News Release 421

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IMPROVES ACCESS
FOR MISSOURI CITIZENS
Forms now available online for easier submission and use by the public

Volume 34-421

Contact: Connie Patterson

(For immediate release)

573-751-1010

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, OCT. 3, 2006 -- Missouri businesses, communities and citizens need, on average, 2,444 land disturbance and 1,074 sewer extension permits annually. Until recently, understanding and filling out the paperwork was an effort. Today, however, the Department of Natural Resources provides improved customer service.

"In the past, people had to fill out applications and registrations by hand or on a typewriter, and you may have needed to visit one of our offices to get help to complete them," said Doyle Childers, director of the Department of Natural Resources. "Now, about 70 percent of those can be completed on your computer."

When customers are done filling out the form, they can print, sign and mail it to the Department of Natural Resources. Customers can reuse these forms year after year. The department is working toward being able to accept electronic submission of these as well as accepting electronic payments.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources issues almost 30,000 permits each year to protect the state's natural resources. There are more than 150 types of permits used by facilities, communities and citizens to do business in Missouri. The department is focusing its efforts on the 25 permits that account for about 80 percent of the state's environmental permit traffic.

In addition to land disturbance and sewer extension permits, the department now offers electronic registrations for hazardous waste generator identification, dry cleaners and underground storage tanks. Burn permits are also available electronically.

Businesses, communities and citizens can check the department's Web site regularly at www.dnr.mo.gov/forms/ for updated forms and other information as it becomes available.

This is another component in the department's larger, ongoing effort to simplify the way it does business. Governor Blunt challenged the agency to make its processes less cumbersome for the public. By easing the paperwork process, the department hopes to help its permittees focus on running successful businesses in a way that's sensitive to Missouri's natural resources.

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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