News Release 023

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ISSUES ADDITIONAL STORM WAIVER AFTER RECENT WINTER STORMS

Volume 35-023

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JAN. 16, 2007 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has suspended specific air and solid waste regulations to address wastes generated by the recent winter storms that occurred Jan. 12 through Jan. 14.

Today's waiver supersedes a previous solid waste waiver issued by the department on Jan. 14. The revised waiver includes some open burning restrictions of trees, brush and yard waste; this is in addition to allowing yard waste disposal in landfills in those counties affected by the storm.

Because of the severity of the storms, the ice has resulted in widespread damage in Missouri. Following Executive Order 07-04 issued by the Gov. Matt Blunt on Jan. 14, the department is temporarily suspending specific statues and administrative rules or regulations to manage the storm debris.

Disposal of brush and yard waste debris, normally prohibited from disposal at permitted sanitary landfills, will be allowed under these extraordinary circumstances. Where practical, the recycling of these items is encouraged, though not required. The waiver applies only to yard waste and does not allow disposal of other items normally prohibited in sanitary or demolition landfills.

Disposal by burning of trees, brush and yard waste will also be allowed in outstate Missouri. The burning of vegetative storm debris will not require a permit, but it must take place at least 200 yards from the nearest neighboring occupied structure and have the approval of local fire officials.

The department is also waiving its requirements on open burning for St. Louis City and the counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, and Franklin and Greene County. The state is deferring final approval for such burning to the local agencies and hereby gives local agencies the flexibility to ease the open burning restrictions for storm-related vegetative waste in their respective jurisdictions, as they deem appropriate. The following agencies have been delegated authority from the state to enforce air pollution regulation in their jurisdiction. People wishing to burn in these jurisdictions should contact the appropriate agency for approval:

If local air quality agencies approve open burning, burning should occur with the approval of local fire officials.

The suspensions of the air and solid waste regulations are valid only for debris resulting from the recent severe storms. All provisions of this waiver shall be in effect until Feb. 15, 2007, 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. Factsheets on proper disposal of storm debris and other related information is also available on this Web site.

The department is aware wastewater bypassing may have occurred following these recent winter storms. 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 if such a bypass should occur, they are required to notify the department's nearest regional office.

For more information contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at
800-361-4827 or 573-751-3443 or visit the department's Web page at www.dnr.mo.gov.

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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