News Release 206

DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES JOINT VENTURE
TO RID SCHOOLS OF UNSAFE CHEMICALS

Volume 36-206

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, APRIL 15, 2008 - The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is partnering with the Center for Safe Schools and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to remove dangerous chemicals from Missouri schools.

The School Chemical Cleanout Project will remove and safely dispose of outdated, dangerous and unstable laboratory and instructional use chemicals from science and chemistry labs, storerooms and other classrooms in elementary, middle, and senior high or vocational schools. These chemicals can pose a significant public health and safety threat to students and faculty.

The department has a limited amount of one-time funding available to use in assisting Missouri schools to properly dispose of these chemicals. The department intends to use this funding to pay the disposal cost for schools that apply and are accepted into the program.

The project will be conducted in two phases. The Center for Safe Schools will conduct the first phase. The center has already completed a chemical inventory of nearly 100 schools participating in the first phase of the project. Next, the Department of Natural Resources will pay for contractors to properly dispose of the dangerous chemicals inventoried.

The Department of Natural Resources will conduct the second phase of the project with an open application process, and will also fund the disposal costs for the selected schools. All Missouri public school districts, public schools, and private schools at the elementary, middle, and vocational or high school level may apply. Grant applications must be postmarked by May 16, 2008.

This program is not intended to remove other wastes, such as industrial cleaners, floor waxes, paint/paint waste, thinners, road salt, pesticides, or batteries, waste oil or other wastes from shop or agricultural classes.

For more information on the School Chemical Cleanout Project, contact the department's Environmental Services Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-3315, or visit the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/schoolcleanout.htm.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming events, meetings and hearings, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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