News Release No. 432

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ORDERS REMOVAL OF ROTTING CHICKENS FROM EXETER PLANT

Volume 33-432

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 14, 2005 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has issued an order to the owner of Eskimo Packing chicken processing plant, Exeter, Mo., to remove an estimated 250,000 pounds of rotting chicken from the plant by 5 p.m. Saturday, according to department Director Doyle Childers.

"The department has issued a Hazardous Substance Declaration to Eskimo Packing, and its principal, Mr. David Jacobs, ordering the removal and proper disposal of all the rotting chicken by 5 p.m. Saturday," Childers said. "If he fails to meet the Saturday deadline, the state will take immediate action to properly remove the material in order to protect public health and safety and will seek reimbursement for the cost of the cleanup from Mr. Jacob."

The department began its investigation after being notified on Tuesday that the plant was no longer in operation and that the chicken had been left to rot, said Alan Reinkemeyer, chief of the department's Environmental Emergency Response (EER) section. "An inspection by department staff found rotting or putrefied chicken, chicken parts and constituents at the site," said Reinkemeyer. "As a result of the investigation, the department has determined this incident is a public health concern and threatens the environment."

Under the terms of the order, the cleanup is to be done under the supervision of the department's on-scene coordinator. The department has also asked the Attorney General's Office to seek a temporary restraining order also requiring Jacob to cleanup the site by 5 p.m. Saturday, Childers said.

Gov. Matt Blunt had called on the department to make sure the incident did not progress to the point of endangering the health or well being of Exeter residents.

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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