's Web site at the following addresses:
- www.dnr.mo.gov/env/esp/aqm/margar28.htm
- www.dnr.mo.gov/env/esp/aqm/hurck37.htm
- www.dnr.mo.gov/env/esp/aqm/arnold39.htm
"St. Louis attained the ozone standard earlier this year, but the work obviously needs to carry on if we are to avoid problems in the future," said Steve Mahfood, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Emissions from automobiles and industry containing volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides create urban ground-level ozone in the presence of sunlight. Higher levels of ozone are most likely to form on summer days with temperatures above 85 degrees, little or no precipitation, lots of sunshine and light winds. When several of these days occur in a row, the risk of unhealthy ozone levels is significantly increased.
St. Louis residents can help reduce ground-level ozone by following these simple tips:
- Use mass transit, carpool, bike or walk to work, school or on errands.
- Keep your car properly maintained, and see a repair technician if your "Check Engine" light is on.
- Refuel after 7 p.m., and don't top off your gas tank.
- Avoid using gasoline-powered yard machines. Use an electric or push lawn mower.
- Avoid using lighter fluid when barbecuing. Use a chimney or electric starter to light your coals.
- Become more energy efficient. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs, and turn the air conditioner up a few degrees.
To view the most current information on ozone levels on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/AQDS/index.do. For more information, call the department's Air Pollution Control Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4817.
ANNUAL
COMPLIANCE REPORT SHOWS SAFE DRINKING WATER
95 percent of Missourians receive safe water
According to a recent annual report, 95 percent of Missouri consumers received safe water free of contaminants in 2002. Contaminants have the potential to cause either short-term or long-term ill health effects. Missouri continues to meet or exceed the federal goal of 95 percent compliance since the goal was established in 1994.
The Annual Compliance Report of Missouri Public Drinking Water Systems for 2002, required by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, describes the extent of violations by Missouri's 2,803 public water systems during 2002. The majority of violations were for failure to meet the monitoring requirements of the Total Coliform Rule. Total coliform bacteria serve as an indicator that disease-causing organisms may be present. All public water systems in Missouri must test for this type of bacteria every month they dispense water to the public. In most cases where contaminant levels exceed the maximum level, non-compliance is a short-term situation because steps are taken once a violation is identified, and most supplies quickly return to the required levels.
Department Director Steve Mahfood expressed his confidence in Missouri's public drinking water systems. "We expect a lot from our water systems and require testing for more than 100 different regulated chemical, radiological and microbiological contaminants during the year," said Mahfood. "A system is to be applauded for performing all required testing and meeting all required standards."
Many public water systems perform testing beyond that required by Missouri. A public water system, by definition, provides water for human consumption to at least 15 service connections or serves an average of 25 people for at least 60 days each year. County sanitarians and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, rather than the Department of Natural Resources, carry out water testing for private wells.
There are three basic types of public water systems identified in the report.
- The first is a community system, where people live and consume the water on a daily basis. A community system could serve the residents of a large city, a rural water district or a small mobile home park or subdivision.
- Second is a non-transient non-community system, such as a school or factory, where people drink the water on a daily basis, but do not reside there.
- Third is a transient non-community system, such as a restaurant, resort or campground that would not be a regular source of drinking water for most of its pass-through customers.
The Annual Compliance Report lists all systems with maximum contaminant level violations and chronic monitoring violators of the Total Coliform Rule. A number of systems missed collecting samples for one or two months; few systems missed sampling for three or more months. Only 116, or 4.1 percent, of Missouri systems are listed as significant non-compliers for 2002.
For all violations, public water systems are required to notify their customers long before the department issues the Annual Compliance Report. The method of notification varies by the violation and system type. Water suppliers must then report back to the department how the public notice was completed and provide a copy for the system's file. In addition, each year community systems make a Consumer Confidence Report available to their customers.
The department will continue to work closely with public water systems to help them remain in or return to compliance in a timely manner when problems are found.
Free copies of the Annual Compliance Report of Missouri Public Water Systems for 2002 are available by writing to the Department of Natural Resources' Public Drinking Water Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176, or by calling 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5331. This report is also available on the Web at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/fyreports/fyreports.htm, along with reports for 1998 through 2001.
MISSOURI TAKES ADVANTAGE OF POPULAR SHOPPING WEB SITE
Internet surfers reading E-Bay may have been surprised recently to see a state agency selling a boat on the popular auction Web site.
Due to mechanical problems, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources decided to surplus the boat rather than pay for expensive repairs. The boat went through two unsuccessful state Surplus Property auctions where the highest bids were under $5,000. The state's Surplus Property decided to place the boat on E-bay to see if they were able to get a higher bid. Sure enough - the boat sold for $9,000.
The money received from the sale will be transferred to the Department of Natural Resources to reimburse the state's hazardous waste fund from the purchase of a smaller boat. The department uses the boat during environmental emergencies that occur in Missouri's waterways.
The department has established programs to oversee cleanup of pollution and to prevent further pollution through permitting and inspection of those who treat, store, transport and dispose of hazardous waste. Taxes and fees collected from businesses that generate hazardous waste in addition to state and federal money help fund the enforcement of these laws.
Two of these fees, the Hazardous Waste Category Tax and the Hazardous Waste land Disposal Tax are set to expire January 2005. Without adequate funding, the state's ability to accomplish these goals will be seriously impaired and likely unable to maintain many of the programs and services currently provided to Missouri businesses and citizens.
For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3176.
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES APPOINTS MARK MILES DIRECTOR OF MISSOURI STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has appointed Mark Miles, Jefferson City, as the director of the Missouri State Historic Preservation Office.
Miles, who was promoted to the post of assistant director in 1993, has served as the office's interim director since February. He follows Claire Blackwell, who retired as director in November. As director, Miles will oversee administration of the office's mandated responsibilities including, Certified Local Government program, federal and state Rehabilitation Tax Credits program, Missouri Historic Preservation Revolving Fund, Historic Preservation Fund grant program, National Register of Historic Places, educational and outreach activities, and Section 106 Review and Compliance.
"Mark has vast experience with historic preservation and an ability to immediately deal with the complex issues of the State Historic Preservation Office," said Sara Parker, director of the department's Outreach and Assistance Center. "In these tight federal and state budget times, the State Historic Preservation Office is examining innovative ways to enhance the value of historic preservation while promoting economic development for our communities." He will continue the partnership with the Missouri Department of Economic Development to promote and develop procedures for the implementation of Missouri's Rehabilitation Tax Credit, which has resulted in historic preservation investments that have contributed more than $575 million to the state's economy.
Miles came to the department in 1989 as a section chief in the historic preservation program. He had previously served as the project manager for Main Street Boonville. He earned bachelors and masters degrees from Western Illinois University and has two years of graduate studies in historic preservation from Ball State University.
BROWNFIELDS/VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM OVERSEES ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL CLEANUP
The Department of Natural Resources' Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program (B/VCP) has issued a certificate of completion to the Sonoco Products site in St. John, near St. Louis, for cleaning up soil contaminated with chlorinated solvents.
Brownfields are abandoned or underused industrial or commercial sites, located primarily in urban areas, that are either contaminated or thought to be contaminated. Through the voluntary cleanup program, private parties voluntarily agree to clean up a contaminated site and are offered some protection from future state enforcement action at the site, often in the form of a "no further action" letter or "certificate of completion" from the state.
Former occupants of the 20-acre Sonoco Products site used a varnish pit in the manufacture of metal fiber drum rings that resulted in the subsurface contamination. The site entered the B/VCP in 1998 for oversight of site characterization and remediation. Site assessments of the property revealed the existence of chlorinated solvents under the floor of the building in soils ranging from near surface to 22 feet below ground. The new owner of the building, Barron Realty, took several steps to cleanup the contamination:
- disposing of over 6,181 tons of contaminated soil,
- applying a hydrogen-release compound in the open excavation,
- injecting a hydrogen-release compound through the building floor to promote degredation of groundwater contaminants, and
- constructing a six-inch thick concrete cap over remaining areas of contamination within the building.
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Hazardous Waste Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3176
WETLANDS ACTUALLY REDUCE MOSQUITOES
A healthy wetland provides habitat for many unique animals - including the natural enemies of mosquitoes.
According to an Indiana Department of Natural Resources fact sheet, mosquito populations are held in check in healthy wetlands by certain birds, frogs, fish and insects that feed on mosquitoes. Wetland restoration projects can decrease mosquito populations by providing proper habitat for such predators.
For example, when Essex County, Massachusetts, restored a 1,500 acre wetland, the mosquito population dropped by 90 percent (Audubon Magazine, November-December 1996). Other states, such as New Jersey, have also been controlling mosquitoes the "natural way" by eliminating small stagnant breeding depressions and using water management practices to increase mosquito predators. These "natural methods" reduced the cost of mosquito control, over the traditional method of insecticide application, by more than 97 percent.
When designing wetland restoration projects, considerations should be made up-front for mosquito control. This does not mean that projects should contain only deep or open water. On the contrary, projects with both deep and shallow waters that are somehow connected are generally preferable. Keep in mind to design projects with a variety of water regimes to foster the development of a variety of plants and animals that will naturally include mosquito predators, such as dragonflies, damselflies, water striders, backswimmers, predaceous diving beetles, topminnows and mosquitofish.
Mosquitoes can be further reduced with the erection of birdhouses that will attract insectivorous birds such as purple martins, tree swallows, and prothonotary warblers. The addition of bat boxes is also a good idea. For example, a single little brown bat can consume 1,200 mosquito-sized insects in just one hour.
For more information, contact Billy Teels, Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetlands Science Institute, at (301) 497-5938.
ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE
The department's Environmental Emergency Response provide daily support and protection for the citizens of Missouri. On-scene coordinators are located throughout the state and available 24-hours a day, seven days a week to respond to hazardous substance spills. Some of the protection and services the department provides are:
- emergency response training and planning;
- advice on hazardous chemicals and technical expertise used to provide spill cleanup advice and oversight;
- coordinate private contractors to clean up hazardous material spills;
- ensure a proper environmental cleanup is completed;
- drug lab seizure assistance;
- Chemical Accident Preventation Program for businesses that use hazardous chemicals; and
- Homeland security issues.
Environmental Emergency Response staff use specially designed vehicles that contain protective gear, air monitoring instruments, sampling equipment and spill cleanup equipment.
The department's Environmental Emergency Response Team
is funded from a hazardous waste generator fee. The fee will expire
in December 2004 unless it is renewed. To report a hazardous substance
spill call
573-634-2436.
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| The Department determined it was safe for a crane to carefully remove chemical oxidizers from a tractor trailer involved in an accident near Scott City in southeast Missouri. |
TRACTOR TRAILER ACCIDENT INVOLVING CHEMICAL OXIDIZERS CLOSES I-55 IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
On Aug. 9, the Department's Environmental Emergency Response Section (EER) responded to a tractor-trailer accident on Interstate 55 near Scott City. The tractor-trailer was carrying 44,000 pounds of sodium percarbonate, a bleaching agent for domestic and industrial use. It is found in products used for cleaning drains, denture cleansers and multi-purpose cleaning and can be a skin irritant.
Interstate 55 was closed for an extended period of time while responders checked to see if any of the twenty-two 2,000 pound bags had been breached. EER On-Scene Coordinator Jackson Bostic and Brad Golden of the SEMO Haz-Mat Team suited up in protective clothing to monitor the trailer with instruments designed to detect chemicals in the air. No readings were obtained, which allowed them to enter the truck to make a visual observation.
It was found that even though the tractor-trailer suffered extensive damage in the accident, none of the chemical was spilled, however, the threat of rain was a major safety concern. The bags of oxidizers were off-loaded and transferred to another truck. The highway was reopened after it was determined that no release had occurred and it was safe for motorists.
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| Members of the Poplar Bluff Regional Haz-Mat team joined members of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Emergency Response unit to inspect a chemical spill at a Poplar Bluff Elementary School. |
DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO CHEMICAL SPILL AT POPLAR BLUFF KINDERGARTEN IN BUTLER COUNTY
On Sept. 9, EER was informed by the Poplar Bluff police department that Mark Twain Kindergarten Center had been vandalized and that numerous unknown chemicals, paint and oil had been released to the floor of the school. The EER-On-Scene Coordinator conducted an entry into the building along with the Poplar Bluff Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team. The entry teams found, along with the paints and oils, caustic substances, both acids and bases, creating both an inhalation and a skin absorption hazard.
After repeated entries to determine the extent of the problem a hazardous materials cleanup contractor was brought in from St. Louis. EER consulted with both the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in order to make the determination that the building was safe for students to return. Classes had been canceled for only one day.
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| Up to 4,200 gallons of gasoline spilled when a valve seal failed at this above ground storagate tank in Chariton County. The department is working to find out how much soil was contaminated. |
DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO GASOLINE SPILL IN CHARITON COUNTY
On Aug. 27, EER On-Scene Coordinators responded to an MFA bulk plant in Brunswick, Chariton County.
Approximately 4,200 gallons of 10 percent super unleaded gasoline was lost to the environment when a valve seal failed allowing the fuel to escape via an open manway from an above ground petroleum storage tank. Investigations into this incident are still on-going. Saturated soil has been excavated and off-site studies are being conducted in order to determine the extent of contamination.
GRANTS
AND LOANS
SEVENTY-FOUR COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES STORMWATER GRANTS
More than $10 million awarded
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded more than $10 million in grants to communities across the state for stormwater improvements.
"Residents across Missouri benefit when communities make these types of repairs and improvements," said Steve Mahfood, director of the Department of Natural Resources. "These communities are developing effective, site-specific water management plans. The grant money helps them put their plans into action."
Funding for the grants comes from a bond issue approved by Missouri voters in 1988 and 1998 for improvements to wastewater treatment, public drinking water and stormwater systems.
Communities receiving a grant from the department include the following:
Cape Girardeau area awarded $187,405 in grants
- Cape Girardeau - $96,438 to replace two undersized flood prone culverts.
- Cape Girardeau County - $90,967 to construct channel stabilization structure in Hubble Creek.
Central Missouri area awarded $624,499 in grants
- Boone County - received $31,201 and $31,748, respectively, to remove a corroded, undersized culvert and install a single span arch structure and to install a closed storm drainage system to relieve flooding. In addition, the county received $5,178 to remove three corroded undersized culverts and install a single span arch structure.
- Centralia - $44,000 to install 3,495 feet of storm sewer mains to replace ditches.
- Columbia - $87,500 to construct a stormwater detention basin. In addition, Columbia received $28,514 and $114,600 respectively to replace and extend old storm water systems.
- Gerald - $8,000 to install new stormwater piping to alleviate flooding.
- Jefferson City - $194,782 for Phase IV of a stormwater master plan for Jefferson City and urbanized areas immediately adjacent to the city.
- Rocheport - $31,976 to install a new storm sewer system.
- Sullivan - $47,000 to construct a new storm sewer system.
Kansas City area awarded nearly $3 million in grants
- Blue Springs - $131,170 for the removal and replacement of undersized storm sewer system components to reduce flooding.
- Cass County - $65,000 for Phase I of a comprehensive stormwater master plan for the unincorporated areas of Cass County.
- Gladstone - $71,928 to replace undersized pipes and sub-standard inlets and $26,400 to replace undersized pipes with box culverts, replace curb inlets and clean the channel upstream.
- Harrisonville - $108,465 grant to replace a flood prone culvert and provide bank stabilization and $3,129 to install a stormwater collection system in the Muddy Creek watershed.
- Independence - $309,067 for its Fiscal Year 2003 Projects List. The list includes a variety of construction projects that will reduce the severity of flooding. Other projects will help eliminate sinkholes, sediment intrusion and settled sidewalks and control erosion. Several hydrologic studies also will be performed.
- Jackson County - $89,911 to develop a comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan for the county.
- Kansas City - $1.2 million for its Fiscal Year 2003 Stormwater Project List for projects related to storm water control including a stormwater master plan to study sewer systems and waterways.
- Lee's Summit - $196,877 to replace corrugated metal pipe with reinforced concrete pipe to alleviate flooding.
- Liberty - $36,400 to replace an undersized and open channel system with a new pipe-inlet system, a $71,565 grant for the installation of piping and inlets to an existing storm water system and a $3,823 grant to extend an existing storm sewer system.
- Oak Grove - $89,912 for the construction of a drainage and collection system.
- Platte County - $106,821 to replace an undersized bridge and $1,513 for the replacement of an undersized culvert.
- Pleasant Hill - $28,000 and $14,643 respectively to replace a flood prone culvert and install new storm water inlets.
- Pleasant Valley - $66,514 to replace a culvert and for channel improvements upstream on West Branch Creek.
- Raytown - $82,903 to add storm sewers in an unimproved neighborhood to alleviate flood damage to property. Raytown received another grant of $25,034 for pipe and ten storm sewer structures.
- Sugar Creek - $13,325 to divert drainage water and alleviate flooding.
- St. Joseph - $215,000 for the Blacksnake Creek feasibility Study for a detention basin.
St. Louis area awarded $5,281,293 in grants
- Arnold - $247,803 to modify a culvert, reduce flooding and erosion and enhance storm water capacity.
- Augusta - $28,500 for construction of new stormwater sewers at Lower and Main streets.
- Cottleville - also received $8,594 for Phase I of the Dardenne
Creek Watershed Study.
- Dardenne Prairie - also received $4,297 for Phase I of the Dardenne Creek Watershed Study.
- Festus - $40,975 to install a paved concrete channel in an eroding and overgrown stream.
- Hillsboro - $105,667 to replace an undersized box culvert and install stormwater inlets.
- Jefferson County - $146,000 to replace a low water bridge.
- Lake Saint Louis - $50,000 to correct storage and flooding in the southeast quarter of the city.
- Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District - nearly $3.8 million for stormwater projects throughout St. Louis City and areas in St. Louis County. The projects will eliminate street flooding, basement backups and provide stormwater improvements. Communities include, Manchester, Creve Coeur, Warson Woods, Chesterfield, Crestwood, Glendale, Town and Country, Valley Park, Brenkenridge Hills, Rock Hill, Wildwood, Oakland, Northwoods, Ellsville, Crystal Lake Park, Eureka, Webster Groves, Sycamore Hills, Bridgeton, Richmond Heights, Fenton, Maryland Heights and Calverton Park, as well as 22 projects in unincorporated areas within St. Louis County.
- New Haven - $37,000 for the construction of a stormwater collection system including piping, catch basins and appurtenances.
- O'Fallon - $25,000 to reroute the stormwater sewer system to relieve localized flooding and $17,188 and $75,000 respectively for a phased study of Dardenne Creek watershed.
- Pacific - $61,501 to construct a stormwater drainage system in a flood prone area at Fourth and Elm streets.
- St. Charles - $164,565 for the installation of 2,000 feet of storm sewer pipe.
- St. Charles County - $17,187 for Phase I of the Dardenne Creek Watershed Study.
- St. Peters - $140,175 for the Dardenne Creek Bank and Channel Stabilization Projects.
- Union - $15,000 for Phase I improvements to an existing stormwater system and the installation of storm sewer piping.
- Washington - $45,050 to install new curb and guttering, stormwater inlets and piping. Washington also received $16,100 to install new curbs and $26,250 for channel improvements and bank stabilization in a flood prone area.
- Wentzville - $235,203 for the construction of a regional detention basin to relieve downstream flooding.
Springfield Area awarded nearly $1.2 million in grants
- Carl Junction - $175,294 for various storm water projects as outlined in Carl Junction's stormwater master plan.
- Greene County - $242,301 for the Greene County Fiscal Year 2003 Project List for stormwater projects that include the buyout of 11 homes and the purchase of land for a riparian corridor.
- Joplin - $40,233 for an extension to an existing stormwater drainage system. In addition, Joplin received $70,073 for Phase I of an extension to an existing storm water drainage system.
- Republic - $9,189 for the construction of approximately 620 feet of box culvert.
- Springfield - $413,523 for storm water construction projects on their Fiscal Year 2003 Project List to be completed as funds permit.
- Taney County - $220,890 for four storm water projects to alleviate road flooding, drain standing water, develop a storm water control plan, connect existing storm drains, and install box culverts.
For more information, contact Ann Crawford, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Water Pollution Control Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102 or phone 573-751-1302.
MISSOURI SAFE DRINKING
WATER COMMISSION APPROVES $72 MILLION IN LOW-INTEREST LOANS
38 communities will use money for drinking water improvement
projects
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has approved $72 million in low-interest loans to 38 Missouri communities to improve public drinking water systems. The department is able to provide these loans to communities and not-for-profit non-community water systems through the drinking water revolving loan fund.
The loans range in size from $94,000 to nearly $9.3 million. "The loans will fund a variety of improvements to drinking water sources, treatment, distribution systems and security," said Steve Mahfood, director of the Department of Natural Resources. "The drinking water state revolving fund will assist water supplies in financing improvements to meet state and federal drinking water standards and to ensure the drinking water system is safe and adequate."
The department recently amended the intended use plan, which describes how the funds will be distributed. Special priority considerations for drinking water disaster relief projects were included in the plan. The Missouri Safe Drinking Water Commission reviews the plan and must approve it before it can be carried out. The commission approved the plan on July 24.
State law devotes some loans made under the drinking water revolving fund to small water systems. Public water systems that serve 3,300 or fewer people receive at least 20 percent of the available loan funds. An additional 15 percent goes to systems that serve 3,301 to 9,999 people. The remainder is available to public water systems of any size.
The communities chosen to receive funds are:
Central Missouri area
Boone County Consolidated #1, Fulton in Callaway County; Linn in Osage
County; Osage Beach
in Miller County.
Kansas City Area
Adrian and Rich Hill in Bates County; Archie in Cass County; Andrew
County #3; Knob Noster in Johnson County; Clinton County #1; Cass/Bates
Counties #12; Cleveland in Cass County; Ray County #1 and #2; Bates
City and Lake Lafayette in Lafayette County; Gower in Clinton County;
and Lee's Summit in Jackson County.
Northeast Missouri
Adair County #1; Bowling Green in Pike County; Clarence Cannon Whole
Water Commission in Ralls County; Glasgow and New Franklin in Howard
County; Green City in Sullivan County; Livingston County #1; Moberly
in Randolph County; and Paris in Monroe County.
St. Louis Area
Franklin County #1; Wellsville in Montgomery County.
Southeast Missouri
Portageville in New Madrid County; and Ironton in Iron County.
Southwest Missouri
Bolivar in Polk County; Marshfield in Webster County; Pineville in
McDonald County.; Seneca in Newton County; Taney County #2; Jasper
County #1 and Carl Junction in Jasper County.
For more information or to obtain copies of the intended use plan, contact Stephen Jones of the department's Public Drinking Water Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5331. Written requests can be sent to Department of Natural Resources, Public Drinking Water Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176.
DEPARTMENT AWARDS MORE THAN $500,000 TO AREA COMMUNITIES AND BUSINESSES TO DIVERT WASTE FROM LANDFILLS
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded $573,249 to area businesses and communities to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
The department awarded $79,408 to Habitat for Humanity Kansas City Inc. for personnel expenses, a flat-bed truck and a banding machine for banding lumber. Habitat for Humanity Kansas City has been operating a deconstruction program in Kansas for the past two years, and will receive a permit to operate in Missouri this year, having met the two-year experience requirement. To bring this expertise to Missouri, funds are needed for additional personnel and equipment to operate the Missouri Deconstruction Services Program. This program is projected to divert 82 tons of construction and demolition material from Missouri landfills during this project. Deconstruction is a process similar to demolition, but rather than on-site destruction, crushing and removing the debris for possible landfill disposal, deconstruction is done more carefully so reuseable materials such as plumbing, framing, windows, doors and other materials are recovered for resale. This process helps to divert significant amounts of material from landfills.
Mid-America Regional Council Solid Waste Management District - $102,000 to administer waste reduction and recycling projects in Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties. The district's executive board, chaired by Scott Cahail, is responsible for administering the funds, which are disbursed as subgrants to projects within the district based upon the recommendations of the district's executive board. This distribution method allows each district to fund projects that compliment or enhance other waste reduction and recycling activities with financial assistance from the Solid Waste Management Fund.
St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste Management District - $20,000 to the St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties. This money will be used to fund operational costs, activities related to the district's solid waste management plan and operation of the district.
City of Columbia - $50,000 for the purchase of a glass pulverizing system to make various sizes of glass available to assist the Public Works Department in reusing a variety of glass. The purchase also eliminates transportation costs because the product will no longer need to be transported to other processors. The Columbia Material Recovery Facility now can process the glass, which will benefit local end-uses such as paving projects, utility trench backfill, landfill cell liner material, road base, etc. The city expects this project to divert 1,500 tons of glass from the waste stream.
Fred Weber Inc. of Maryland Heights - $125,000 for a tub grinder, which is a large, open-topped grinder that takes large objects, such as tree stumps or pallets and shreds them into mulch. This project will enable Fred Weber Inc. to increase the diversion of construction and demolition wastes from its landfill to its concrete mixing facility, six asphalt production facilities and north quarry composting facility. With the addition of a tub grinder, daily diversion of 450 tons of construction and demolition wastes could increase by an additional 25 tons per day.
Haz-Waste Inc. of St. Louis - nearly $10,000 to perform a Waste Assessment Study to determine how Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hopsitals can reduce the amount of waste generated and maximize resource recovery. Haz-Waste Inc. will examine and evaluate Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children's hospitals' current waste practices and provide them with opportunities for improvement. Haz-Waste Inc. also will submit a final report with recommendations for implementation. The department awarded a similar grant to Haz-Waste Inc. to examine and evaluate St. Louis University's current practices and assist the university in finding opportunities for reducing the amount of waste generated and maximizing resource recovery.
Southeast Missouri State University of Cape Girardeau - $20,000 for construction of a building and purchase of a baler and forklift to assist the university's recycling efforts. This project will help Southeast Missouri State University put into operation the recommendations of a department-funded waste audit in 2002. The audit highlighted the need for a facility to process recyclables, which will prevent them from being exposed to the weather, thereby increasing their value. The new facility will be used for processing the recyclable materials and also will house the new equipment that will be purchased.
Pike County Sheltered Workshop Inc. of Bowling Green - $47,000 for two recycling trailers and a new pickup truck. Pike County Sheltered Workshop picks up recyclable items free of charge from area businesses, government offices and schools. With the success of this program, area residents began asking the workshop to provide a recycling program for individual households. By placing one recycling trailer at Clarksville and another at Louisiana, the workshop will be able to collect the recyclables, unload them at the recycling center and return them the same day - thereby providing dropoff service to area residents. Since the workshop started its recycling program in 1996, area recycling has increased almost six fold from 240,000 pounds to 1.3 million pounds in 2002.
Bird Dog Industries Inc. of Pacific - $20,000 for recycling equipment, computer systems and for the construction of a company Web site. Bird Dog Industries will change its manufacturing processes to accommodate the recycling of several waste streams (office paper and toner cartridges, cardboard and pallets and contaminated shop towels). Office paper and toner cartridges will be replaced with a paper-free business operation via e-commerce on the Web site, and any remaining paper will be shredded and used as packaging material. Pallets will be repaired and reused. Cardboard from receiving will be used with stretch film as packing materials for shipping. Contaminated shop towels will be washed, dried and reused.
Educational Textbook Services (ETS) of Holden - $50,000 for the construction of a new building to provide additional storage. This will allow ETS to increase its collection of books, plastics and ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and improve the marketability of these items. ETS is an established textbook-buying business. Since December 2000, ETS has been providing service to schools to recycle obsolete textbooks, targeting paper products and reducing the amount of these materials entering Missouri landfills. In 2002, ETS also began accepting additional recyclable items such as plastics, tin, aluminum, copper and brass. Space has now become critical to successfully operating the recycling programs and processing of materials. A covered and climate-controlled storage facility will sustain marketability of materials to end market mills.
St. Louis Refuse Division - $49,865 to purchase roll-off bins, bulk shed and educational kiosks. The goal in St. Louis is to increase the quantity and quality of recyclable materials, and improve the efficiency of existing drop-off recycling sites. The roll-off bins will add collection of corrugated cardboard and paperboard, increasing recovery of recyclables by more than 1,000 tons per year. The bulk sheds will provide clean and dry storage for recyclables, which will increase their market value. The educational kiosks will provide information to residents about recycling and its benefits.
"We're always pleased to be able to support efforts that not only reduce the amount of waste making its way into our landfills but also help Missouri's businesses grow," said Steve Mahfood, director of the Department of Natural Resources.
These grants are funded by the Solid Waste Management
Fund, which is made up of disposal fees collected for each ton of
waste taken to Missouri landfills or to transfer stations that transfer
waste out of state. For more information, call the department's Solid
Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827
or 573-751-5401.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Visit Calendar
of Events for a complete list of Department of Natural Resources'
events through the end of the calendar year.
SOLID WASTE ADVISORY BOARD TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING
OCT. 1
The Missouri Solid Waste Advisory Board will hold a public meeting
at 1 p.m., Oct. 1, at the Department of Natural Resources' Conference
Center, 1738 E. Elm St., Jefferson City.
For more information, call the Department of Natural
Resources' Solid Waste Management Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401.
HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT COMMISSION TO MEET
OCT. 2
The Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Commission will hold a public
meeting at 9 a.m., Oct. 2, at the Department of Natural Resources'
Conference Center, 1738 E. Elm St., Jefferson City.
For more information, call the Department of Natural
Resources' Hazardous Waste Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-3176.
150th ANNIVERSARY OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND
RESOURCE ASSESSMENT DIVISION TO BE OBSERVED OCT. 15
The 150th anniversary of the Geological Survey and Resource Assessment
Division will be observed at 6 p.m., Oct. 15 at the division's offices
located on Fairgrounds Road in Rolla.
The Geological Survey's heritage dates back to 1853 when Governor Price created the first Geological Survey in Missouri. It's role has been information and data intensive, science-oriented and focused on meeting the technical needs of Missouri citizens; especially in the areas of geology, hydrology, surveying and dam construction.
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Geological Survey and Resource Assessment Division at 800-361-4827 or 573-368-2116.
MISSOURI WATER QUALITY COORDINATING COMMITTEE
TO MEET OCT. 21
The Missouri Water Quality Coordinating Committee will hold a public
meeting at 10 a.m., Oct. 21 at the Columbia Environmental Research
Center Conference Building, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia.
For more information, call the Department of Natural
Resources' Water Pollution Control Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-7428.
CLEAN WATER COMMISSION TO MEET OCT 22
The Missouri Clean Water Commission will hold a public meeting at
9 a.m., Oct. 22, at the Baymont Inn, 3501 Bagnell Dam Boulevard, Lake
Ozark.
For more information, call the Department of Natural
Resources' Water Pollution Control Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-6721.
AIR CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO MEET OCT. 30
The Missouri Air Conservation Commission will hold a public meeting
at 9 a.m., Oct. 30 at the Holiday Inn North, 2720 N. Glenstone, Springfield.
For more information, call the Department of Natural
Resources' Air Pollution Control Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-4817.
SOLID WASTE ADVISORY BOARD TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING NOV. 5
The Missouri Solid Waste Advisory Board will hold a public meeting at 1 p.m., Nov. 5, at the Department of Natural Resources' Conference Center, 1738 E. Elm St., Jefferson City.
For more information, call the Department of Natural
Resources' Solid Waste Management Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401.
MISSOURI SAFE DRINKING WATER COMMISSION TO MEET NOV. 13
The Missouri Safe Drinking Water Commission will hold a public meeting at 10 a.m., Nov. 13, at the Department of Natural Resources' Conference Center, 1738 E. Elm St., Jefferson City.
For more information, call the Department of Natural
Resources' Public Drinking Water Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-5331.
MISSOURI WATER QUALITY CONTROL COORDINATING COMMITTEE TO MEET NOV. 18
The Missouri Water Quality Control Coordinating Committee will meet at 10 a.m., Nov. 18, in Room 470 at the Governor Office Building, 200 Madison St., Jefferson City.
For more information, call the Department of Natural
Resources' Water Pollution Control Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-7428.
TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD (TMDL) POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO MEET NOV. 18
The Total Maximum Daily Load Policy Advisory Committee will meet at 1 p.m., Nov. 18, in Room 470 at the Governor Office Building, 200 Madison St., Jefferson City.
For more information, call the Department of Natural
Resources' Water Pollution Control Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-7428.
LAND RECLAMATION COMMISSION TO MEET NOV. 19
The Land Reclamation Commission will have a public meeting at 10 a.m., Nov. 19, at the Department of Natural Resources' Conference Center, 1738 E. Elm St., Jefferson City.
For more information, call the Department of Natural
Resources' Land Reclamation Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-4041.
S.O.S. SAVE OUR SOIL
Is erosion and sediment control from construction sites a problem in your area? Are you losing valuable topsoil and sending it downstream? Are you looking for a pre-packaged training session that addresses this problem and can be delivered at your location?
We may have the answer for you. The Department of Natural Resources Environmental Assistance Office (EAO) is offering a free workshop that can assist contractors, developers and government agencies in your region in planning for and putting into place workable sediment and erosion control practices. The training is free and EAO will provide all the instructional material.
The purpose of the two to three hour workshop is to provide an overview of urban erosion, discuss permitting and regulatory requirements and present real-life construction site erosion control examples for discussion and evaluation. The focus is on Best Management Practices that can be adopted and adapted for particular situations. The interactive format allows an exchange of ideas between attendees. All participants are provided with copies of the valuable reference manual, Protecting Water Quality, A field guide to erosion, sediment and storm water best management practices for development sites.
DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD WORKSHOPS FOR DAM OWNERS AND ENGINEERS
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced this week that staff engineers will no longer inspect dams that are regulated in the State of Missouri. This change in procedure is a result of budget reductions in fiscal year 2004. Prior to July 1, inspections were provided free of charge by registered professional engineers from the department's Dam and Reservoir Safety Program of the Geological Survey and Resource Assessment Division. It is now the dam owner's responsibility to hire a qualified engineer to complete an inspection report and application for permit renewal. The department mailed an explanation of these changes the first week of August to the owners of specific dams regulated by the state.
To assist dam owners with this change, the department's Dam Safety Program will conduct workshops in several different areas throughout Missouri to provide guidance and assist both the public and consultants with compliance. These workshops will be open to those interested, including dam owners and engineers. Participants will be provided a checklist of items to be addressed in the permit renewal inspections, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.
The department's goal is to make the transition as easy as possible. Should dam owners have questions or need further technical assistance, staff is available to answer questions at 573-368-2175 or visit our Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/damsft.
EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND RIVER CLEANUP EVENTS
The Department of Natural Resources will be offering a series of educational workshops for teachers and interested citizens focussing on the function and importance of the big river systems in America. The workshops will be held Sept. 28 and 29 in St. Louis.
The workshops will provide information on watersheds, impact on the rivers from human activity and river history, as well as providing details of some of the unique activities and uses of the large river systems of our nation. The workshops are also designed to add to the growing stewardship efforts that are developing on our big river systems.
In order to observe the dynamic and varied Mississippi River first-hand, the workshops will occur directly on the river in cooperation with Living Lands and Waters, a river protection and education group. A portion of each workshop will be aboard the floating classroom, culminating in the use of smaller boats to visit river sites. Participants can expect to expand their knowledge concerning big rivers as well as receive educational materials on big rivers to take back to their classrooms, civic groups or youth organizations. Living Lands and Waters works in cooperation with local citizens and volunteers to clean up the trash from America's big river systems. You can find out more about the group's efforts and how to get involved at www.cleanrivers.com. For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-2452.
RULES UPDATE
The Regulatory Agenda contains all environmental rule actions in progress and rule actions effective within the last three months within the Department of Natural Resources.
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 |
Control of Petroleum Liquid Storage, Loading and Transfer |
| Rule Number: 010-02.260 - Adds omitted vapor line requirements to perform proper vapor recovery during fuel delivery at gasoline stations as intended by the rule. | |
| Public comment ends: Nov. 6, 2003 |
Public hearing: Oct. 30, 2003 |
| Missouri Register Citation:
Filed, not yet published |
Department contact: 573-751-4817 |
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Public service announcements may be downloaded for use by any newspaper, magazine, newsletter, radio stations, etc. The department will continue to add new announcements to the Web each month. If you would like to receive new announcements by e-mail as they are made available, please contact kathy.deters@dnr.mo.gov and provide your publication name and e-mail address.
REGIONAL OFFICE MAP
Department of Natural Resources' Regional Offices provide field inspections, complaint investigation and front-line troubleshooting, problem solving and technical assistance on environmental and emergencies for the following programs:
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INTERNET ADDRESSES
Missouri Department of Natural Resources at www.dnr.mo.gov
Division of Environmental Quality at www.dnr.mo.gov/env
Air Pollution Control Program at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp
Division of Geology and Land Survey at www.dnr.mo.gov/geology/
Energy Center at www.dnr.mo.gov/energy
Environmental Services Program at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/esp
Gateway Clean Air Program at www.gatewaycleanair.com
Hazardous Waste Program at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp
Historic Preservation at www.dnr.mo.gov/shpo/index.html
Land Reclamation Program at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/lrp
Soil and Water Conservation Program at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swcp
Solid Waste Management Program at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp
State Parks, Division of at www.mostateparks.com
Water Protection Program - Drinking Water Branch at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp
Water Protection Program - Water Pollution Branch at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp
SUBSCRIBE ON THE WEB TO READ PROTECTING MISSOURI'S NATURAL RESOURCES NEWSLETTER ONLINE
Sign up now to receive a monthly e-mail reminder and link to the online version of Protecting Missouri’s Natural Resources newsletter. A subscription form is now available on the Web at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/pmnr/subscribe_pmnr.htm. People who subscribe will receive an e-mail containing a link to the latest issue of the newsletter.
If you subscribe to receive the online newsletter, please let us know to cancel your current hard copy subscription to save printing and mailing costs associated with the newsletter.
Contact us at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-6892 or send an e-mail to cancel your hard copy subscription to elisha.bonnot@dnr.mo.gov.
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