News Release 558

MISSOURI AIR CONSERVATION COMMISSION HOSTS
PUBLIC MEETING AND HEARING DEC. 6 IN JEFFERSON CITY

Volume 35-558

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 30, 2007 -- The Missouri Air Conservation Commission will hold a public meeting at 9 a.m. on Dec. 6 at the Harry S Truman Building, Room 400, 301 W. High St., Jefferson City.

At this meeting, the commission intends to provide direction on potential revisions to the department's odor regulations. Earlier this year, the department established an odor workgroup to examine Missouri's odor regulations. The workgroup presented three proposals to the commission at its July meeting. The commission has spent considerable time and heard many comments on the current regulations. The commission's recommendations will be made with consideration of the many views of the odor workgroup participants. The workgroup was composed of representatives from industry, environmental groups, regulatory agencies and other interested parties.

The commission will also hold a public hearing on the Missouri State Implementation Plan for Regional Haze. The Missouri Regional Haze Plan was developed to meet the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Regional Haze Rule promulgated in 1999. It includes a description of the consultation process used to develop the plan, reasonable progress goals for achieving natural visibility conditions, calculations of baseline and natural visibility conditions, long-term strategy for regional haze, monitoring strategy and other implementation plan requirements. The plan will address the federal visibility requirements.

The proposed public hearing documents are available for review at the department's Air Pollution Control Program, 1659A E. Elm St., Jefferson City, and on the public notice section of the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/index.html.

The department will continue to accept written comments on the Missouri State Implementation Plan for Regional Haze until 5 p.m. on Dec. 13. Written comments can be sent to Chief, Operations Section, Department of Natural Resources, Air Pollution Control Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176 or by faxing to 573-751-2706 or by e-mail to apcpsppn@dnr.mo.gov. The department is required to respond to all comments in writing as part of the rulemaking process. Written comments and oral public hearing testimony are treated with equal consideration.

The department requests people intending to give verbal presentations on the proposed plan actions also provide a written copy of their testimony to the commission secretary at the time of the public hearing.

People requiring special services or accommodations to attend the meeting can make arrangements by calling 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4817. Hearing-impaired individuals may contact the program through Relay Missouri at 800-735-2966.

Rule proposals considered at this hearing may be adopted by the Missouri Air Conservation Commission as provided for under authority of 643.050, RSMo. For more information or a complete meeting agenda contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or
573-751-4817 or visit www.dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/macc.htm.

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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