Protecting Missouri's Natural Resources is a monthly newsletter that informs readers about environmental issues.

FEBRUARY 2004

PERMIT PROCESS SIMPLIFIED

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has accepted the state's water protection conditions for 404 Nationwide Permits for projects impacting waters of the state. This achievement means that Water Quality Certifications (often called 401 Certifications) for certain routine projects with relatively minor impacts are automatically issued as part of the corps' issuance of a 404 Nationwide Permit. This will help ensure that permit applicants receive a quicker response. It will also reduce the number of staff hours needed to process affected projects.

The corps had rejected the state's water protection conditions for Nationwide Permits in spring 2002. Since that time, department staff processed all 404 permits by issuing individual certifications and assessing a fee.

With the acceptance of these 16 Nationwide Permits in Missouri, the corps will simply be able to attach the state's certification conditions to the Nationwide Permit upon issuance. The applicant will then able to proceed with the project and know all the conditions that apply up front.

The department estimates that approximately 90 percent of the Nationwide Permits (roughly 900 projects each year) will be sped up by the improvement. This will allow staff to spend more time working on projects that present a greater potential for impact to the environment. Staff will also be able to spend more time working with citizens who are planning projects impacting waters of the state.

DEPARTMENT INVITES PUBLIC TO COMMENT ON HOLCIM DRAFT AIR PERMIT

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has placed a draft air pollution permit for the proposed Holcim cement plant on public notice. The facility is proposed for a location south of St. Louis in Ste. Genevieve County.

The department is soliciting public comment on this draft air permit until 5 p.m. on March 29, 2004. Please send written comments to Leanne Tippett, Air Pollution Control director, Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176.

The department will host a public hearing on the draft air pollution permit from 7 until 9 p.m., on Monday, March 29, 2004, at the Elks Lodge, 190603 Molasses Hollow Road (U.S. Highway 61 and Molasses Hollow Road), Ste. Genevieve.

The draft air pollution permit is a Prevention of Significant Deterioration permit. This permit is necessary under federal law to construct the proposed cement manufacturing plant, quarry, materials handling harbor on the Mississippi River and coal preparation plant.

The law also requires that Holcim submit an application for another air pollution permit, known as a Part 70 Operating Permit, within 12 months of commencing operations at the plant. The permit application addresses a variety of air pollution sources, including an on-site quarry, raw materials processing, an in-line kiln/raw mill system, a coal mill system, product processing and the materials receiving and shipping systems. The draft air permit would require Holcim to install the Best Available Control Technology. In addition, Holcim has agreed to use an Innovative Control Technology (Selective Non-catalytic Reduction) to help reduce the air emissions of nitrogen oxides, a component of ozone.

The department has already issued several permits including a Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification, a Land Reclamation Permit Expansion, a Missouri State Operating Permit for storm water discharge, a Dam Safety Construction Permit and Construction Authorization for a nontransient-noncommunity drinking water supply well. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has also issued a Clean Water Act Section 404 and a Rivers and Harbors Act Section 10 permit for the project. Ste. Genevieve County has issued a Floodplain/Floodway Development Permit for the project.

The draft permit is available on the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/PermitPublicNotices.htm. A copy of the application, the preliminary determination and other related materials are also available for public review at the following locations:

People interested in speaking at the public hearing may send requests to speak at the hearing to Leanne Tippett at the address above or fax them to 573-751-2706. Citizens may also submit requests to speak at the hearing the night of the hearing.

People requiring special services or accommodations to attend the meeting can make arrangements by calling 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4817. Hearing-impaired individuals may contact the program through Relay Missouri at 800-735-2966. For more information concerning the hearing, please call the Air Pollution Control Program's New Source Review Unit at 573-751-4817.

DEPARTMENT STREAMLINES BASIC OPERATING PERMIT PROGRAM

the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Air Pollution Control Program is streamlining efforts to revise the Basic Operating Permit Program. Revisions to the program will result in a drastic reduction in paperwork for small sources. The changes benefit industry and permitting authorities without affecting Missouri's air quality.

Program revisions will require the department to amend the operating permits regulations. The proposed revisions to the regulation for basic sources include:

• The treatment of fugitive emissions with regards to applicability
• An installation equipment log for the record keeping requirement
• A clarification of permit amendments and modifications
• The removal of the annual compliance certification, and
• A revised operating permit notification.

The department is hosting workshops to help regulated facilities' staff better understand program changes. Workshops will be held in Jefferson City, Kansas City, Springfield and St. Louis. The revised operating permit notification forms are being used and distributed in the workshops, which the department's Environmental Assistance Office will present. For information on the workshops and availability, visit the Web page at www.dnr. mo.gov/env/apcp/MOEISwsSched.htm or contact the department's Environmental Assistance Office at 800-361-4827.

The revised Basic Operating Permit Notification consists of a four-page report.

Revisions to the Basic Operating Permit Program are the result of a joint effort by the Air Program Advisory Forum and the department's Air Pollution Control Program. The Air Program Advisory Forum is comprised of stakeholders from industry groups, individual companies and environmental groups.

Because the changes to the program require rule amendments, the department asked the Missouri Air Conservation Commission to grant a variance from two sections of the rule. On Dec. 4, 2003, the commission granted a variance from the Basic Operating Permit requirements of 10 CSR 10-6.065(4)(G), Notification Contents, and (4)(I), Compliance Reporting. Based on the variance, the basic installations will be able to use the revised notification forms and are not required to submit an annual compliance certification requirement for 2003, which would have been due on April 1, 2004.

For more information on the changes to the Basic Operating Permits Program, please contact the Air Pollution Control Program at 573-751-4817 or 800-361-4827.

CLEAN WATER COMMISSION DISCUSSES PROPOSED CHANGES TO MISSOURI WATER QUALITY STANDARDS

During a conference call Jan. 7, 2004, the Clean Water Commission directed the staff of Missouri Department of Natural Resources to begin finalizing language for proposed revisions to Missouri's Water Quality Standards.

These changes must be announced by rule and include:

• Designating all water bodies for whole body contact recreation use. The change also provides permitted facilities a grace period to comply with the revised standard. The commission also directed staff to develop a protocol for a Use Attainability Analysis for exemption from the rule. The protocol will not be incorporated in the revision.
• Clarifying high flow exemptions from bacterial standards by limiting when that exemption applies.
• Removing the allowance for mixing zones in low flow streams.
• Developing antidegradation implementation procedures. (The department will not incorporate the procedures into the immediate rule changes.)

For more information on the proposed revisions to Missouri's Water Quality Standards call the department at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.

DEPARTMENT RECEIVES APPLICATION FOR CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE FACILITY IN JACKSON COUNTY

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has received an application from CST, LLP to construct a material recovery facility in Kansas City.

The proposed facility, which would be located between the Blue River and I-435 at 7801 E. Truman Road, would be used to recover reusable materials from the construction and demolition waste stream that would be hauled to the facility. The site is located in an industrial area of Kansas City.

A former manufacturer used the site to store various brass products. After the manufacturer closed the facility in 1985, the site was placed on the national Superfund listing. Contaminated material was removed, stabilized and shipped off site for disposal; however, contaminated foundry wastes remain under a portion of the site. Before any future development can occur on the site, the state is required to consider its former uses.

The department reviews all applications submitted by cities, counties and private owners to ensure that solid waste transfer stations are properly designed and constructed. Other technical factors that protect Missouri's environment are also examined. A copy of the permit application package has been placed for public review in the Kansas City Public Library, 6000 Wilson Road.

Questions and comments regarding the proposed transfer station or the department's role in regulating solid waste transfer stations may be sent to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Solid Waste Management Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 or call Frank Dolan at 573-751-5401. For more information on solid waste issues, visit our Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp.

DEPARTMENT RELEASES TIRE FEE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has created several public service announcements (PSAs) aimed at informing the public about the expiration of the state's waste tire fee.

These PSAs, available to broadcast and print outlets throughout the state, remind consumers about the expiration of the 50-cent per tire fee that was used to fund the state's waste tire cleanup efforts. Scripts also are available online for outlets that would like to use their own announcers to record these PSAs or to use the PSAs in print. The audio files and scripts are available on the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/audio or by calling 573-522-2343.

HAZARDOUS WASTE CATEGORY AND LAND DISPOSAL FEES DUE TO EXPIRE

Hundreds of hazardous waste sites in Missouri require cleanup. Thousands of Missouri businesses generate, transport and manage hazardous waste. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources' duty is to protect the health and safety of Missourians and their environment from these situations. The Hazardous Waste Category Fee and Land Disposal Fee fund the department's prevention and cleanup efforts. These fees are paid annually by businesses and individuals that generate hazardous waste. A portion of the fees is required to obtain federal funds. Unfortunately, these fees will expire Jan. 1, 2005, unless extended this legislative session.

If the fees expire, the state could lose 48 percent of its income for hazardous waste regulation, permitting and cleanup oversight. Such a loss could cause the state to be faced with difficult choices about what services it can maintain. Missouri citizens, businesses, industry and local, state and federal government may feel the consequences of losing the fees in the following ways:

The state may lose its resources to enforce federal and state hazardous waste laws that protect Missourians. If this happens:

• The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) program would be turned over to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA may lack adequate funds for some time. Environmental response times permit review and issuance, and site cleanups may be delayed.
• Businesses will lose the compliance assistance and flexibility provided by the department.
• Higher federal penalties will be assessed.
• The level playing field for businesses would be threatened.
• The state's oversight at many contaminated site cleanups under RCRA and Superfund could be reduced and in some cases eliminated. The pace of many ongoing cleanups would slow down.
• Delays in cleanups could cause lost opportunities for revitalization at RCRA and Superfund sites. This may prevent redevelopment and economic growth resulting in urban sprawl and farmland depletion.
• The department may be unable to pay its share of EPA's Superfund cleanups in Missouri. If this happens, EPA could withdraw support for cleaning up Superfund sites, which includes lead-contaminated sites.
• The loss of the revenue could result in the loss of the environmental emergency response (EER) program. If this happens: Missouri's hazardous substance spill hotline would be eliminated.
• On-site environmental emergency response assistance would be eliminated.

The department helps Missouri businesses comply with hazardous waste regulations and produce less waste. The cooperation and success of working with businesses, local officials and citizens promotes a healthy economy and environment. The fee extension will help the department continue to work with citizens, businesses and local officials to protect Missourians from the dangers of hazardous wastes and substances.

For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Hazardous Waste Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3176 or visit www.dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp.

GOV. HOLDEN ANNOUNCES NEW METH INITIATIVE

Gov. Bob Holden announced a new statewide initiative on methamphetamine education, prevention and treatment in Missouri and created, by executive order, two new task forces to bring new expertise and focus on prevention and treatment. In addition, Holden reorganized an existing task force to deal with the environmental challenges facing law enforcement officials and others who deal with hazardous materials related to methamphetamine control.

Last year, Missouri lead the nation in meth lab seizures - shutting down nearly 2,800 meth-producing labs. However, law enforcement statistics show an exponential rise in the number of meth labs in the state.

"We are doing an excellent job shutting down these meth labs, but we need to educate and prevent children from taking the drug. We also must treat those who are already addicted," Holden said.

The new task forces, the Missouri Methamphetamine Education and Prevention Task Force and the Missouri Methamphetamine Treatment Task Force, will be comprised of specialists in the fields of education and treatment and will advise on the best practices in education and treatment. Holden reorganized the existing Clandestine Lab Task Force and renamed it the Methamphetamine Enforcement and Environmental Protection Task Force, expanding its focus to issues dealing with officer and environmental safety.

Holden also announced he willu reconvene in April a Methamphetamine Summit first started under Gov. Carnahan's administration in 1997. Task force members will meet representatives from local and state law enforcement agencies as well as educators, prosecutors, judges, community leaders, physicians, corrections officials and treatment specialist to address the methamphetamine challenge.

Methamphetamines present unique dangers from other illegal narcotic drugs including the low cost to produce, extreme addictiveness and the propensity to incite violent or paranoid behavior. Environmental damage resulting from the production of meth include chemical contamination of the air long after the meth has been produced, harming children, family members and law enforcement officials.

The Missouri Methamphetamine Education and Prevention Task Force will address:

• Education of the use and danger of meth manufacturing and use, recognition and prevention;
• Coordination of public and private resources; and
• Establishment of a central resource for information.

The Missouri Methamphetamine Treatment Task Force will:

• Promote research in to best practice treatment approaches;
• Increase the availability of training for treatment providers; and
• Support strategies to provide greater access to treatment services.

The Missouri Methamphetamine Enforcement and Environmental Protection Task Force will address:

• Providing law enforcement a safe, legal and effective place to temporarily store, manage and dispose of meth lab chemicals
• Certification program to train law enforcement officers dealing with meth labs; and
• Personal protective equipment for law enforcement when dealing with hazardous chemicals

CLEANUP COMPLETED AT BURLINGTON NORTHERN - LINDENWOOD RAIL YARD IN ST. LOUIS

A site cleanup was recently completed at Lindenwood Rail Yard in St. Louis. The cleanup was initiated following an inspection performed by the Department of Natural Resources in 1998. Once it was confirmed through sampling and analysis that hazardous waste was involved, the railway agreed to investigate and cleanup all significantly lead-contaminated ballast (the small, sharp rocks that the sleepers and rails rest on) in the rail yard.

The Lindenwood Rail Yard was cleaned up, and lead-contaminated ballast was treated then removed. The ballast was treated in place to render the lead non-leachable and to ensure the excavated waste did not meet the definition of hazardous waste. The treated ballast was then excavated and disposed of in the Waste Management Milam Disposal Facility in Illinois. A total of 8,225 tons of contaminated ballast was removed.

Industrial cleanup levels were met before clean ballast or other clean fill was brought in and used to restore the site. This area is located adjacent to Deer Creek and involved extremely busy tracks that carry much of the east-west railroad freight traffic in the United States. Both factors made the project difficult to schedule and difficult to plan and execute. The cleanup project operated under a stormwater permit in order to assure that Deer Creek, the River Des Peres and the city treatment plants were protected.

For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Hazardous Waste Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3176.

BROWNFIELD/VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM CLEANUP FOR BRANSON LANDING

The Branson Landing site in Branson received a Certificate of Completion from the department's Brownfield/Voluntary Cleanup Program (B/VCP) after completing cleanup of buildings contaminated with asbestos containing material. The 86-acre site located along the waterfront of Lake Taneycomo used to consist of several trout fishing lodges, a campground, two marinas and other commercial businesses.

Potential clients of the redeveloped site include Bass Pro Shop, Cabellas, a new convention center and a strip mall. The city of Branson entered the Branson Landing Development Area into the B/VCP in 2002 for oversight of site characterization and remediation. The site remediation included asbestos abatement of over 100 structures prior to their demolition. In addition, a gasoline plume from an off-site service station has migrated onto the redevelopment area requiring contingency plans to be in effect for the proper management of any contaminant encountered during redevelopment. Since 1994, the B/VCP has cleaned up 181 sites.

For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Hazardous Waste Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3176.

MISSOURI REGISTRY NOW AVAILABLE

The 2003 Missouri Registry Annual Report Registry of Confirmed Abandoned or Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites in Missouri is now available. For each site listed on the state Registry, the 248-page report includes:

• site location map
• address
• waste type
• site description
• present property owner
• environmental problems related to the site
• remedial actions at the site
• geologic and hydrogeologic description
• public drinking water advisory
• health assessment

In addition, the report provides a narrative of state and federal Superfund activities in Missouri. It also includes inventories of former manufactured gas plants, former U. S. Department of Agriculture grain bins, lead and zinc smelters and wood treatment sites. The report contains the National Priorities List of Missouri Superfund sites, Registry cleanups and the Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance. Appendices include a health assessment chemical table, a glossary of health terms, selected state hazardous waste management laws and applicable Registry regulations.

To obtain a copy of the Missouri Registry Annual Report, send a written request, with a check for $12, to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Hazardous Waste Program, Superfund Section, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176. Please make all checks payable to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The Missouri Registry Annual Report can be accessed at many public libraries in the reference section or downloaded off the Web at no charge at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/ar-current.pdf. PDF

You may request a free copy of the Registry Log by calling 800-361-4827 or 573-751-8629. This publication lists Missouri hazardous waste sites on the Registry. It includes owners' names, site location, county, date placed on Registry, site classification and type of waste found at the sites.

RESTORATION ADVISORY BOARD IS ADJOURNED AT THE FORMER RICHARDS-GEBAUR AIR FORCE BASE

The Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) at the former Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base has adjourned. The RAB, composed of five groups, was established in February 1994 and represents personnel from the Air Force Real Property Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and community members. The RAB is a Department of Defense tool designed to give stakeholders an opportunity to participate in the cleanup process.

The decision to adjourn the RAB was reached in consultation with the community. The topic was included as part of the Nov. 6 RAB meeting agenda and was discussed by the active membership. The community was given an opportunity to comment on the adjournment of the RAB during a 30-day public comment period, which concluded before the November board meeting.

The RAB's purpose was to give the community information and an opportunity to provide input on cleanup decisions at the former air force base. It provided a mechanism for the Air Force and the Army Corps of Engineers to disseminate information regarding the investigation and cleanup of contaminated property to interested members of the community. It also gave the community the opportunity to voice their concerns and questions to the state and federal agencies.

The upcoming finalization and signature of the Record of Decision for Operable Units 1 and 2 will document the final decision regarding the cleanup of the former Richards-Gebaur AFB. Because of this major step toward program completion, the Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers proposed the RAB members jointly consider adjournment of the RAB. The Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers will continue to disseminate information and provide opportunities for community involvement as it conducts long-term monitoring of the environmental conditions at the former base.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources would like to acknowledge the dedication of the Restoration Advisory Board citizen members: William Powell, citizen Co-chair; Richard McMahon, Norman Onnen, Albert St. Germain and Charles Smith. The department would also like to thank the Air Force Real Property Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and EPA.

For more information on the Former Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base or on Restoration Advisory Boards in Missouri, please contact Ramona Huckstep at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3176 or by e-mail.

WASTE CONTROL COALITION CALLS FOR CONFERENCE PAPERS

The Missouri Waste Control Coalition (MWCC), which includes the Department of Natural Resources, will hold it's 31st annual conference June 27-29, at the Lodge of the Four Seasons at the Lake of the Ozarks. The MWCC has issued a call for papers with a March 15 deadline.

Cliff Metcalf, coalition president-elect, said, "The MWCC is seeking speakers to present new and exciting ideas in panel discussions of 15 to 30 minutes." Presenters will be selected and contacted in March.

"At this time we are planning three primary tracks: environmental management, solid waste issues and solutions and resource recovery," said Metcalf. "We will focus on new technologies, industrial waste management, landfill innovations, remediation, pollution prevention, recycling and market development, composting, extended product responsibility, green products, environmental design, waste program financing and other related topics."

For more information, or to obtain a form, contact Metcalf at 314-647-8338 or e-mail. Forms may be sent to the MWCC, 8826 Santa Fe Drive #208, Overland Park, KS 66212, faxed to (913) 381-9308 or e-mail.

KANSAS CITY EMPLOYERS RECOGNIZED FOR COMMUTER BENEFITS

Ten Kansas City employers are joining the Midwest Commuter Choice Program and enlisting their employees to help clear the air.
The businesses are American Century Investments, Transamerica, Hallmark, Faultless Linen, Kansas City Public Works, HNTB Companies, Jackson County Circuit Court, American Public Works Association, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Discovery Center.

"Employers who encourage alternative transportation, be it installing bicycle racks, providing transit subsidies or finding car pool prospects through the Mid-America Regional Council's RideShare Program. emphasize how important it is to reduce ozone levels," EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Gulliford said.

Gulliford said ground-level ozone is harmful to humans and crops. Scientific evidence indicates that certain levels of ozone not only affect people with impaired breathing, such as those with asthma, but healthy adults and children as well. Ozone is responsible for several billion dollars of agricultural crop yield loss each year in the United States alone.

He said the Commuter Choice Program is designed to help cities in the Midwest, such as Kansas City, that have challenging air quality issues. "Employer participation is helping people who live and work in those cities become familiar with transportation alternatives." The program has also signed on 40 employers in St. Louis since its inception in 2003. The Midwest Commuter Choice Program was written by the Mid-America Regional Council, Citizens for Modern Transit in St. Louis, and EPA Region 7 in Kansas City.

EPA ANNOUNCES AMENDED DECISION ON MISSOURI'S LIST OF IMPAIRED WATERS

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced its amended decision on Missouri's 2002 Section 303(d) List (impaired waters), based on public comments.

Under Section 303(d) of the 1972 Clean Water Act, states, territories and authorized tribes are required to develop lists of impaired waters every two years. By law, EPA must approve or disapprove those 303(d) lists.

EPA partially approved and partially disapproved Missouri's 2002 Section 303(d) list on April 29, 2003. This original decision included:

• Adding or restoring 63 impaired waterbodies and associated pollutants of concern to Missouri's 2002 303(d) list.
• Adding back pollutants of concern that had been removed by the State from 30 waterbodies retained from the 1998 list.
• Adding new pollutants of concern to two waterbodies retained from the 1998 list.

EPA's decision document and supporting documentation was provided to the State on April 29, 2003. EPA held a public comment period from May 1 through Aug. 15, 2003, seeking written comments on the decisions to add or restore specific waters and pollutants to Missouri's 2002 303(d) list.

Based on a review of public comments, EPA is amending its decision by:

• Removing 12 waterbodies out of the 38 waterbodies that EPA had added back to Missouri's list for sediment, based on data and information provided by the State and the public during EPA's public comment period.
• Removing two waterbodies out of the 13 waterbodies that EPA had added to Missouri's list from the group of 26 Consent Decree waterbodies, based on data and information provided by the State and the public during EPA's public comment period.
• Removing four other waterbodies and removing pollutants from six more waterbodies, based on data and information provided by the State and the public during EPA's public comment period.
• Concurring with the State's original decision to change the pollutant name from "Non-Filterable Residue or Sediment" to "Volatile Suspended Solids or Non-Volatile Suspended Solids" for 22 waterbodies, based on field data provided by the State during EPA's public comment period.

To provide more information on the amended decision, EPA has posted the amended decision letter and Responsiveness Summary to Public Comment online at www.epa.gov/region7/water/tmdl.htm. EPA's rationale for these revisions is addressed in the Responsiveness Summary.

For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Water Pollution Control Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.

ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE

The department's Environmental Emergency Response provides 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 Prevention 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.

MINERAL OIL SPILLED FROM ELECTRICAL TRANSFORMERS DURING ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE 70
On Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004, St. Charles County Dispatch requested assistance from the department's Environmental Emergency Response (EER) Section regarding a release of approximately 500 gallons of mineral oil on Interstate 70. Reportedly a multiple vehicle accident involving a tractor-trailer loaded with electrical transformers caused the tie downs to break spilling its cargo onto Interstate 70. Several of the electrical transformers broke open spilling mineral oil onto the highway and into the road ditch effectively closing Interstate 70 in both directions for around eight hours.

A State On-Scene Coordinator from the Route 66 EER Office was dispatched to the scene to provide technical assistance and cleanup oversight.

Although rain was hampering efforts to cleanup the area, local fire department crews took immediate actions to contain the mineral oil and prevent further impact to the environment. The responsible party was Arensdorf Trucking, Medicine Lodge, Kansas. A local hazardous materials contractor was hired to conduct the cleanup.

On scene officials, including the Missouri Department of Transportation, were concerned over the traffic hazard presented by the mineral oil on the highway after the highway was reopened. A unified decision was made to use high-pressure heated water and a surface cleaner to essentially steam clean the highway to eliminate any further traffic hazard posed by the mineral oil and the falling rain. Special attention was made to minimize the impact to nearby Peruque Creek and Lake St. Louis. The State On-Scene Coordinator monitored the situation, inspected the waterways and determined no adverse impact to the environment had occurred. final cleanup actions were completed on Monday, January 19.

For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Services Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-3315.

Track hoe removing gasoline contaminated gravel and soil from the secondary containment.

GASOLINE RELEASE FROM ABOVE GROUND STORAGE IN WEBSTER COUNTY

On Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, the operator of Hannah's General Store in Niangua, Missouri notified the department's Environmental Emergency Response (EER) Section of a loss of nearly 2,000 gallons of gasoline from an above ground storage tank. The gasoline flowed from a broken site tube, used to measure the quantity of product in the tank, and into the secondary containment.

It was reported that most of the gasoline exited the secondary containment through the gravel bottom floor and onto private property. An EER Section State On-Scene Coordinator from the Southwest Regional office provided technical assistance and cleanup oversight. The Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures Division, also responded to provide technical assistance.

Fortunately, the area where the spill took place was frozen, which prevented the gasoline from soaking very deep into the ground. Product interceptor trenches were installed outside the secondary containment and removal of excavated soil began immediately. No waterways or sewers were impacted from the spill. A PVC waterline was present just outside the secondary containment and, as a precaution, Niangua city officials replaced the PVC line with ductile iron.

The remaining product from the three aboveground storage tanks was emptied. A crane was brought in and the three tanks were removed from the secondary containment. Nearly four feet on heavily contaminated soil was removed from the floor of the secondary containment.

The cleanup was completed by Tuesday, January 13, with nearly 150 cubic yards of gasoline contaminated soil removed from the environment and readied for proper disposal.

For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Services Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-3315.

A track hoe excavates gasoline contaminated soil from a product line trench while a crane removes aboveground storage tanks from the secondary containment following the release of 1,000 gallons of gasoline.

GASOLINE RELEASE FROM ABOVE GROUND STORAGE IN HICKORY COUNTY

On Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, MFA Oil contacted the department's Environmental Emergency Response (EER) Section regarding a release of 1,000 gallons of gasoline from an above ground storage tank. Reportedly a tractor tanker was making a delivery at a bulk storage/PetroCard facility in Weaubleau, Missouri, when gasoline was noticed in the secondary containment.

A State On-Scene Coordinator from the Environmental Services Program was dispatched to the scene to provide technical assistance. The Department of Agriculture (DOA), Weights and Measures Division, also responded to investigate.

Upon arrival at the scene gasoline was found seeping into a ditch along Highway 54. A hazardous substance emergency was immediately declared and a request for a vacuum truck and earth moving equipment was made. By late Saturday afternoon a cleanup contractor was on site recovering free product, installing interceptor trenches and removing contaminated soil.

The investigation revealed that the 21,000 gallon above ground storage tank at the facility had been damaged during filling operations nearly a week earlier. The tank had been emptied, the manway removed and repairs initiated, but not completed. The driver on Friday night apparently emptied the entire contents of a tractor tanker into the above ground storage tank with approximately 6,000 gallons of gasoline spilling into the secondary containment through the open manway. Approximately 4,000 gallons of gasoline was recovered but a calculation error only put the loss at 1,000 gallons, instead of the actual loss of 2,000 gallons.

The situation changed significantly on Monday when neighbors complained of vapors in their homes. Further investigation showed gasoline vapors approaching the lower explosive limit in sewers around the facility. With an obvious serious threat to the public's health and safety, DOA closed all distribution and retail operations at the facility. Actions were taken within the sewer system to prevent the spread of gasoline and exhaust fans were used to remove vapors.

Additional emergency responders and the EER Section's Geoprobe were brought to the scene to conduct a subsurface investigation. Additional gasoline contaminated areas were found, however, no free product was discovered that would be causing the sewer problems.

Using a sewer camera, EER personnel found a collapsed eight-inch sewer main adjacent to the property in an area of contaminated soil. It further located an unmapped and unknown manhole buried under several feet of soil next to the secondary containment. It was unearthed and gasoline was found to be trickling into the sewer.

City officials installed two new sections of pipe in the sewer line, the fire department flushed the lines and by Wednesday no additional vapors were present in the sewers. Product recovery and soil removal operations continued throughout the week with the emergency declared over by noon on Friday, January 16. Plans are to dispose of the contaminated soil at a permitted sanitary landfill.

EER Section officials attended a Weaubleau city council meeting on the evening of Tuesday, January 20 to brief city officials and answer questions about the incident.

For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Environmental Services Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-3315.

GRANTS AND LOANS

DEPARTMENT GRANT WILL HELP DAIRY PRODUCERS IN THE GASCONADE WATERSHED
Landowners in parts of Laclede, Webster and Wright Counties are eligible to participate
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has granted an initial award of $289,045 to the Laclede County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). This portion of the grant covers the first two years of a four-year project totaling $632,641.

The grant will be used for technical and cost-share assistance for dairy producers in the Osage Fork of the Gasconade watershed. The watershed covers approximately 325,000 acres in parts of Laclede, Webster and Wright counties. Landowners in all three counties will be eligible to participate.

The Osage Fork has six miles of losing stream segments that lose all or part of their flow by suddenly disappearing underground. This makes the river vulnerable to nonpoint sources of pollution where livestock numbers are high. Nutrients and pathogens from livestock manure can be a potential threat to surface and groundwater. The funding will help producers construct facilities to contain the manure in lagoons until it can be properly applied to the land as fertilizer. These types of facilities make animal waste management easier for producers and provide a cleaner, healthier environment for the dairy cows, which, in turn, may lead to increased milk production.

Five planned grazing and watering systems will help keep cattle out of streams and prevent stream bank erosion caused by trampling. The best management practices (BMPs) in this project are aimed at preventing manure from being directly deposited into a stream or running off into the stream from surrounding land after rains or snowmelts. The BMPs will also help reduce sediment (loose soil) from washing into streams.

Other goals of the grant include development of comprehensive nutrient management plans for producers, demonstration of manure transfer using underground pipe, educational field days, a Web site and newsletters. The Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Laclede SWCD (located in Lebanon) will provide technical assistance for the project.

For more information, contact Mary Jo Tannehill with Laclede SWCD at 417-532-6305, or Colleen Meredith with the department's Water Protection Program at 573-526-7687.

DEPARTMENT GRANTS $90,000 FOR INDEPENDENCE WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $89,685 grant to the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) for a project aimed at restoring stream quality and preventing future stream impairment in Independence.

MARC will use the money to fund its Kansas City Metropolitan Water Quality Initiative project. Working with Independence officials, the project will educate residents on how they can reduce water pollution.

Funding will help the city prepare an integrated storm water management policy and an action plan to put watershed management principles into practice. Two workshops will also be held to discuss planning, policies, programs and regulations with local government officials and the general public. MARC will assist in the design of public education materials and resource tools. Representatives of local, state and federal governments, community organizations and environmental advocacy groups will be invited to take part in the metropolitan task force overseeing the project.

"These are exactly the types of projects we like to see," said Steve Mahfood, Department of Natural Resources director. "Residents, local communities and officials joining together to make decisions and policies that improve the water quality in their community."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 has provided funding for the project under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The Department of Natural Resources administers the grant. For more information, contact John Johnson with the department's Water Protection Program at 573-522-2740. For more information on the department's water pollution control efforts, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Visit Calendar of Events at /calendar/search.do for a complete list of Department of Natural Resources' events through the end of the calendar year.

SOLID WASTE ADVISORY BOARD TO MEET MARCH 8
The Missouri Solid Waste Advisory Board will hold a public meeting at 1 p.m., March 8 at the Department of Natural Resources' Conference Center, 1738 E. Elm St., Jefferson City. A subsequent meeting is scheduled for April 8.

For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Solid Waste Management Program at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401.

CLEAN WATER COMMISSION TO MEET MARCH 10
The Missouri Clean Water Commission will hold a public meeting at 9 a.m., March 10 at the Governor Office Building,
200 Madison St., Jefferson City.

For more information, call the department's Water Pollution Control Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.

WATER QUALITY COORDINATING COMMITTEE TO MEET MARCH 16
The Missouri Water Quality Coordinating Committee will hold a public meeting at 10 a.m., March 16 at the Department of Natural Resources' Conference Center, 1738 E. Elm St., Jefferson City. A subsequent meeting is scheduled for April 20.

For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources' Water Pollution Control Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.

LAND RECLAMATION COMMISSION TO MEET MARCH 25
The Missouri Land Reclamation Commission will hold a public meeting at 10 a.m., March 25 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.

AWARD-WINNING TRAINING PROGRAM EXPANDS
The Environmental Management Institute (EMI) won the Governor's Award for Quality and Productivity in 1999. Since it's inception in 1998, EMI has trained over 850 local government leaders and their assistance providers in environmental issues. The program has been so successful that several of the topics have outgrown the two-day workshop. The EMI name no longer fits. It's time to reorganize and rename.

The department is pleased to announce the formation of the "Resource Management Institute" (RMI). Starting in 2004, under the RMI umbrella, the entire department's Outreach and Assistance Center's (OAC) existing and soon-to-exist workshops will be brought together under the RMI umbrella and included in a catalog of courses. The catalog will soon be available both in printed form and posted on the Department's Web site.

The topics formerly taught in the two-day EMI workshop will now be taught in two separate workshop sessions offered on consecutive days. On the first day, the Environmental Issues workshop will focus on the key issues for local government leaders. On the second day, the Environmental Infrastructure workshop will focus on the interests of utility managers and operational staff. We recommend that everyone who attends one of those sessions attend the other session, too.

Some of the other workshops offered in the RMI series will include the Show-me Ratemaker, storm water, asset management and issues related to business, historic preservation and more. Ratemaker and asset management will be given on consecutive days because they are so closely related.

As this issue goes to press, the 2004 schedule for OAC's workshops has not yet been finalized. However, the schedules for four of the workshops look like this:

Confirmed schedules and registration information will soon be posted on the Department's Web site. The most convenient way to keep up-to-date on our training opportunities, funding opportunities and other items of interest is to sign up for our broadcast e-mail 'listserv' service at www.dnr.mo.gov. Or, call us at 800-361-4827 and we'll tell you about them.

Over the past six years, nearly 2,000 local government leaders and assistance providers have attended Department workshops to improve their environmental and assistance performance. With RMI we hope to expand that reach even more.

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.

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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:

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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