News Release 210

STATE INDUSTRIAL MINERALS ADVISORY COUNCIL
MEMBERS APPOINTED

Volume 36-210

Contact: Hylan Beydler

(For immediate release)

573-368-2118

ROLLA, MO, APRIL 18, 2008 -- Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers today announced the formation of a nine-member council that will advise the department regarding geologic support to the industrial minerals producers in the state.

The members from across the state were appointed by Childers to provide guidance to the department to more effectively meet the industry's technical information needs. "The Industrial Minerals Advisory Council is made up of leaders in our state's industrial minerals industry along with one representative from the Missouri Department of Transportation. Discussing issues and challenges with these leaders clearly puts us on a path to better cooperation with the industrial minerals producers in Missouri, while at the same time, helping to protect the environment," said Childers.

The council is composed of the following members (one member from the limestone industry has yet to be appointed):

Mimi Garstang, the department's director of the Division of Geology and Land Survey and state geologist, will serve as chairperson of the council.  Garstang said, "The Division of Geology and Land Survey looks forward to this new challenge.  The state is dependent upon this industry for so much of our future economic development, and we want to assist them in enhancing production in an efficient and environmentally safe manner."

The Missouri legislature created the council and enacted legislation last year, establishing the Geologic Resources Fund. The legislation will allow the department to collect, process, manage and distribute information pertaining to mineral resource potential to provide high quality, geologic and hydrologic information to the mineral industry to make sound environmental and economic decisions.

The limestone industry alone contributes $1 billion annually to Missouri's economy.  The diverse uses of limestone are numerous, and limestone-derived products allow people to maintain a high standard of living.  Limestone has numerous uses that range from agricultural applications to building materials to medicines.

Additionally, the department's Division of Geology and Land Survey manages the McCracken Core Library in Rolla, which is a repository for more than 2.5 million linear feet of rock core that has been donated to the state by a wide variety of sources.  Core research and examination preserves geological history, leads to a better understanding of Missouri geology and hydrology, yields data useful in solving environmental, industrial and engineering problems and saves millions of dollars in exploration costs.  Rock core available for study comes from oil, gas, mineral and waste disposal site exploration drilling, as well as from highway department construction in Missouri.

For more information visit the department's Web site atwww.dnr.mo.gov/geology/. For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. A complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events is online at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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