News Release No. 501

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES RECEIVES SETTLEMENT PENALTY FROM ROYAL CANIN USA, INC. IN PHELPS COUNTY

Volume 33-501

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 13, 2005 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources recently joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Attorney's Office to negotiate a settlement with Royal Canin USA, Inc. located at 1700 Bridge School Road in Rolla. The facility violated the Missouri Clean Water Law when an estimated 3,000 gallons of liquid chicken fat ran off the facility into the Little Beaver Creek watershed. Royal Canin is a Missouri corporation that manufactures dog and cat food.

Royal Canin entered a guilty plea Dec. 13 in federal court agreeing to pay $35,000 in Natural Resources Damages to the state and a $35,000 civil penalty. The department will use the Natural Resources Damages payment to purchase water test kits for stream teams to monitor water quality in streams around the state.

Royal Canin agreed to reimburse the Department of Natural Resources $6,727 in restitution for the costs it incurred during the investigation. The facility voluntarily reimbursed the Rolla Fire Department $17,125. Royal Canin agreed to pay a $125,000 federal fine under the Clean Water Act and $41,383 fine for failure to abide by its spill control plan.

In response to a complaint, the department's Environmental Emergency Response team investigated a release of liquid chicken fat from the Royal Canin facility on April 4, 2005. Staff observed chicken fat at the storm water outfall below the facility on rural pasture property and in an unnamed tributary of Little Beaver Creek for at least 1,800 feet.

The Rolla Fire Department contained the release by installing an interceptor trench, two earthen dams and two absorbent booms. The fire department's actions helped the liquid solidify when held in contact with the cool water of the creek.

The Department of Natural Resources provided oversight during the incident and instructed Royal Canin to remove the fat. Royal Canin cooperated with the department during the cleanup. The site cleanup was substantially complete by April 8. The department performed a biological stream investigation of the macroinvertebrate community in the creek to assess the impact of the chicken fat and found no major evidence of impact to the aquatic community.

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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