News Release No. 365

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES HONORS
ST. JOSEPH WATER TREATMENT PLANT
Facility Makes Commitment to Protecting Water Quality

Volume 32-365

Contact: Kerry Cordray

(For immediate release)

573-526-4220

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 10, 2004 -The Missouri Department of Natural Resources today honored the Missouri American Water Company - St. Joseph Drinking Water Treatment Plant for its work on behalf of the region's water quality.

This facility has been accepted for Advanced Partner membership in Missouri's Environmental Management Partnership (MEMP) with the Department of Natural Resources. The partnership encourages organizations of any type or size to improve their environmental performances by developing and implementing an environmental management system (EMS). An organization joining the partnership commits to continual improvement through performance-based objectives and targets, and periodically reviews and evaluates its environmental performance. The partnership holds its members to generally recognized EMS conformance criteria, which include regulatory compliance and broader environmental goals.

"This facility is always looking for ways to do things better, and to make use of the most current technology not only to serve its customers, but to serve all Missouri citizens by protecting the quality of the water we all share," said Steve Mahfood, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Missouri American - St. Joseph District provides water service to customers in the City of St. Joseph, the village of Country Club and surrounding areas in Buchanan, Andrew and Dekalb counties in Missouri. Water is also sold to the cities of Elwood and Wathena, Kan. The plant meets stringent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards to remain in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

"This facility's decision to join the partnership as an Advanced Partner demonstrates a clear commitment to environmental protection," Mahfood said. "Missouri American plans to employ pollution prevention (waste reduction) as an important part of its environmental control and to have active community outreach and involvement."

In addition to entering into this important partnership, staff there also regularly attends various forms of training offered through the Department of Natural Resources, which helps ensure that they are able to meet the needs of the citizens they serve in an environmentally sensitive manner.

"Missouri American's decision to participate in this program is a classic example of the dedication our company has to making environmental management a fundamental part of our business," said Michael Gray, operations manager for northwest operations. "It is our responsibility to be active stewards who strive to protect and maintain not only the natural resource we provide to our customers, but the environment as a whole."

An EMS is a process through which an organization determines activities, services or products that have an effect on the environment and then puts into action a framework of policies, communications, procedures, and employee responsibilities to prevent or correct negative environmental effects and areas of regulatory noncompliance. For more information, contact the department's Outreach and Assistance Center at 800-361-4827.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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