News Release No. 391

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT ON GRINDSTONE/WAL-MART PROJECT

Volume 32-391

Contact: Kerry Cordray

(For immediate release)

573-526-4220

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 1, 2004 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will host a public hearing at 7 p.m., Dec. 13, in the Boone County Government Center. The center is located at 801 E.Walnut, room 245, in Columbia, Mo. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the Grindstone Plaza, L.L.C., application for a 401 Certification related to the proposed construction of a commercial shopping center near Hinkson Creek.

Before proceeding with the project, Grindstone Plaza, L.L.C., must receive a 401 Water Quality Certification from the department as well as a 404 permit from the U.S. Corps of Engineers. The 401 Certification is how the state verifies that the project will not violate water quality standards. The department works with the applicants to avoid and minimize impacts to waters and wetlands.

In their original application, THF Grindstone Plaza Development, L.L.C., proposed to impact 1,386 linear feet of an unnamed tributary of Hinkson Creek. Since the original public notice, the project's impacts to the unnamed tributary have been substantially reduced, now totaling 976 feet. Of this impact, 605 feet will be impacted by retaining walls to preserve the natural streambed. Approximately 371 feet will be impacted by new construction, primarily piped stream crossings. Fill material will be obtained onsite for the construction of a parking area and a portion of Gray Oak Drive for the development of a proposed commercial shopping center: Grindstone Plaza. The development will include a Wal-Mart Super Center as well as other retail businesses, office and residential buildings. The permit application for which the Corps issued a public notice on May 10, 2004, includes onsite storm water detention. Storm water may be detained offsite by a proposed regional detention basin (see public notice for Corps of engineers permit number 200401138). In any event, storm sewer inlet filters will be installed to treat storm water runoff from the site to address water quality concerns in this watershed.

The project is located in an unnamed tributary of Hinkson Creek in Section 30, Township 48 north, Range 12 west in Boone County on the north side of Grindstone Parkway (Route AC) between Green Meadows Road and Rock Quarry Road in the City of Columbia.

People requiring special services or accommodations at the hearing can make arrangements by calling 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300. Hearing-impaired individuals may contact the program through Relay Missouri at 800-735-2966.

For more information, contact the Water Protection Program at 800-361-4827 or e-mail. For more information about the Water Protection Program, please visit www.dnr.mo.gov/wpscd/wpcp.

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

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