News Release No. 516

MISSOURI'S TOP ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2005

Volume 33-516

Contact: Connie Patterson

(For immediate release)

573-751-1010

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 29, 2005 -- Improvements to the state park system, more dollars for Missouri communities, schools and local governments and better customer service from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources are just a few improvements Missouri citizens received in 2005.

Earlier this year, Gov. Blunt challenged the Department of Natural Resources to provide a better balance between protecting our natural resources and doing things that spur economic growth. The department responded to the governor's challenge and accomplished the following for Missouri's environment this year:

1. Department of Natural Resources responds to Taum Sauk Reservoir failure
In the early morning hours of Dec. 14, the AmerenUE Taum Sauk hydroelectric plant's upper reservoir near Lesterville breached, flooding Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park with approximately 1.3 billion gallons of water.

The state holds AmerenUE responsible for the incident and any subsequent damage and cleanup, and will require AmerenUE to pay for and reimburse the state for any expenses, including Missouri Department of Natural Resources oversight and assistance. Gov. Matt Blunt directed the use of the department's emergency funds to cover the state's interim costs to restore and stabilize the flood area until AmerenUE can reimburse the state.

Environmental stabilization and water quality impacts to the Black River were the state's immediate concerns. The Department of Natural Resources is committed to having some services available at the park by this summer, but doesn't want to go so fast that it negatively impacts the future of the park, according to Director Doyle Childers.

Preliminary reports indicate the majority of the damage was in the area adjacent to the East Fork of the Black River, which flows through Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park. The park superintendent's residence, the campground and the park's water plant were destroyed and significant damage was done to other smaller buildings, a section of the Ozark Trail and the boardwalk to the shut-ins -- the park's signature natural feature. The park store and office were flooded but are still standing. The park remains closed until services can be restored and it is safe to reopen to the public. People interested in the status of the state park can visit the department's Web site at www.mostateparks.com.

2. Department of Natural Resources does business in a new way
This year, the Department of Natural Resources launched a new compliance assistance initiative to assist citizens, communities and businesses that receive permits, licenses, certifications and registrations from the department. Providing "instruction manuals" on its Web site in plain English and walking permittees through their unique permit requirements and providing compliance assistance up front will become routine in 2006.

In addition to onsite visits, the department's ombudsmen have contacted more than 360 citizens, community officials and businesses since September. To improve customer service, ombudsmen go to problems instead of waiting for problems to come to them. Six ombudsmen serve central, northwest, southeast and southwest Missouri as well as the St. Louis area. The department plans to find a Kansas City area ombudsman soon.

The Department of Natural Resources continues to actively pursue improvements to its permitting and enforcement processes. Building cooperation with the agricultural and economic development communities, including the tourism industry, also ranked high on the department's to do list this year.

These efforts are part of the Department of Natural Resources' move toward a new way of doing business. The awaking of an environmental awareness during the 1960s and 1970s created the department's "B-52" way of doing business. While the B-52 plane has been changed and remodeled, it still flies. However, the B-2 plane is much improved, using modern technology with more extensive capabilities than the B-52 can provide. The department has worked hard this year to transform its B-52 structure into a new B-2 model to better serve Missouri citizens.

3. Legislature reinstates Missouri's tire fee
Senate Bill 225 re-established Missouri's 50-cent per scrap tire fee until Jan. 1, 2010. There are more than 2.5 million scrap tires remaining across Missouri awaiting cleanups. The 50-cent per scrap tire fee generates about $2.1 million annually for tire cleanups, grants, educational outreach and staff to administer the tire efforts. Senate Bill 225 also provides direction and continues funding for Missouri's management of solid wastes, hazardous wastes and dry cleaners contamination.

4. Department opens new satellite offices to better serve Missouri citizens
The Department of Natural Resources opened satellite offices in Maryville and Rolla this year. These offices complement and extend department services provided to northwest Missouri and in the Rolla, Fort Leonard Wood and Lake of the Ozarks areas.

The department's Maryville satellite office, housed on the Northwest Missouri State University campus, opened in November 2005. Two staff will provide nearby counties with facility inspections and compliance assistance services, focusing on assistance to drinking water and wastewater facilities.

In December 2005, the department opened its Rolla satellite office. Two environmental specialists will provide nearby counties with facility inspections and compliance assistance services. The office will likely grow as new area needs are identified. The new office is located in the department's existing Division of Geology and Land Survey building in Rolla.

The department plans to open a satellite office in Portageville in early 2006.

5. Campground and camper cabin improvements at Missouri state parks
Major improvements were made to campgrounds within many of Missouri's state parks and historic sites. These improvements were made possible by the one-tenth-of-one percent parks-and soils sales tax, which was approved by Missouri voters. To better meet the needs of campers, the department continued its initiative to increase the number of electrical campsites, upgrade existing electrical campsites and renovate showerhouses and restrooms. In 2005, approximately 230 basic campsites were upgraded to electricity. In addition, a project is under way at Bennett Spring State Park to provide larger campsites. Another major improvement in two campgrounds was the addition of six log camper cabins at Mark Twain State Park near Stoutsville and five log camper cabins at Stockton State Park. These rustic cabins provide a new type of camping experience, with electricity but no water or restrooms.

6. Water quality standards are expanded
Federal law requires the State of Missouri to evaluate water quality in our streams every two years. The state must publish a list of streams needing attention due to pollution. Streams not meeting water quality standards are considered impaired. The state must comply with EPA policy and federal requirements to ensure our water quality standards protect Missouri streams. The Missouri Coalition for the Environment prevailed in its lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over Missouri's water quality standards. As part of the settlement, the State of Missouri was required to significantly expand water quality criteria on 16,000 stream miles to bring state standards in line with federal standards. As a result of the lawsuit, most of those communities that did not disinfect treated effluent will now be required to do so. Most water bodies of the state will now be protected for whole body contact. This new way of doing business was developed with stakeholder input.

7. Missouri River battle continues
The Department of Natural Resources continues the fight for adequate water in the Missouri River. Although the Corps of Engineers' revision to its operations manual, called the Master Manual, was completed in March 2004, drought in the Missouri River basin has continued to fuel competition for water. One of the highlights of 2005 was the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals decision on the Missouri River. The court reaffirmed that the priorities set by Congress of flood control and navigation, not reservoir recreation, are the dominant functions of the Missouri River. The amount of water available for navigation also allows sufficient amounts for drinking water and to operate power plants, all critical for Missouri's economic future. The court also found that the Master Manual is a binding rule that the Corps must follow. This decision strengthens the State of Missouri's position as we defend the current and future uses of the Missouri River.

8. Iliniwek Village dedicated June 25
In June, the Department of Natural Resources dedicated the Iliniwek Village State Historic Site. Located in Clark County, it is Missouri's only known Iliniwek village site.

The Iliniwek, or Illinois, was one of the three most significant American Indian groups occupying Missouri at the time of first European contact. Historians believe the site was the village that explorers Pierre Marquette and Louis Jolliet visited on their 1673 expedition down the Mississippi River. Primary funding for development and operation of Iliniwek Village State Historic Site is the one-tenth-of-one-percent parks-and-soils sales tax, approved by Missouri voters. For more information about state parks and historic sites, visit www.mostateparks.com.

9. Department of Natural Resources orders rotting chickens removed from Exeter
In October, the Department of Natural Resources ordered Eskimo Packing chicken processing plant in Exeter to remove an estimated 250,000 pounds of rotting chicken from the plant. An inspection by the department's Environmental Emergency Response staff found the plant no longer in operation and chicken left to rot. The Department of Natural Resources supervised the cleanup until the public health concerns and environmental impacts were addressed.

10. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita impact Missouri gas prices
Hurricane Katrina shut down coastal and offshore oil platforms, refineries and pipelines, contributing to significantly increasing fuel prices. Transportation fuel prices in Missouri rose in response to higher crude oil prices. Higher crude oil prices translated into higher prices for gasoline and diesel at the pump. At Gov. Blunt's request, the department's Energy Center obtained federal waivers to make regular gasoline available in regions of the state where reformulated gasoline supplies were disrupted. With the waivers, bulk terminals and pipelines serving Missouri reported normal operations, and motor gasoline and diesel fuel supplies in Missouri were adequate to meet demand. Hurricane Katrina did not affect the operation of refineries located in Texas and Oklahoma that provide gas and diesel fuel to Missouri. The department's Energy Center encouraged Missouri motorists to conserve fuel by car pooling, taking public transit, bicycling, walking and keeping vehicles in good repair to reduce transportation costs.

11. Morris State Park dedicated Oct. 8
In October, the Department of Natural Resources dedicated Morris State Park, a new state park that preserves a unique area in Missouri's Bootheel. Jim D. Morris of Springfield donated the 161-acre park, located near Campbell, to the department.

Morris State Park is located in an area of southeast Missouri known as Crowley's Ridge, a unique geologic formation of low hills in the Mississippi River floodplain. Development at the park was made possible by the one-tenth-of-one percent parks-and soils sales tax, which was approved by Missouri voters. Information on state parks and historic sites is available at www.mostateparks.com.

12. Energy Loan Program resumes
In November, the Department of Natural Resources announced it was again accepting applications for its popular Energy Loan Program. Through this program, school districts, universities and local governments are capable of making energy-efficient upgrades to their facilities, which saves energy, money and the environment.

Half of the available funds are reserved for public schools, while 25 percent will be dedicated to each of the local government and public higher education sectors.

Since its inception in 1989, the program has made more than 400 loans with a total value of more than $65 million. The cumulative energy savings resulting from energy loan-financed projects are estimated at $72 million.

13. Northwest Missouri drinking water conference is successful
Also in November, the Department of Natural Resources and Northwest Missouri State University hosted a regional drinking water planning conference on the Northwest campus in Maryville. Conference support was provided by the department, State Representative Brad Lager and the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments. City and county officials and water facility operators from 12 northwest Missouri counties joined with legislators and state and federal agency representatives to discuss regional and local problems with drinking water supplies and distribution, aging treatment facilities and drinking water quality issues.

14. Department of Natural Resources maps data for St. Louis area earthquake hazards project
The Department of Natural Resources is developing data that will help St. Louis area building officials better prepare for earthquakes. In addition to mapping, the department will merge geotechnical-engineering data from various public sources such as the Missouri Department of Transportation, the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District and the Army Corps of Engineers. This resource tool will serve both construction engineering projects and municipalities throughout metropolitan St. Louis. The database and mapping project will help mitigate potential earthquake damage to structures and lessen the economic impact of earthquakes by defining soil and geologic characteristics of local sites.

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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