Protecting Missouri's Natural Resources is a monthly newsletter that informs readers about environmental issues.
FEBRUARY 2006
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES’
NEW APPROACH HELPS SOLVE OLD PROBLEMS
Department helps citizens, facilities understand environmental permits; only one percent found to have serious violations
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources completed more than 180 initial assistance visits during the first phase of its new compliance assistance initiative, and early results are promising, according to Department Director
Doyle Childers.
The department visited 188 land disturbance sites, newly permitted air sources, drinking water facilities, limestone quarries and hazardous waste generators that receive permits, licenses, certifications and registrations from the agency. Walking permit holders through their unique permit requirements and providing compliance assistance, rather than conducting formal inspections, is how initial assistance visits work.
“When Gov. Blunt asked me to become director of the Department of Natural Resources, he emphasized the need to help citizens, businesses and communities understand what they need to do to protect the environment,” said Childers. “The goal for our initial assistance visits is to help facility operators and businesses understand what is expected of them and to help them meet
those expectations.”
The Department of Natural Resources focused its initial assistance efforts on permitted facilities that had not received a previous visit or inspection. Because this was not a formal inspection, compliance assistance was provided with the expectation that corrections would be made if any problems were discovered. The department’s visits found no concerns at 56 percent of the facilities visited. For the remaining 44 percent, most problems were of a non-critical nature, and the department provided on site assistance to those facilities about how to correct those concerns.
No enforcement consequences are initiated during an initial assistance visit unless the facility has violations that are very serious. A very serious violation is one immediately or imminently harmful to the environment or public health, such as a hazardous waste release.
Of the facilities with concerns to the department, only one percent had very serious violations. Because of the potential for harm to human health and the environment, the department stopped the initial assistance visit and began a formal inspection of the two facilities with very serious violations. The Department of Natural Resources issued these facilities Notices of Violation and directed them to fix the violations within the timeframe specified by state law.
An initial assistance visit differs from an inspection in several ways. It is voluntary, always scheduled and focuses on the permit holder understanding the permit rather than the department checking only for compliance. Department of Natural Resources’ inspectors go over the permit requirements with the facility operator, view operations and provide feedback, guidance documents and other helpful information to the permit holder. The Department also provides training about required sampling, record keeping, operations and maintenance if necessary. Areas where the facility has good performance as well as areas of concern are discussed. Working on compliance up front is more beneficial for everyone, said Childers. “This is preventative maintenance - it protects the environment up front rather than relying on after-the-fact cleanups,” said Childers. “Getting in front of the curve saves time and effort for citizens, communities and businesses while protecting our air, land and water resources.”
Initial assistance visits became standard practice this month for the Department of Natural Resources. The department is surveying the facilities that participated in the initial phase of the compliance assistance visits to learn more about areas where it can improve its services. In addition, the department is pursuing other improvements to its permitting and enforcement processes.
Detailed information about the department’s procedures for initial assistance visits is available in its Field Services Division Operations Manual, which is available online at www.dnr.mo.gov/services/opsmanual.htm.
DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES AVAILABILTY OF WATER POLLUTION PERMITS MANUAL
Available online at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/permits/manual/index.html
The Department of Natural Resources’ Water Protection Program has released version 0.0 of the Water Pollution Control Permits Manual.
This Permits Manual presents guidance related to water pollution control
• construction permits,
• operating permits (NPDES Permits),
• general permits,
• no-discharge permits,
• storm water and land disturbance permits, and
• legal bases, policies and procedures related to them.
It was created as a tool for department staff writing permits under the Missouri Clean Water Law, but the department is making it available to the public to help permittees, consultants and other customers better understand the permit process. It is not intended to answer all questions a permit writer may have, but is a starting point for basic information and a tool to find other resources. It is intended to help all department offices involved in water pollution control permitting follow the same basic processes and guidelines when drafting permits. Consistency is the goal.
“We hope that permittees and consultants will use the manual to better understand the permit process and aid their communications with our staff permit writers,” said Edward Galbraith, director of the department’s Water Protection Program. “We encourage users to help us improve the manual by letting us know of errors and outdated procedures.”
Throughout the manual, there are information links to federal and state statutes, rules and technical guidance documents that support permit procedures. The department will continue to update the manual regularly.
The Permits Manual is too large to distribute by hard copy, but is available online at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/permits/manual/index.html.
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources’ Water Protection Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.
WATER QUALITY EFFORT ALONG BLACK RIVER REDUCES TURBIDITY, IMPROVES CLARITY
Missouri Department of Natural Resources overseeing process
Efforts to improve the water quality in the Black River are going as expected, and there has been a noticeable improvement to the water’s clarity, according to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The agency is hopeful that AmerenUE’s efforts to remove suspended clay from the Black River will
be successful.
To reduce the level of turbidity, or cloudiness in the water, AmerenUE began adding chemicals to the Lower Taum Sauk Reservoir on Jan. 25. The Department of Natural Resources was on site during the process.
Over a three-day period, AmerenUE added approximately 70,000 gallons of alum and about 30,000 gallons of sodium aluminate to the lower reservoir. Alum and sodium aluminate are common flocculents, a type of chemical that causes suspended particles to settle out of water. These flocculents are commonly used in the drinking water and wastewater industries and in situations where the cleanup of suspended sediment is needed.
To ensure the greatest reaction time for the chemicals, the flow of the water being discharged from the lower reservoir was slowed down. At first, following treatment, no noticeable differences were visible. However, by Friday, Jan. 27, the cloudiness of the water in the reservoir began to decrease. By Saturday, Jan. 28, most of the readings within the reservoir were at or below the target level.
The Department of Natural Resources continues to work to prevent more sediment from flushing downstream of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. Suspended sediment and clay are environmental concerns because of potential impacts on water quality. They can change the environment of the stream, which can affect aquatic life in the stream. Protecting aquatic life is one aspect of the Department of Natural Resources’ mission.
The lower reservoir caught much of the sediment from the park when the Taum Sauk Reservoir failed, sending 1.3 billion gallons of water rushing through the park and nearby property. The Department of Natural Resources will hold its third public meeting in Lesterville on Feb. 9 to answer questions and to give citizens in the area an opportunity to provide input. The department will continue to hold these public meetings on a regular basis as the project moves forward.
The state of Missouri has no regulatory oversight of the reservoir, which is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, but remains involved in the oversight of recovery efforts. The Department of Natural Resources is committed to having some services available at the park by this summer.
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
ISSUES ODOR VIOLATION TO MOARK IN NEOSHO
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has issued an odor violation to Moark in Neosho based on a December investigation at the facility.
The department detected strong odors at Moark’s composting facility on Dec. 9 while responding to a complaint filed with the department’s Southwest Regional Office. The composting area is located across Highway D from Moark’s new poultry buildings currently under construction.
The new buildings are designed to blow atmospheric air over the bird litter, drying the product as it is made and reducing ammonia and other odorous emissions. They will produce litter that is dry enough to bypass the majority of the compost activities and allow Moark to land apply the litter.
“I understand the community is concerned about odors emitting from this facility,” said Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers. “Moark is contracting with a third-party university to conduct monitoring, sampling and other environmental measurements to confirm any decrease in odor. The department will continue to monitor the air quality surrounding the facility. I fully expect odors at the composting facility to reduce when the new poultry houses are complete.”
This is the first odor violation issued to the facility. However, if the Moark continues to emit odors at high levels exceeding the state air quality standard, the department will take further action.
The department detected an exceedance of the state’s air quality standard on Dec. 9 and collected an air sample to send to outside laboratory. The laboratory performed an olfactometry panel analysis on the air sample. An olfactometry panel is a group of people who characterize the odor for its concentration and intensity. The sample exceeded the state air quality standard and the department issued a Notice of Excess Emissions to Moark on Dec. 22.
Moark had until Jan. 31, 2006, to respond to the excess emissions and provide information about a potential startup, shutdown or equipment malfunction. Moark’s Jan. 30 response did not meet the state’s criteria. Therefore, the department upgraded the Notice of Excess Emissions to a Notice of Violation, as required by state regulation.
DEPARTMENT ISSUES AIR PERMIT TO KANSAS CITY POWER
AND LIGHT
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources issued an air pollution construction permit to Kansas City Power and Light (KCPL) for its proposed Iatan Generating Station in Platte County.
The permit allows KCPL to construct a coal-fired boiler (Iatan Unit 2), a fuel oil-fired auxiliary boiler, associated storage, handling and pollution control equipment, a fuel oil storage tank and a landfill. The permit also allows KCPL to modify the existing coal-fired generating unit to increase the heat input and upgrade the pollution control system.
Any aggrieved party may appeal the department’s air permit decision. Appeals to this air permit or any of the listed special conditions should be made to the Administrative Hearing Commission (AHC), PO Box 1557, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Those interested must file a petition for appeal with the AHC within 30 days of the Jan. 31 permit issuance.
The public comment period for the air permit closed on Dec. 9. In addition to accepting written comments, the department held a public hearing on Dec. 5 in Weston. The final permit and the department’s response to comments received are available on the department’s Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/PermitPublicNotices.htm.
A copy of the air permit application, the preliminary determination and other related materials will be available for public review at the following locations:
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Air Pollution Control Program
1659 E. Elm St., Jefferson City
Phone 573-751-4817
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Kansas City Regional Office
500 NE Colbern Rd.
Lee’s Summit
Phone 816-622-7000
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Mid-Continent Public Library - Weston Branch
18725 Highway 45 North
Weston
For more information concerning the air permit or its process, please call the department’s Air Pollution Control Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4817.
The Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also jointly issued a public notice for a 404/401-permit application for KCPL’s Iatan facility. The public notice ends Feb. 10. A 404/401 certification is required when an applicant requests to place material or fill into waters of the U.S. For more information on this public notice, visit www.nwk.usace.army.mil/regulatory/public_notices/200200121.pdf.
PUBLIC AWARENESS SESSION HELD IN NORBORNE
Representatives from the Department of Natural Resources and Associated Electric Cooperative Inc. (AECI) were on hand to address the questions and concerns of the public regarding a utility waste landfill in Norborne on Jan. 9, 2006.
AECI is planning to build a coal-fired power plant to the northwest of Norborne. The ash left from burned coal is called “fly ash.” The landfill for disposing of the fly ash will be directly next to the plant. The department is required to hold a Public Awareness session about the permitting process within 90 days after receiving a Preliminary Site Investigation approval.
Around 50 citizens of Norborne attended the session. The concerns raised by those in attendance ranged from possible groundwater contamination, ash and dust blowing and future development of the closed landfill. Modern landfills rarely have groundwater contamination issues because guidelines require regular testing of groundwater. The proposed landfill would be required to install a liner system and follow federal construction guidelines.
The next step for the public will be a community involvement session, held by AECI, on the draft detailed site investigation.
For more information on the permitting process for landfills, or other solid waste issues, please contact the department’s Solid Waste Management Program at 573-751-5401.
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ISSUES
CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL FOR SMITHVILLE SOURCE
WATER PROTECTION PLAN
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources recognized the Smithville Lake Watershed Coalition (SLWC) for its effort to protect Smithville Lake from contamination.
For six years the SLWC has worked to protect Smithville Lake from contamination and promoted local protection efforts. The Department of Natural Resources awarded SLWC a 319 Nonpoint Source grant in January 2004 to help with the cost of drafting a new Source Water Protection Plan to address the lake’s nonpoint sources of pollution. The SLWC completed the plan revision in July 2005.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Public Drinking Water Branch has issued a Certificate of Approval of the plan. This certificate is issued to municipalities or citizen groups that submit a plan that, when implemented, will effectively protect source water for public drinking water supplies. Smithville Lake is the drinking water source for nearly 10,000 Missouri citizens. The Source Water Protection Plan has a list of goals and tasks for reducing or limiting the effects of excessive nutrients, sediment and mercury on the lake. The next step for the SLWC is implementing the plan.
Nutrients in Smithville Lake can be attributed to many things, including failing septic systems, wildlife contributions, chemical applications on agricultural lands, and livestock watering in and near local tributaries to the lake. Sediment can also come from many different sources, such as construction practices, soil loss from agricultural lands, and stream bank erosion due to livestock watering in and near local tributaries to the lake. Mercury is atmospherically deposited in the lake and can be present in bottom-feeding fish. Mercury contamination is the cause of Smithville Lake’s inclusion on Missouri’s list of impaired waters (also known as the 303(d) list.) The 303(d) list helps state and federal agencies keep track of waters that are impaired but not sufficiently addressed by normal water pollution control programs.
Atrazine had been listed as a major concern in the previous watershed management plan (2000), but due to extraordinary efforts of local agricultural producers, the concern has lessened.
For more information on Source Water Protection Planning or Wellhead Protection Planning, please contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resource’ Water Protection Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.
DEPARTMENT, EPA SEEK COMMENTS ON SAFETY-KLEEN DRAFT PERMIT
Through March 10, the public is invited to review and offer written comments about a draft permit for Safety-Kleen Systems Inc., Service Center of Columbia. The draft permit will allow the company to continue to operate an existing hazardous waste storage facility.
Comments are effective if they point out legal or technical issues in the draft permit. The draft permit is available on the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/hwp/permits/notices.htm. Supporting documents are not available on the department’s Web site due to their size.
The public can review and copy the draft permit and supporting documents until March 16 at the following locations:
Daniel Boone Regional Library in the Columbia Public Library
100 W. Broadway
Columbia, Missouri.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Department of Natural Resources
Northeast Regional Office
1709 Prospect Drive, Macon.
Phone: 660-385-8000. By appointment.
Department of Natural Resources
Hazardous Waste Program
1738 E. Elm St. (lower level)
Jefferson City
Phone: 573-522-3345. By appointment.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7
Information Resource Center
901 N. Fifth St.
Kansas City, Kansas
Phone: (913) 551-7241.
Between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday (not including federal holidays).
The draft permit includes a Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Facility Part I and an EPA Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments Part II.
To send written comments about Part 1 write to Assem Abdul, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Hazardous Waste Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176.
To send written comments about Part 2 write to Patricia Murrow, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7, RCRA Permitting and Compliance Branch, 901 North Fifth Street, Kansas City, KS 66101.
Safety-Kleen is located at 2400 Big Bear Court in Columbia and operates an active hazardous waste storage facility. Safety-Kleen stores a variety of hazardous waste produced by their customers. The majority of Safety-Kleen’s customers are small quantity generators. The hazardous waste is ultimately shipped to a Safety-Kleen recycling facility or a contract reclaimer for processing.
The comment period ends March 10. During the public comment period, anyone can request a public hearing on the draft permit by writing to Abdul at the above address. The hearing request must state what issues are to be brought up during the hearing.
Anyone may call or write Abdul at any time to request to have their name placed on Safety-Kleen’s mailing list. By doing this, they will receive notice from the department or Safety-Kleen on any major permitting and cleanup activities at the facility.
For more information, call Abdul at 573-751-3553 or 800-361-4827. Hearing and speech-impaired persons may reach him through Relay Missouri at
800-735-2966. You can reach Murrow
at (913) 551-7627.
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ANNOUNCES
NEW OMBUDSMAN FOR SOUTHEAST REGION
For many of his more than 16 years with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Jackson Bostic has been responding to spills, leaks and other environmental emergencies. As of Monday, Feb. 13, he is responding to constituent concerns as the department’s new southeast region ombudsman.
Bostic, who was the state on-scene coordinator for the department’s Environmental Emergency Response program, will serve the 22-county region out of the department’s Southeast Regional Office in Poplar Bluff. He has most recently been overseeing the environmental cleanups of the Black River and Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park following December’s breach of the Taum Sauk reservoir.
“Jackson’s experience in dealing with the public in extremely tense circumstances makes him ideally suited to represent the department as an ombudsman,” said Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers.
The purpose of the ombudsman program is to improve communication between the department and the community. Ombudsmen work within the department’s regional offices, but operate independently of the office. They inform the regional director and the department director of issues, concerns and problems and assist in issue development. This is expected to remove some time-consuming responsibilities from the regional directors and free up more of their time to address additional professional, technical and leadership responsibilities.
Bostic, who began with the department in 1989 as a soil scientist, replaces Bill Foster as ombudsman. Foster will oversee an in-depth review of the state revolving fund as the department designs and implements improvements to its drinking water and wastewater loan programs. The goal of the changes is to speed up the loan process.
DEPARTMENT HOSTS PUBLIC MEETING ON ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATION IN CARDWELL
The Department of Natural Resources hosted a public meeting Jan. 31 to discuss the continued environmental investigation conducted in
Cardwell near the former Brewer Brothers Bulk Petroleum Plant.
Department staff continue to test the drinking water in Cardwell. The latest results from December 2005 still indicate the city’s water to be free of petroleum constituents.
The department will conduct sampling on properties near the former Brewer Brothers Bulk Petroleum Plant throughout February. The department explained the purpose of the investigations, provided a brief presentation on previous findings and discussed the upcoming sampling during the meeting.
The comment period ends March 10.and Senior Services were available after the presentation to answer questions and discuss the
planned investigations.
During the department’s investigation of the Brewer Brothers site in 2004, several other potentially contaminated sites were identified. To determine to what degree these sites might be contaminated, department staff will conduct site screenings. Site screenings are basic, uncomplicated investigations designed to determine if a site is contaminated and, if so, by what contaminants. The site screenings planned for Cardwell will determine if the department should expand investigations beyond the Brewer Brothers site currently being investigated.
For more information on this investigation, contact the department’s Hazardous Waste Program, Tanks Section at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-6822.
WORKSHOP ADDRESSES PHOSPHOROUS TREATMENT IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI WATERWAYS
On Feb. 8, wastewater treatment plant operators from throughout southwest Missouri filled the Kimberling City Community Center for a workshop on removing phosphorous from treated wastewater.
The workshop, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, was aimed at helping communities meet regulations related to phosphorous, a chemical that threatens water quality in Ozark waterways. The workshop was generated by feedback obtained by the department’s ombudsmen and was coordinated by the department’s Community Assistance Office.
Phosphorus in Ozark waterways is a major cause of algae blooms that occur in surface waters. Phosphorus comes from point and non-point sources. Some point sources include commercial and industrial process water, human waste products, food wastes from dishwashing and garbage disposals, residential and commercial automatic dishwasher detergents, and others. Non-point sources include cropland and pasture runoff, atmospheric deposition, and streambank erosion.
For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Community Assistance Office at 573-526-2415 or the department toll free at 800-361-4827, or visit the department’s Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov.
DEPARTMENT OFFERS REIMBURSEMENT FOR SCRAP TIRE CLEANUP
The Department of Natural Resources offers reimbursement of scrap tire disposal costs to fraternal, charitable or other non-governmental nonprofit organizations. The reimbursement can only apply to scrap tires collected during voluntary cleanups of land and water resources. Other wastes are not eligible
for reimbursement.
Reimbursement funds are available subject to the conditions outlined below:
1. Nonprofit organizations wishing to utilize these funds must obtain prior authorization. This can be accomplished by completing the reimbursement request form located at the link below titled Non-Profit Group Scrap Tire Cleanup Form and mailing or faxing the form to the following address
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Solid Waste Management Program
Scrap Tire Unit
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176A copy of the group’s current registration with the Office of the Secretary of State should be included with the reimbursement request.
Upon approval, the department will notify the group by returning a copy of the signed reimbursement request to the group. Tire collections that occur prior to receiving approval may not be eligible for reimbursement.
2. For each tire collected and taken to a legal recycler, end-user, processor, etc. the group will be reimbursed up to the actual cost of disposal or $2 per tire, whichever is less.
3. After the tires from the cleanup have been properly disposed of, the group must:
a. Complete and submit the invoice form located at the link below titled Invoice.
b. Submit a receipt from the entity receiving the tires indicating the number of tires taken and the total amount paid for their disposal. The individual or company receiving the tires must sign the receipt. The original receipt must be submitted.
c. Submit a copy of the front and back of the organization’s cancelled check to the entity receiving the tires.4. The department, upon approval of the information submitted for reimbursement will issue a check to the organization or individual for the costs incurred for disposal of the tires. Processing of complete reimbursement requests will take approximately two weeks from the date the department receives the request.
5. While there is no limit to the number of times a group may receive funds under this program, requests may be denied due to insufficient funds available to the department.
Groups are strongly encouraged to take collected tires to scrap tire processors or end users for recycled or resource recovery. Tires can be landfilled, but only if they have been cut, chipped or shredded prior to disposal. Groups are encouraged to arrange for proper disposal of the tires before collecting them. Groups are encouraged to contact the appropriate department regional office for assistance in locating a place to deliver scrap tires.
For more information, contact the department’s Solid Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401 or visit
www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/tires/tirecost.htm.
DEPARTMENT OFFERS SCRAP TIRE PLAYGROUND COVER AND SURFACING GRANTS
Scrap Tire Playground Cover and Surfacing Grants are available annually for the cost and delivery of scrap tire material for playgrounds, running tracks, walking trails or other surfacing projects approved by the department.
Grant recipients are required to purchase scrap tire material from manufacturers whose scrap tire material contains at least 40 percent Missouri-generated scrap tires. All projects must be located within the state of Missouri. Loose scrap tire playground cover needs to be eight inches deep and wire-free. Playgrounds, running tracks, walking trails and other surfacing projects using rubber mats or pour in place materials must conform to the manufacturer’s specifications and be approved by the department. All financial awards are subject to the state of Missouri’s legislative appropriation process, available funds and authorization for the projects by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Public schools, some private schools, parks, non-profit day care centers, other not-for-profit organizations and governmental organizations other than state agencies are eligible to submit applications.
Due to changes in the Americans with Disabilities Act rules, preference will be given to applicants requesting rubber mats or pour in place rubber materials. Grant recipients requesting rubber mats or pour in place rubber material were eligible to receive up to $10,000 while those requesting shredded material are eligible to receive up to $5,000.
During the 2005 legislative sessions, the Missouri General Assembly renewed a 50-cent scrap tire fee collected on the sale of new tires. Revenues generated from the scrap tire fee are deposited into the Scrap Tire Subaccount. According to statutory requirements, the Scrap Tire Subaccount is then expended as follows: 65 percent for illegal tire dump cleanups; 25 percent for permitting, inspections, enforcement and contract activities; five percent for education; and five percent for grants.
Protecting Missouri’s Natural Resources will publish information about 2006 grant offerings when it becomes available.
For more information, contact the department’s Solid Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401 or visit www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/tires/tirefinassistance.htm.
BROWNFIELDS/VOLUNTARY CLEANUP PROGRAM OVERSEES SUCCESSFUL CLEANUPS
The Department of Natural Resources has issued certificates of completion for several new Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program (BVCP) sites. Since 1994, there have been 277 sites cleaned up in the Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program.
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 BVCP, private parties agree to clean up a contaminated site and are offered some protection from future state and federal enforcement action at the site in the form of a “No Further Action” letter or "Certificates of Completion” from the state.
Estes Express Lines Inc. - St. Louis
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program issued a Certificate of Completion for the Estes Express Lines Inc. site in St. Louis for the cleanup of soil contaminated with diesel. The 10-acre site currently is an active trucking terminal. Various trucking companies have occupied the site since 1955. Prior to that, the property was residential. An active fueling system at the site, which includes an aboveground storage tank, fuel dispensers and underground piping, is used to dispense diesel fuel for use in company vehicles. After discovery of diesel-contaminated soil, a tightness test was performed on the product lines associated with the diesel tank. One dispenser and the product line failed the tightness test and were taken out of service. Estes Express Lines Inc. entered the site into BVCP in November 2005 to address the
soil contamination.
Approximately 78 tons of contaminated material were excavated and properly disposed. The property is now safe for unrestricted use. Upon completion of cleanup activities, a new double wall product piping system was installed to prevent future releases from the product pipe.
Modern Automotive - Washington
The BVCP issued a Certificate of Completion in January 2006 for the former Modern Automotive dealership was a 0.6-acre site in downtown Washington, Missouri.
Modern Automotive operated at the site from approximately 1936 until 2005. The dealership apparently had the first underground hydraulic lift in the county when it opened. Prior to Modern Automotive, the site also housed a corncob pipe factory, a lumber mill and a municipal water reservoir.
Investigations identified low levels of petroleum related contamination in soil, including diesel and oil-range organics and PAHs around previously closed in-place underground storage tanks.
Reuse of the property is planned, but details of future use had not been determined when the site enrolled in the program. Therefore, the applicant, Ridgemoor Development, sought a residential closure through the Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program to maximize redevelopment options. Additional subsurface investigations were performed under BVCP oversight to bring the in-place tank closures up to current standards and to investigate underground hydraulic lifts and an oil-water separator.
Since no contamination requiring remediation was identified, the BVCP issued a Certificate of Completion.
Georgia and Third Street Redevelopment - Louisiana
The Department of Natural Resources’ Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program issued a Certificate of Completion for the Georgia and Third Street Redevelopment site in Louisiana, Missouri.
In August 2004, GATS Inc. entered the BVCP for the cleanup of asbestos, lead-based paint, mold and pigeon droppings in the five buildings at the site. These buildings were constructed between 1860 and 1910 and are part of the Georgia Street Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Great River Road, Highway 79, which is Third Street in the Project area, connects Clarksville, Louisiana and Hannibal.
The Department of Economic Development has approved tax credits to assist with the cleanup and redevelopment of these five buildings in downtown Louisiana. The project supports the city’s participation in the “50 Miles of Art” effort, which aims to attract artisans from across the country to work and live along a corridor of Highway 79 between Louisiana, Clarksville and Hannibal. The Department approved up to $329,760 in remediation tax credits through the state’s Brownfields Redevelopment Program. GATS Inc. will develop the site into a mixed-use space with 16 residential units and 10 commercial units that are expected to create jobs in the retail, law and restaurant industries. GATS Inc. cleaned up the buildings to residential levels for the mixed-use purposes.
Hanley Industrial Court Properties – Brentwood
The two properties at 241 and 251 Hanley Industrial Court, managed by Industrial Engineering and Equipment Company (INDEECO) in Brentwood, Missouri, received separate Certificates of Completion from the Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Program after completing cleanup of each site.
INDEECO entered the two properties, formerly known as Lenor Properties and Ace Holdings, into the BVCP in September 2002, due to historical disposal actions resulting in soil and groundwater contamination.
The site remediation required excavation of 672 tons of contaminated soil from three separate areas of the properties and the removal and disposal of approximately 10,000 gallons of contaminated trench water and shallow groundwater.
The cleanup conducted was sufficient for the BVCP to issue a Certificate of Completion for an unrestricted property use of each property.
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources’ Brownfields/Voluntary Cleanup Section at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-8913.
LANDLORDS, PROPERTY MANAGERS FACE PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING LEAD PAINT DISCLOSURE REGULATIONS
This news release is reprinted from U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Web Site
Failure by landlords and property management companies to disclose information to tenants about actual and potential lead-based paint hazards in housing built before 1978 has led to 25 enforcement actions filed in 2005 by EPA Region 7 in Kansas City, Kan., with penalties totaling $64,535.
The 25 companies were penalized amounts ranging from $250 to $15,400. The number of housing units managed and/or owned by each company ranged from one to 1,245. EPA Region 7 includes Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
As part of their enforcement settlements, some of the violators agreed to undertake environmentally beneficial projects in exchange for reductions of the penalties. Such projects are known as supplemental environmental projects (SEPs). A SEP must improve, protect or reduce risks to public health or the environment at large. It cannot include activities a violator is otherwise legally required to perform.
The Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule is a public right-to-know regulatory initiative under the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act. The intent of the act and its accompanying regulations is to help prevent exposure to lead-based paint by requiring disclosure and notification of actual and potential hazards when selling or leasing housing.
EPA Regional Administrator Jim Gulliford said, “Protecting children from the dangers of lead-based paint is one of EPA’s highest priorities. Compliance with this law is important in preventing exposure - especially exposure of children - to this hazard.”
High levels of lead in children cause permanent damage to the brain and nervous system and other widespread health problems, such as reduced intelligence and attention span, hearing loss, stunted growth, reading and learning problems, and behavioral difficulties.
The disclosure rule requires landlords, sellers and real estate agents to provide prospective tenants and purchasers with
• a lead hazard information pamphlet
• any information or reports about lead-based paint hazards at the property and
• a lead-based paint disclosure form containing a lead warning statement to be signed by the parties involved.
Sellers must also provide purchasers with an opportunity to conduct a lead-based paint evaluation.
Landlords and property managers can visit www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/leadbase.htm for sample documents and instructions in English and Spanish.
EPA ACCEPTING PROPOSALS FROM ORGANIZATIONS FOR EARTH DAY FINANCIAL SUPPORT
This news release is reprinted from U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Web Site
Financial assistance to help communities celebrate Earth Day 2006 in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska is available from EPA Region 7. The national Earth Day 2006 is Saturday, April 22.
Region 7 is accepting proposals from local agencies, state agencies, environmental groups, and not-for-profit organizations.
Proposals should range from $500 to $2,500 and can celebrate Earth Day throughout the year. Instructions and criteria can be obtained by accessing the Region 7 Web site at www.epa.gov/region07/news_events/events/index.htm.
Denise Morrison is the contact for Earth Day. Morrison can also be contacted toll-free at 800-223-0425.
Questions may also be addressed to Mrs. Morrison at morrison.denise@epa.gov.
Proposals are due by Monday, March 6. Earth Day financial assistance notification will be made by late March to recipients only. Recipients will be required to submit a final report at the completion of the project summarizing their Earth Day accomplishments.
MISSOURI FIFTH-GRADE STUDENTS INVITED TO ENTER EARTH DAY SLOGAN CONTEST
An Earth Day slogan contest is currently underway for Missouri fifth-grade students. The winning slogan will be the theme for Earth Day 2006 activities at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City. The person who submits the winning entry will be honored during the Earth Day celebration on April 21, 2006. The winner also will receive a certificate for a $100 savings bond, donated by Central Bank in Jefferson City.
The contest is open to all Missouri fifth-graders. No purchase is necessary. Requests for entry forms should be made by no later than Feb. 17, 2006. The deadline for entry is Feb. 28, 2006. The winner will be announced in March 2006. The winner’s name also will be posted on the department’s Earth Day pages on the Web. Entry forms are available on the Web at www.dnr.mo.gov/earthday/06sloganentry.pdf
If you are a Missouri fifth-grader, complete an entry form and return it to
Earth Day Slogan Contest
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Attention: Van Beydler
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176
For more information about Earth Day in Missouri, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/earthday/index.html.
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;
- 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. To report a hazardous substance spill call 573-634-2436.
DEPARTMENT RESPONDS TO ACETYLENE TRACTOR TRAILER FIRE IN BOONE COUNTY
On the morning of Jan. 15, staff from the departments’ Environmental Emergency Response Team responded immediately to the scene of an accident on I-70 in Boone County, involving a tractor-trailer carrying 200 cylinders of acetylene. Acetylene is commonly used in a variety of manufacturing, welding and cutting processes.
The tractor-trailer left the interstate just west of the Boone/Callaway county line, crashing into a tributary leading to Cedar Creek, where it caught fire. The fire department tried to control the fire by applying a foam blanket on the trailer and cylinders. Acetylene leaking from the cylinders continued to reignite. For safety reasons, authorities decided to allow the fire to burn itself out.
The 10 to 12,000 cubic feet of acetylene burned out around 4:30 a.m. the next morning. All cylinders were safely removed from the tributary. To contain fire-fighting runoff water, containment dams were constructed in the tributary. A dam was also constructed upstream and stream water pumped around the accident scene to reduce the amount of impacted water. Twenty-five thousand gallons of water were removed from the tributary and prevented from affecting Cedar Creek. Contaminated soil and other debris were excavated and moved off-site for proper disposal.
MERCURY SPILLED AT CRANE
MUNICIPAL POOL
The morning of Jan. 19, the Southwest Regional Office received a call from the Crane Police Department, reporting that three juveniles had entered the Crane Municipal Pool on Jan. 15 and removed a bottle of mercury. One of the children dropped the bottle, which broke and spilled onto a sidewalk and parking lot of the pool facility. One of the children collected some mercury in a soda bottle and took it to the Marionville School, giving it to a teacher.
A State On-Scene Coordinator from the Southwest Regional Office was immediately sent to investigate. An On-Scene Coordinator from Jefferson City was also dispatched, taking a Mercury Vapor Analyzer and Mercury Vacuum to the scene. An estimated 16 ounces of mercury had been contained in the bottle that had been broken, covering an area roughly six feet wide by 40 feet long. At this point it was determined that the volume of mercury spilled exceeded the resources of the responders. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was called. EPA dispatched an On-Scene Coordinator and cleanup contractors.
The coordinators interviewed local law enforcement, school leaders and parents of the juveniles to determine who had been in contact with the mercury and where it was taken. Three residences and the schools at Marionville and Crane were identified as having a potential for contamination. Information from the interviews revealed that the mercury taken to Marionville School was not spilled or removed from its container and no mercury had been taken to Crane School.
Surveying the households with the Mercury Vapor Analyzer, the staff were able to find clothing and personal items the children were wearing at the time of the exposure, which were removed from the home and collected for disposal. After removal of the items, two of the homes were surveyed with instruments and determined safe. Contaminated carpeting had to be removed from the other home before safe levels of mercury were achieved. The schools were surveyed and also determined to be safe. The EPA cleanup contractor completed the work to vacuum up the mercury spilled on the sidewalk and parking lot of the municipal pool.
The department provides daily support and protection for the citizens of Missouri during environmental emergencies such as these accidents. The department’s environmental emergency response system has on-scene coordinators located throughout the state and available 24-hours a day, seven days a week to respond to hazardous substance spills. The hazardous waste generator fee funds the system.
For more information contact Kerry Cordray with the department’s Field Services Division at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-4220 or visit the department’s Web page at www.dnr.mo.gov.
GRANTS AND LOANS
GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES $1.3 MILLION GRANT FOR BRANSON WEST
Department of Natural Resources Awards Grant for Wastewater Improvements
Gov. Matt Blunt announced the city of Branson West will receive a $1.35 million grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to improve its wastewater system.
“This is an area that is seeing tremendous growth, and it is vital for the environment and the economy that the wastewater treatment infrastructure keeps pace,” Blunt said.
The city will use the grant funds to construct a phosphorus removal facility at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Excess phosphorus in wastewater discharge contributes to excessive growth of algae, which can damage lakes and streams. Constructing a phosphorus removal system will help maintain the clarity and health of the streams receiving the treated wastewater and will benefit Table Rock Lake, which is where the water eventually ends.
The city estimates the project will cost about $2.21 million and be complete in February 2007. Funding for the grant comes from State Water Pollution Bond Funds and a capitalization grant from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. The city will use the grant in conjunction with local funds and other grant funds.
The department’s Water Protection Program will administer the grant. For more information, contact Richard Harris at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-6823.
DEPARTMENT AWARDS $500,000 TO TRACY FOR WASTEWATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS
The city of Tracy, located in Platte County, will receive a $500,000 loan from the Missouri
Department of Natural Resources to improve its wastewater system.
The city will use the money to eliminate a failing wastewater treatment plant currently serving 38 residential customers. These customers, as well as 60 new customers currently on septic tank systems, will connect to a new collection system. The new system will pump wastewater under the Platte River to Platte City for treatment.
Funding for the loan comes from State Water Pollution Control Bond Funds. The interest rate on the loan will be 1.6 percent, which is substantially below current market conditions.
“This loan represents a savings of approximately $240,000 and allows these environmental improvements to be made at an affordable level,” said Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers.
The loan will be administered by the Department of Natural Resources’ Water Protection Program.
For more information, contact Kirby Finders of the department’s Water Protection Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-0827.
Visit Calendar of Events at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do for a complete list of Department of Natural Resources' events through the end of the calendar year.
SCRAP TIRE ADVISORY GROUP TO MEET
FEB. 17
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Solid Waste Management Program will hold a Scrap Tire Advisory Group meeting from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., Feb. 17 at the Department of Natural Resources’ Conference Center, 1738 E. Elm St., Jefferson City.
For more information, call Dan Fester of the department’s Solid Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-3909.
MISSOURI WATER QUALITY COORDINATING COMMITTEE TO MEET FEB. 21
The Missouri Water Quality Coordinating Committee will meet at 10 a.m., Feb. 21 at the Conference Building of the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Road
in Columbia.
For more information, contact Darlene Schaben in the department’s Water Protection Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-7428.
MOEIS TRAINING WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED IN ST. LOUIS, KANSAS CITY AND SPRINGFIELD
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will conduct free training for submitting emission
inventory questionnaires electronically on the Web through the MoEIS online system. Sessions are held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can pre-register for the training and walk-ins are allowed. To pre-register for MoEIS training, call toll-free at 1-866-663-4748.
Upcoming MoEIS Workshops:
Feb. 15, 2006 - St. Louis
St. Louis Regional Office
7545 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63125
Feb. 22, 2006 - St. Louis
St. Louis Regional Office
7545 S. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63125
Feb. 24, 2006 - Kansas City
Kansas City Health Department
2400 Troost Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64108
Feb. 28, 2006 - Springfield
Southwest Regional Office
East and West Conference Rooms
2040 West Woodland
Springfield, MO 65807
FORMER TYSON VALLEY POWDER FARM PUBLIC AVAILABILITY SESSION TO BE HELD FEB. 23
A public availability session about the Former Tyson Valley Powder Farm will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Tyson Research Center’s Gate House Building, I-44 and Beaumont-Antire Road, Washington University, in Eureka, MO.
The availability session allows the public to raise questions and provide comments about a draft engineering evaluation/cost analysis that gives four options for cleaning up the site. The draft engineering evaluation/cost analysis is available for public review through March 1, 2006.
For more information, contact Ramona Huckstep with the department’s Hazardous Waste Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-522-1540.
MISSOURI CLEAN WATER COMMISSION TO MEET MARCH 1
The Missouri Clean Water Commission will hold a public meeting at 9 a.m., March 1 at the Department of Natural Resources’ Lewis and Clark State Office Building, 1101 Riverside Dr., Jefferson City.
There will be a public hearing at the meeting to provide the department and public the opportunity to comment on Clean Water State Revolving Fund Intended Use Plan and State Grant Priority List. The public forum is not a forum for debate or resolution of issues. Opportunity to be heard at the hearing shall be afforded to any interested person.
For more information, call the Department of Natural Resources’ Water Protection Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.
SOLID WASTE ADVISORY BOARD TO MEET MARCH 1
The Missouri Solid Waste Advisory Board will hold a public meeting at 1 p.m., March 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.
LANDFILL FORUM TO MEET MARCH 6
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will hold a landfill forum from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 6, at the department’s public meeting rooms at 1738 East Elm St., in Jefferson City, MO.
Landfill owners and consultants will discuss technical issues about solid waste landfill management.
For more information, contact Frank Dolan with the department’s Solid Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401.
DAM AND RESERVOIR SAFETY COUNCIL TO MEET MARCH 8
The Missouri Dam and Reservoir Safety Council will hold a public meeting at 10:45 a.m., March 8 at the Department of Natural Resources’ Rolla office, 111 Fairgrounds Road.
For more information, call the department’s Water Resources Center at 573-368-2175.
MISSOURI AIR CONSERVATION COMMISSION TO MEET MARCH 30
The Missouri Air Conservation Commission will hold a public meeting at 9 a.m., March 30 at the Department of Natural Resources’ Conference Center, 1738 E. Elm St., Jefferson City.
For more information, call the department’s Air Pollution Control Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4817.
MISSOURI CLEAN WATER FORUM ADVISORY GROUPS TO MEET
The department’s Water Protection Program has developed, through its Clean Water Forum meetings, advisory groups to provide input on upcoming regulatory issues. There are many clean water policy issues confronting Missouri, and the department must always consider how policy issues affect regulated entities and the public. The greater the magnitude of any decision, the more input should be solicited from the affected interests.
The advisory group meetings are open to the public and will be held at the Lewis and Clark State Office Building, 1101 Riverside Dr., Jefferson City. The topics and meeting times are
Funding, Staff and Resources
March 8, April 11, May 10
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Federal Safe Drinking Water Rules and Design Guide
March 9, April 13, May 11
9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Antidegredation Implementation Procedures
March 8, April 11, May 10
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
303 (d) list and Water Quality Monitoring Issues
March 15, April 19, May 17
10 a.m. to noon
Unclassified Streams, Wetland Classification and Tiered Aquatic Life Use
March 15, April 19, May 17
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Small Flows Effluent Limits, Lagoon Policy and Pesticides
March 7, March 21, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Water Quality Effluent Limits, Effluent Dominated Streams and Waivers to Disinfect
April 11, May 9
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Continuing Authorities
March 13
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
SRF Priority Points and Processes
To be determined
For more information on the Clean Water Forum Advisory Groups, please call the Department of Natural Resources’ Water Protection Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.
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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