News Release No. 009

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ORDERS CRAIG INDUSTRIES TO STOP OPERATING UNCONTROLLED
CHARCOAL KILNS

Volume 34-009

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JAN. 13, 2006 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources ordered Craig Industries, Inc. to stop operating some of its charcoal kilns after failing to upgrade its facility with protective air control devices.

The department today notified Craig Industries, Inc. by phone that department staff would hand deliver a Notice of Violation and a Cease and Desist Order to them this afternoon. The order requires Craig Industries, located in Shannon County, to immediately stop operation of any uncontrolled charcoal kilns. A state regulation, effective in 1998, required all charcoal kilns to install emission control devices no later than Dec. 31, 2005. Craig Industries continued to operate kilns without the required emission controls resulting in a serious violation of air quality rules. Although Craig Industries must cease operation of its uncontrolled kilns, it will still be able to operate the kilns that have emissions control devices.

The department learned through citizen complaints that Craig Industries was still operating its uncontrolled charcoal kilns. On Jan. 9 the department's Southeast Regional Office inspected Craig Industries facility and observed numerous charcoal kilns operating without emission controls. The facility was also preparing to load additional uncontrolled kilns for operation.

"The company indicated to the department's inspectors it intended to continue to operate uncontrolled charcoal kilns," said Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers. All other charcoal kilns in Missouri have added control devices before the Dec. 31 deadline. "The department cannot tolerate this blatant disregard for air quality requirements, which is why we felt we needed to take this strong action. While the department has no interest in impeding the economic resources of the community, all other charcoal kilns in the state have resolved this long-standing situation. This situation also creates a distinct competitive advantage to Craig Industries over other kiln operations who are complying with the state's environmental laws and regulations," continued Childers.

Investigations conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the department found that smoke from uncontrolled charcoal kilns contains numerous toxic and irritant substances. The studies also found that uncontrolled charcoal kiln operation is likely to cause exceedence of the health based standard for particulate matter. Particulate matter can increase the likelihood of chronic respiratory illness, cause lung damage and aggravate respiratory and cardiovascular illness.

A copy of today's order is available at www.dnr.mo.gov/craigorder.pdf. For more information, contact the department's Air Pollution Control Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4817.

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.

###