News Release 312

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
BEGINS TECHNICAL REVIEW OF
BEAZER EAST INC.'S HAZARDOUS WASTE PERMIT APPLICATION

Volume 35-312

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JULY, 25, 2007 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has started a technical review of a hazardous waste permit application submitted by Beazer East Inc., 6740 Stadium Drive, Kansas City.

The department is inviting the public to review and offer written comments on the permit application until the department issues a draft permit or denies the application.

Beazer submitted the application on Jan. 26 for renewal of its existing Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Facility Part I permit. The current permit expires July 24. State regulations allow the existing hazardous waste permit to continue in effect while the department reviews the permit application.

Beazer is a former wood-treating facility. The National Lumber and Creosote Company began wood-treating operations at the property in the early 1920s. Railroad ties, posts and telephone poles were pressure-treated, primarily with creosote. Koppers Co. Inc. bought the property in 1937 and continued similar wood treating operations. Koppers permanently closed the facility before Beazer Material and Services Inc., now Beazer East Inc., bought the property in late 1988.

Beazer is currently performing cleanup activities at the property under the Part I permit. During the facility investigation, Beazer discovered soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater in various areas of the facility contaminated with chemicals related to past wood treating operations. Beazer has taken several steps to control any immediate threats to human health and the environment and to prevent additional contamination.

The public can review and copy the permit application and supporting documents at the following locations:

Kansas City Public Library - L.H. Bluford Branch
3050 Prospect, Kansas City, MO
Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.---Monday through Thursday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.---Friday and Saturday
1 to 5 p.m.---Sunday

or by appointment at

Missouri Department of Natural Resources
1738 East Elm St., lower level, Jefferson City
Phone: 573-522-3345

When commenting on draft permits please explain your views regarding legal or technical issues with specific recommendations and alternatives. Please send written comments to Sudarshan Kurwadkar, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Hazardous Waste Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176.

Anyone may call or write Kurwadkar at any time to request to have his name placed on Beazer's mailing list. By doing this, interested citizens will receive notice from the department or Beazer on any major permitting and cleanup activities at the facility.

For more information, please contact Kurwadkar by telephone at 573-751-3553 or 800-361-4827 or by e-mail at sudarshan.kurwadkar@dnr.mo.gov. Hearing and speech-impaired people may reach Kurwadkar through Relay Missouri at 800-735-2966.

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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