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News Release 535
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES INVESTIGATES FUEL SPILLS AT LAKE OF THE OZARKS AND LAKE POMME DE TERRE
Volume 34-535 |
Contact: Kerry Cordray |
(For immediate release) |
573-526-4220 |
JEFFERSON CITY, MO, DEC. 6, 2006 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has mobilized staff members from the department's Environmental Emergency Response (EER) team to the Lake of the Ozarks to investigate fuel leaks from boats and docks damaged by the recent winter storms.
EER staff conducted aerial surveys of the Lake of the Ozarks area yesterday and will continue investigations today by land. Staff from the department's Southwest Regional Office will also survey Lake Pomme De Terre for fuel or hazardous materials leaks.
Many docks and hundreds of boats were destroyed or sunken on Missouri lakes due to the weight of ice and snow following the Dec. 1 storm. The department's EER call center received initial reports of two fuel leaks at Lake of the Ozarks during the weekend. Citizens who notice petroleum sheens on the surface of the water, suspect hazardous materials have been released, or have questions about hazardous materials should contact the department's Environmental Emergency Response staff at 573-634-2436.
The department encourages citizens dealing with damaged docks to manage scrap metal, unencapsulated dock foam and other dock materials responsibly. All solid waste originating from damaged docks or boats must be removed from the water and properly disposed. When possible, please separate solid waste from recyclable material. Individuals needing to dispose of storm debris should contact local officials first for special collection information, either for recycling or disposal. Scrap metal can be taken to a scrap metal yard. Unencapsulated dock foam can be thrown away in a permitted landfill, but it can also be recycled. For more information on recycling dock foam, or other waste management questions, contact the department's Solid Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401.
AmerenUE will be doing a survey of the Lake of the Ozarks' shoreline to access the damage and potential cleanup issues. AmerenUE will also provide guidance on the shoreline cleanup. Citizens can contact AmerenUE at 800-552-7583 or 573-365-9203.
The department provides daily support and protection for the citizens of Missouri during environmental emergencies. The department's environmental emergency response system has on-scene coordinators located throughout the state and available 24-hours a day, seven days a week to respond to hazardous substance spills. The hazardous waste generator fee funds the system.
For more information contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-3443, or visit the department's Web page at www.dnr.mo.gov.
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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