News Release 115

WELDON SPRING RESTORATION ADVISORY BOARD WORKS TOWARD ADJOURNMENT

Volume 36-115

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO., MARCH 10, 2008 -- The Department of Defense, in coordination with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will host
a Restoration Advisory Board meeting and public availability session.  The meeting and session is
7 to 9 p.m. on March 13 at the Department of Energy Interpretive Center, 7295 Highway 94 S.,
St. Charles.

Participants will discuss the project status of the Weldon Spring Ordnance Works site and the adjournment of the Restoration Advisory Board, or RAB.

The Department of Energy has offered the Interpretive Center to the RAB for this meeting.  The proceedings of this meeting, however, do not involve the Department of Energy or the cleanup actions being conducted by the Department of Energy.

At the initiation of a project and as the project progresses through the cleanup process, the need for establishing a RAB is evaluated.  When there is sufficient sustained community interest in a Department of Defense environmental restoration project, the process for formation of a RAB is initiated.  As of January 1996, approximately 200 boards had been established.  These boards bring together people who reflect the diverse interests within the local community, enabling the early and continued flow of information among the impacted community. 

The progression of a board to adjournment is part of the overall RAB process.  At specific points in the cleanup process, the Department of Defense seeks input from the members, stakeholders and the local community to determine whether or not to move forward with the adjournment process.  The ideal time for adjournment is once the cleanup actions for the project have been selected and implemented or constructed.  The Weldon Spring Ordnance Works project has reached this significant milestone.

The Restoration Advisory Board has worked with the Department of Defense since 1997 on matters related to its environmental cleanup program at the former Weldon Spring Ordnance Works.  The RAB's responsibilities included reviewing documents and plans and working with the Department of Defense to develop cleanup priorities.  The board is also responsible for sharing information with and soliciting feedback from members of the community. 

Now that all of the cleanup actions have been selected and construction of the cleanup actions is complete, the RAB is in the process of adjournment.  At this time, the community is encouraged to provide input on both adjournment and on the methods for future public involvement.  One forum for providing input is the public availability session that will be conducted immediately following the business portion of the RAB meeting.  Input may also be provided by phone at 816-389-3367 or by e-mail to glenn.t.tisdale@usace.army.mil. 

Adjournment of the board does not end the opportunities for the community to remain informed or engaged.  The Department of Defense will continue to engage the community on matters relating to the cleanup and will continue to conduct periodic public meetings.  Community input on the Restoration Advisory Board adjournment must be received by March 31 to be considered as part of the adjournment process. 

The Weldon Spring Ordnance Works site is a former explosives production facility that manufactured trinitrotoluene and dinitrotoluene for use during World II.  The plant operated from 1941 to 1945, producing 164,000 tons of explosives at peak annual production.  The Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have provided regulatory oversight of the remediation at this site since 1988.

If you have any questions about the Restoration Advisory Board, the Department of Defense environmental cleanup program at Weldon Spring, or would like to provide input on the board adjournment and future public involvement, please contact Glenn Tisdale, project manager, at 816-389-3367 or by e-mail at glenn.t.tisdale@usace.army.mil or by mail:

Mr. Glenn Tisdale
C/O: U. S. Army Corps of Engineers - Kansas City District
ATTN: CENWK-PM-ED
700 Richard Bolling Federal Building, Rm. 632
601 E. 12th St.  
Kansas City, MO  64106-2896

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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