News Release No. 266

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES MAKES INTERNAL MANUALS AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC
Online Manuals Give Business Community Insight to Permitting and Inspection Processes

Volume 34-266

Contact: Connie Patterson

(For immediate release)

573-751-1010

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JULY 7, 2006 -- Those responsible for ensuring that their operations comply with state environmental requirements have new tools to aid them in their efforts: the how-to manuals used by regulators in writing permits and performing environmental inspections and investigations.

"Everyone will be able to work off of the same page because these manuals provide the same information to our permittees and to our customers that our staff uses," said Doyle Childers, director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. "Making these manuals available to the public will promote a better understanding of department procedures. Anything we can do to take the mystery out of our processes saves businesses time and money and saves our own staff resources."

The Water Pollution Control Permits Manual is a tool for department staff writing permits under the Missouri Clean Water Law. It is intended to help all department offices involved in water pollution control permitting follow the same basic processes and guidelines when drafting permits, helping to ensure consistency.

The department is making this manual available online at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/permits/manual/index.html to assist those who are seeking or are working to comply with department permits. This guide will serve as a good starting point for basic information and a tool to find other resources. Links and contact information for other agencies can be found throughout the guide. This manual is still in progress and will be continually updated.

The department's Field Services Division is in the process of making its Operations Manual available on the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/services/opsmanual.htm. This manual also will be updated regularly and provides information on the department's initial assistance visits, inspections, complaint investigations and other division procedures. Regulated businesses and facilities may find the department's procedures and checklists helpful for developing their own internal inspections and procedures.

"The public, regulated facilities and the department all benefit by having our procedures transparent and well understood by those we inspect, permit and investigate," Childers added.

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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