News Release 242

DEPARTMENT RECEIVES COMMENTS FROM
CORPS OF ENGINEERS ON PERMITS FOR
SHALLOW WATER HABITAT PROJECTS

Volume 36-242

Contact: Connie Patterson

(For immediate release)

573-751-1010

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MAY 6, 2008 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources received a letter from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asking the state to reconsider conditions in recently issued 401 Water Quality Certifications for two Missouri River habitat restoration projects. The department issued certifications for the Rush Bottoms and Barney Bend chute construction projects in accordance with an order issued by the Missouri Clean Water Commission on Sept. 12 and amended on March 12.

To implement the Missouri Clean Water Commission’s order, the Department of Natural Resources issued the certifications with special conditions.  These conditions require removing, grading and seeding all topsoil from the chute and designed erosion area, as well as sampling and monitoring provisions. In its letter, the corps expressed concerns that several of the provisions were “impractical and cost prohibitive” and would prohibit the corps from building shallow water habitat projects within the State of Missouri.  These projects, which are designed to create habitat for the endangered pallid sturgeon, are being constructed to comply with requirements of the Endangered Species Act.

At its March 12 meeting in St. Louis, the Clean Water Commission signed an amended order requiring the U.S. Corps of Engineers to stop the discharge of sediment and topsoil from habitat restoration projects into the waters of the state.  The order also requires all topsoil and the excavated sediment to be placed on land in a manner in which it will not erode into the river.

For department news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel/index.html. 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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