News Release No. 080

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES WILL ALLOW RES TO OPERATE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS UNTIL MARCH 21

Volume 34-080

Contact: Connie Patterson

(For immediate release)

573-751-1010

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MARCH 7, 2006 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will allow Renewable Environmental Solutions, Inc. (RES) an opportunity to continue operating its Carthage facility March 7 through March 21 under normal conditions.

The department is allowing RES to operate its facility using 100 percent feedstock and will not limit its operation schedule. The department previously allowed RES to process materials on a conditional basis Feb. 23 through March 6. However, RES operated using a mixture of 50 percent normal Butterball feed stock and 50 percent grease and vegetable oils.

"The department is taking the next logical step with this facility," said Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers. "The department will evaluate the performance of RES under its normal operating conditions and see if it is able to move up to the final step. If problems develop, we will rescind the authorization. This is in line with the direction Governor Blunt provided the department when he ordered us to shut down RES in December."

Department staff will continue to monitor the air quality during this next step. RES must take all necessary steps to eliminate odors from its operations, including the routing of the trucks to and from the facility.

The department's authorization requires RES to maintain its existing odor control equipment and measures, and inspect all equipment and perform maintenance to ensure proper seals outside of the process building. The department is also requiring RES to submit a formal response for all odor complaints the department receives during the temporary operation. The response shall include wind speed and direction, approximate coordinates of odor observation, and a description of the intensity, character and duration of the odor observation. The additional complaint information collected should maximize the opportunity to locate and investigate any potential odor issue.

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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