News Release 277

DEPARTMENT ISSUES WAIVERS
TO AID IN CLEANUP FOLLOWING TORNADOES

Rules relaxed on disposal of vegetation, appliances

Volume 36-277

Contact: Larry Archer

(For immediate release)

573-751-3807

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MAY 14, 2008 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is waiving specific solid waste and air pollution regulations to give residents and communities in the southwest Missouri counties of Barry, Newton and Jasper additional flexibility in cleaning up from last week's tornadoes.

The waiver will allow vegetative waste, such as brush and yard waste, and home appliances, which are normally excluded from permitted sanitary landfills, to be taken to such landfills if the landfill agrees to accept the waste. The waiver applies only to vegetative waste and appliances caused or damaged by the tornadoes of May 10 and May 11.

The department continues to strongly encourage, but not require, composting of vegetative waste and recycling of appliances where practical. The waiver applies only to yard waste and appliances and does not allow disposal of other items normally prohibited in sanitary or demolition landfills.

Cities and counties should coordinate collection of damaged appliances so refrigerants can be legally recovered from air conditioners, freezers and refrigerators before recycling or disposal.

The waiver also allows for communities to establish burn sites for vegetative and untreated wood waste without getting the typical permits through the Department of Natural Resources. Community burn sites must be located at least 200 yards from the nearest occupied structure and be approved by local fire officials. The department is asking community officials to consider the 200-yard buffer as a minimum and to carefully select burn locations, taking local air quality, public health and safety and neighborhood impacts into consideration.

The waiver shall be in effect until June 30 unless extended.  Further information, including the full text of the waiver, 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 are also available on this Web site.

In cases where the rains that accompanied the severe weather caused wastewater bypasses at local treatment plants, the department would like to remind all entities subject to Missouri's Clean Water Law that they are required to notify the department's Southwest Regional Office in Springfield at 417-891-4300 of such bypasses. In light of this situation, the department will take into account the circumstances of each individual occurrence. 

Residents of the affected counties should call the department's Southwest Regional Office if they need additional information or clarification of the waiver.

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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