News Release 163

DEPARTMENT ISSUES WAIVERS TO AID IN CLEANUP
FOLLOWING FLOODING

Vegetation, appliances acceptable in landfills

Volume 36-163

Contact: Larry Archer

(For immediate release)

573-751-3807

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MARCH 24, 2008 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is waiving specific solid waste regulations to give Missourians and Missouri communities affected by last week's flooding additional flexibility in their cleanup efforts.

The waiver will allow vegetative waste, such as brush and yard waste, and home appliances, which are normally excluded from permitted sanitary landfills, to be taken to landfills if the landfill agrees to accept the waste. The department continues to strongly encourage, but not require, recycling these materials where practical. The waiver applies only to yard waste and appliances and does not allow disposal of other items normally prohibited in sanitary or demolition landfills.

Cities and counties should coordinate collection of damaged appliances so refrigerants can be legally recovered from air conditioners, freezers and refrigerators before recycling or disposal.

The suspensions of the solid waste regulations are valid only for debris resulting from the recent flooding and only in the city of St. Louis and specific counties: Audrain, Barry, Barton, Boone, Bollinger, Butler, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Cedar, Christian, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Howard, Howell, Iron, Jasper, Jefferson, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Madison, Maries, McDonald, Miller, Mississippi, Montgomery, Moniteau, Morgan, New Madrid, Newton, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste Genevieve, Shannon, Scott, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster and Wright.

All provisions of this waiver are in effect until May 31 unless extended.  Further information, including the full text of the waiver authorizations, is available on the department's natural disaster resources Web page at www.dnr.mo.gov/disaster.htm. Fact sheets on proper disposal of storm debris and other related information are also available on this Web site.

The Department of Natural Resources is aware wastewater bypassing has occurred during the flood. In light of this situation, the department will take into account the circumstances of each individual occurrence.  The department would like to remind all entities subject to Missouri's Clean Water Law and its implementing regulations that they are required to notify the department's nearest regional office of such bypasses.

For more information, contact the Department of Natural Resources at 800-361-4827 or
573-751-3443 or visit the department's Web page at www.dnr.mo.gov. Information on what individuals can do in dealing with their home cleanups after the flood is available on the department's disaster Web page at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/disaster.htm, or at the Department of Health and Senior Services at www.dhss.mo.gov/BT_Response/Nat_Disaster/index.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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