News Release 072

DEPARTMENT EXTENDS STORM WAIVERS FROM DECEMBER WINTER ICE STORMS

Volume 36-072

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, FEB. 14, 2008 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has extended its suspension of specific air and solid waste regulations to allow more time to address wastes generated by the winter ice storms that occurred Dec. 8 through Dec. 12.

Today's waiver supersedes a previous waiver issued by the department on Jan. 2.  The suspensions of the air and solid waste regulations are valid only for debris resulting from the severe ice storms earlier this month.  The air regulations for open burning and the solid waste regulations have been extended until March 15. 

If city or county officials have additional questions regarding the extension, they can contact the nearest Department of Natural Resources regional office.  A map identifying the counties in the jurisdiction of each regional office is available on the department's Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/regions/regions.htm or by calling 800-361-4827.

Because of the severity of the storms, the ice has resulted in widespread damage in Missouri. Following Executive Order 07-36 and 07-39 issued by Gov. Matt Blunt, the department is temporarily suspending the requirements of specific statutes and administrative rules to manage the storm debris.

Brush and yard waste debris normally excluded from disposal at permitted sanitary landfills will be allowed under these extraordinary circumstances as long as the landfill agrees to accept the waste. Where practical, the recycling of these items is strongly 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.

The Department of Natural Resources will not require a permit for burning of vegetative storm debris. However, the burning must take place at least 200 yards from the nearest neighboring occupied structure and have the approval of local fire officials.  Although 200 yards is a minimum distance, a greater setback may be appropriate in some circumstances to ensure protection of public health and safety.

The department has four delegated local agencies with authority for air pollution control in their respective jurisdictions.  In these jurisdictions, the department is deferring final approval for open burning storm debris to the local agencies and is giving these local agencies the flexibility to ease the open burning restrictions for storm-related vegetative waste, 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, such burning should occur with the approval of local fire officials.

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 is also available on this Web site.

For more information, contact the 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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