Department of Natural Resources awards MU $253,800 for Hinkson Creek project

For more information: 573-751-1010

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded $253,800 to the University of Missouri – Columbia to implement and study the effectiveness of water pollution prevention practices on water quality in Hinkson Creek.

Called the MU Hinkson Creek Watershed Assessment of BMPs for Water Quality Improvements and Effectiveness Project, the effort will take place in Columbia on the University of Missouri campus. It will focus on techniques known within the water pollution prevention field as best management practices, or BMPs.

This MU-led project focuses on the Middle Hinkson Creek and Lower Hinkson Creek where MU’s campus and the majority Columbia, are located. The MU Hinkson Creek Watershed Assessment of BMPs for Water Quality Improvements and Effectiveness Project in these watersheds will monitor the performance of best management practices with respect to volume reduction and associated water quality improvements. Using various practices will allow MU staff to monitor the water balance of each practice and selected water quality parameters to educate students, partners, engineers and contractors on the design, maintenance and performance of these practices.

The curators of the University of Missouri will provide a match contribution of $169,267 over the life of the project bringing the total cost of the project to $423,067. The project is expected to be completed by March 31, 2014.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7, has provided partial funding for this project under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The Department of Natural Resources’ Water Protection Program will administer the grant funds. The department is committed to working closely with communities and businesses to assist with funding efforts that improve water quality in Missouri. For more information, contact the Water Protection Program at P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or call 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.

Related articles

• Beach at Watkins Mill State Park remains closed for third week (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Beach at Watkins Mill State Park remains closed (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Watkins Mill and Lake of the Ozarks' Grand Glaize state park beaches close (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Beach Closures in Missouri (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Enjoy swimming at one of many state park beaches this Labor Day weekend (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Hinkson Creek Action Team Says Improvements Won't Happen Overnight (amycouch.wordpress.com)

Missouri Department of Natural Resources Sponsors St. Louis Earth Day Symposium

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has granted an award of $10,000 to the St. Louis Earth Day for a two-year St. Louis Earth Day Symposium project, which will provide educational training opportunities for local government officials, community leaders and professionals through annual symposiums.

The grant will help fund the 2013 St. Louis Earth Day Symposium. A smaller portion of the grant was used to fund the 2012 symposium earlier this year.


For 12 years the St. Louis Earth Day Symposium has highlighted new ideas and increased discussion about regional water quality, water pollution and stormwater management issues. The symposium provides important information and data needed to drive successful watershed planning.  The St. Louis Earth Day will provide a match contribution of $12,915 over the life of the project, bringing the overall funding for this water quality project to $22,915.  

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 7 provided partial funding for this project under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. The Department of Natural Resources’ Water Protection Program will administer the grant funds. The department is committed to working closely with communities and businesses to assist with funding efforts that improve water quality in Missouri. For more information, contact the Water Protection Program at P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or call 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.

Related articles

• Missouri Department of Natural Resources to host Earth Day Celebration April 20

  ---

• Celebrate Earth Day at Missouri State Capitol April 20

  ---

• Earth Day of Service planned April 22 at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park

  ---

• Missouri State Parks hosts raptor program at Graham Cave State Park on June 23

  ---

• Celebrate Earth Day April 22 at Crowder State Park

  ---

Final sampling of Lake of the Ozarks study finds no elevated E. Coli levels 2011 geometric mean lowest of five-year study

Image via Wikipedia

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., OCT. 5, 2011 – The final water quality sampling of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ five-year study of the Lake of the Ozarks found no elevated E. coli.

Samples taken Monday found no cases of elevated E. coli in any of the 12 coves sampled on the lake’s western end.

The geometric mean for the 2011 recreational season at the coves sampled was 3 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water, which was the lowest geometric mean since the study began in 2007. A geometric mean is a statistical method used to analyze data collected over a period of time.

All of the study’s year-end results have been significantly below the geometric mean at which a water body is considered unsuitable for swimming and related activities, which is 126 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water. From 2007-2011 the geometric means were 5, 7.6, 8.8, 3.8 and 3.0.

Over the course of the study, the department, working with volunteers from the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance, collected and processed 1,619 samples from sites beginning at Bagnell Dam in 2007 and proceeding up the lake to Truman Dam this year. Over the five years of the study, 43 samples – or 2.6 percent – were in excess of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s single sample maximum recommend E. coli level for swimming beaches, which is 235 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water.

The Lake of the Ozarks study was funded by Ameren UE as part of the relicensing agreement for Bagnell Dam.

A link to a map of the 2011 sample areas and results is available on the department’s website at dnr.mo.gov/loz.htm. Sample results from previous years are also available online.

Related articles

• Lake of the Ozarks sampling of 13 coves finds none with elevated E. Coli levels (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Lake of the Ozarks sampling of 13 coves finds none with elevated E. Coli levels (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Natural Resources, Health departments to take additional water samples, inspect cove for E. coli at Lake of the Ozarks (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Grand Glaize Beach at Lake of the Ozarks State Park reopens (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Pomme de Terre's Hermitage and St. Joe's Monsanto state park beaches are temporarily closed (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Open house planned Oct. 8 at Lake Wappapello State Park (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

MISSOURI HIKING

Lake of the Ozarks sampling of 13 coves finds none with elevated E. Coli levels

Image via Wikipedia

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, AUG. 3, 2011 – The sampling of 13 Upper Lake of the Ozark coves Monday found none with E. coli levels in excess of the federal standard for public swimming beaches, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today.

In the final year of a five-year program, the department is sampling water from coves in the Upper Lake of the Ozarks from the Brown Bend area (Mile Marker 61) to the U.S. Highway 65 bridge (Mile Marker 90). The purpose of the program is to develop a five-year baseline that will assist in future studies of the lake’s health.

 All of the coves sampled Monday will be tested again following Labor Day weekend and in October.    

The state water quality standard for swimming and related whole body contact recreation is a geometric mean of 126 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water during the entire recreational season. A geometric mean is a statistical method used to analyze data collected over a period of time.

Because the state standard requires data collected over the entire summer before a determination is made, the department reports monthly results as compared to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s single-sample standard of 235 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water for swimming beaches.

E. coli is a bacteria found in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, including humans.  While most strains of E. coli are harmless, some can cause gastrointestinal illness.  The testing process used in this study does not differentiate between strains.

These bacteria and other pathogens can reach lake water from many different sources, both human and animal.  For some people, such as children, elderly or those with weakened immune systems, even low levels of these bacteria may cause illness.

The sampling program is a partnership between the Department of Natural Resources, Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance and Ameren UE. When completed, the program will have collected sampling data from coves from Bagnell Dam to Truman Dam.

A link to a map of the areas being sampled is available on the department’s website at dnr.mo.gov/loz.htm. Monitoring results will be posted to the map as they become available.

Related articles

• Lake of the Ozarks sampling of 13 coves finds no elevated E. Coli levels (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Natural Resources, Health departments to take additional water samples, inspect cove for E. coli at Lake of the Ozarks (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Lake of the Ozarks sampling of 12 coves finds no elevated E. Coli levels (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Grand Glaize Beach at Lake of the Ozarks State Park reopens (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Trail of Tears State Park Beach reopens; Bacteria levels close Grand Glaize Beach at Lake of the Ozarks (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Planned openings of Lake of the Ozarks, Cuivre River state parks' swimming beaches postponed (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)
• Swimming beaches at four state parks temporarily closed following heavy rainfall, bacteria levels Two others closed due to storm, flooding damage (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)

Natural Resources, Health departments to take additional water samples, inspect cove for E. coli at Lake of the Ozarks

Image via Wikipedia JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., JULY 29, 2011 -- The Missouri departments of Natural Resources and Health and Senior Services will collect additional water quality samples and inspect Possum Hollow Cove in the Lake of the Ozarks following E. coli levels in excess of federal guidelines.

            On May 23, the Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance began a 20-week water quality monitoring project to address stormwater-related pollution affecting the Lake of the Ozarks. As part of the project, LOWA conducts weekly water quality sampling from coves located between mile markers 1-19. Sample results are then shared with both state agencies to take necessary action as needed. Results are also posted online at dnr.mo.gov/loz/loz-waterquality-study.htm.

            Samples collected from Possum Hollow Cove on Monday, July 25, found three of the four samples exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended maximum level for swimming areas of 235 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water. Sample results ranged from 99.0 to 866.4 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water. These results were received yesterday, July 28.

            Staff from the Department of Natural Resources’ Southwest Regional Office will collect additional water quality samples and complete an inspection of the area to determine if there are observable discharges into the coves’ watershed that may be contributing to water quality issues.

            Staff from the Department of Health and Senior Services will accompany the Department of Natural Resources to aid in the visual inspection. In addition, DHSS will distribute informational flyers to area residents.  If residents are experiencing problems with their on-site sewage systems they are encouraged to contact the Morgan County Health Department for assistance.   

            The sample test results indicate a snap shot of the water quality taken at the cove at a specific time; however, a single sample does not provide an overall sense of the water quality in the lake. A total of nine coves are tested weekly as part of this water quality monitoring project. Sample results collected from the remaining eight coves were below federal guidelines.

            Sample results from LOWA’s water quality monitoring project are available on the Department of Natural Resources’ website at dnr.mo.gov/loz/loz-waterquality-study.htm.

Should States Try to Override Federal Environmental Initiatives?

How is Industry and Corporate America Attempting to Influence Environmental Protection 

and 

Conservation?

When people make considered decisions about what they believe, they do like to have all of the information they can get their hands on.  They also want to know from whom the information came, and what dog they might have had in the fight.  It has come to my attention that many efforts at amending environmental, conservation, and fish and game management rules have been made in a spurious manner.  I will be more specific momentarily, but first let me lay some groundwork.

Obviously, corporate interests are motivated to resist legislative and regulatory changes that will compromise their bottom line.  In fact, they are even interested in affecting changes that will eliminate regulatory and legislative impediments already in place.  That is no big surprise.

We expect the oil and gas industry, the coal industry, the nuclear power industry to name a few to lobby in Washington D.C.  We even understand that these companies and their trade groups find ways to fund trips, dinners, and more.  But, they and their partners in crime have a found an even more efficient way to work together.

There is a membership organization where legislators (in fact nearly 100% Republican) and "private sector"groups draft model legislation that eventually usually finds its way to being introduced in state legislatures (nearly all efforts are at the state level).  The "private sector" groups are corporations, industry trade groups, and conservative think tanks.  

The structure of their operations is that most of their work is done in committees.  Each committee has 2 co-chairs.  One is a legislator and the other is a public sector representative as described above.  The private sector representative of the committee that wrote the model legislation I am about to describe, was a representative from a gas industry trade group.  

The organization I am describing is the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). They have legislative members from most if not all states - this includes Missouri.  In subsequent posts, I will expose who some of these folks are, and I will also expose those who are not members but sponsor their legislation.

In fact, much of their model legislation is adopted verbatim in states around the country.  The model legislation I am discussing today is called (by them) "State Withdrawal from Regional Climate Initiatives."  

To quote:

"WHEREAS, there has been no credible economic analysis of the costs associated
with carbon reduction mandates and the consequential effect of the increasing
costs of doing business in the State of ______;

WHEREAS, forcing business, industry, and food producers to reduce carbon
emissions through government mandates and cap-and-trade policies under
consideration for the regional climate initiative will increase the cost of doing
business, push companies to do business with other states or nations, and increase
consumer costs for electricity, fuel, and food;

WHEREAS, the Congressional Budget Office warns that the cost of cap-and-trade
policies will be borne by consumers and will place a disproportionately high burden
on poorer families;

WHEREAS, simply reducing carbon emissions in the State of ______ will not have a
significant impact on international carbon reduction, especially while countries like
China, Russia, Mexico, and India emit an ever-increasing amount of carbon into the
atmosphere;

WHEREAS, a tremendous amount of economic growth would be sacrificed for a
reduction in carbon emissions that would have no appreciable impact on global
concentrations of CO2;

WHEREAS, no state or nation has enhanced economic opportunities for its citizens
or increased Gross Domestic Product through cap and trade or other carbon
reduction policies;

and WHEREAS, Europe’s cap and trade system has been undermined by political
favoritism, accounting tricks and has failed to achieve the carbon reduction
targets,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the legislature of the State of ______ urges
the Governor to withdraw [state] from the regional climate initiative."

Ironically, this was approved in St. Louis on April 23, 2010 by committee and approved by the ALEC Bord of Directors in early May of 2010.  Corporate members of ALEC, past and present include:

• Peabody Energy
• ExxonMobil
• Koch Industries (Same one as are affiliated with Tea Party)
• BP America
• AmerenUE
• and hundreds more including many oil, coal, and gas interests.

What I would like to leave readers with is this thought...don't get hung up right now on whether you agree or disagree with the language of this model legislation or any other. Focus on the audacity of our legislators to take the money from these corporations and then introduce the legislation they want introduced.

Call your legislator and demand they disavow the ALEC organization and all for which they stand.

Related articles

• Koch Brothers And ExxonMobil Join Forces To Fight RGGI With Copy-Paste State Legislation (desmogblog.com)
• Koch, Exxon Mobil Among Corporations Helping Write State Laws (businessweek.com)
• Exxon and Koch Pay ALEC for Access to State Legislators (desmogblog.com)
• Business-friendly laws written for many states by one group (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• ALEC exposed, and it ain't pretty - UPDATED (crooksandliars.com)

Lake of the Ozarks sampling of 13 coves finds no elevated E. Coli levels

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JULY 7, 2011 – The sampling of 13 upper Lake of the Ozark coves Tuesday found none with E. coli levels in excess of the federal standard for public swimming beaches, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today.

In the final year of a five-year program, the department is sampling water from coves in the Upper Lake of the Ozarks from the Brown Bend area (Mile Marker 61) to the U.S. Highway 65 bridge (Mile Marker 90). The purpose of the program is to develop a five-year baseline that will assist in future studies of the lake’s health.

All of the coves sampled Tuesday will be tested monthly through October, including immediately following Labor Day weekend.

The state water quality standard for swimming and related whole body contact recreation is a geometric mean of 126 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water during the entire recreational season. A geometric mean is a statistical method used to analyze data collected over a period of time.

Because the state standard requires data collected over the entire summer before a determination is made, the department reports monthly results as compared to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s single-sample standard of 235 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water for swimming beaches.

E. coli is a bacteria found in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, including humans. While most strains of E. coli are harmless, some can cause gastrointestinal illness. The testing process used in this study does not differentiate between strains.

These bacteria and other pathogens can reach lake water from many different sources, both human and animal. For some people, such as children, elderly or those with weakened immune systems, even low levels of these bacteria may cause illness.

The sampling program is a partnership between the Department of Natural Resources, Lake of the Ozarks Watershed Alliance and Ameren UE. When completed, the program will have collected sampling data from coves from Bagnell Dam to Truman Dam.

A link to a map of the areas being sampled is available on the department’s website at dnr.mo.gov/loz.htm. Monitoring results will be posted to the map as they become available.

Related articles

• Lake of the Ozarks sampling of 12 coves finds no elevated E. Coli levels (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Swimming beaches at four state parks temporarily closed following heavy rainfall, bacteria levels Two others closed due to storm, flooding damage (missourioutdoors.blogspot.com)
• Planned openings of Lake of the Ozarks, Cuivre River state parks' swimming beaches postponed (family-outdoors.blogspot.com)

Doniphan receives $10,000 to develop environmental project

Image via Wikipedia

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JUNE 23, 2011 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded Doniphan a $10,000 grant to reduce pollution from stormwater runoff at the city’s Quick CreekPark.

The Quick Creek Park Environmental Education Project will involve implementing conservation practices focused on reducing pollution from stormwater runoff.  The purpose of such an initiative will not only be to preserve and restore the environment, but also to focus upon education by involving school and community groups in the project.

The project aims to restore native vegetation such as trees, shrubs and native grasses and wildflowers to the site.  It will also demonstrate the effectiveness and ease of managing stormwater runoff using rain gardens, and develop a lawn nutrient management plan based on soil testing for proper fertilization of the athletic fields.

The community will be invited to participate in the project.  The city intends to involve school groups, construct outdoor learning classrooms and implement educational activities for community events such as Earth Day and Arbor Day.

These activities will educate residents, landowners, citizens and businesses about pollutants from stormwater runoff, and promote their involvement in best management practices in the watershed. They will also learn what technical resources are available to assist them in implementing such activities.

The city of Doniphan and partners will provide a match contribution of $6,670 during the life of the project bringing the total cost of the project to $16,670.  Contributing partners in this collaborative effort include the Doniphan High School, local civic groups, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Stream Team volunteers and the University of Missouri-Extension.  Projectcompletion is expected by April 30, 2013. 

            The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 has provided partial funding for this project under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.  The Department of Natural Resources’ Water Protection Program will administer the grant funds.  The department is committed to working closely with communities and businesses to assist with funding efforts that improve water quality in Missourias well as provide a financial savings.  For more information, contact the Water Protection Program atP.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or call 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.

Department of Natural Resources seeking comments on Missourians’ recreational use of streams and rivers

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, JUNE 3, 2011— The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is seeking public input on Missourians’ recreational use of more than 380 Missouri waterways. 

As part of a periodic review of state water quality standards required by the federal Clean Water Act, the Department of Natural Resources is considering revisions to the recreational use designations assigned to a number of Missouri streams and rivers.

The department recognizes that Missouri citizens know best how their local rivers and streams are used and wants those who are familiar with these water bodies to provide their input.  In particular, the department is looking for information on whether or not these streams are used by the public for swimming, fishing, wading, tubing or any other type of recreation.  This information is critical for helping to maintain appropriate water quality where these uses exist.

Each of the water bodies under review fell under a default designation in 2005 as being suitable for “whole body contact recreation,” meaning that people used or could use the river or stream for activities such as swimming, water skiing or skin diving.  

The department’s review of water quality standards will consider public input along with the results of stream surveys, conducted in 2007 and 2008 at the request of the Missouri Clean Water Commission, to determine whether these streams’ use designations should be adjusted to more accurately represent how they are being used or can be used.

These structured, scientific surveys, known as recreational use attainability analyses, or UAAs, combine stream depth measurements with interviews and public notification.  In addition to surveying for swimming use, the department looked for evidence of existing secondary contact recreation uses, such as fishing, wading and boating.

The data from each survey have been compiled and reviewed, and a recommendation has been made to either maintain or revise the current recreational use designations. These recommended use designations will ensure appropriate bacteria criteria are in place to protect attainable or existing recreational uses.

The department is committed to protecting the public who use our streams for recreation, while at the same time being careful not to cause small communities or ratepayers to pay higher fees to protect uses that do not exist or are not attainable.

Facilities with state operating permits allowing discharge of wastewater are required to meet the highest federal and state requirements.  A downgrade in a water body’s recreational designation does not exempt a facility from the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act or Missouri Clean Water Law.  The conditions of each facility’s state operating permit must continue to be followed and enforced.  Discharge of raw sewage is a violation of state and federal statute and will not be allowed.

To review the UAA information available online and see which streams may be affected, visit the department’s UAA website, dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/wqstandards/uaa/index.html.  This page includes an online survey to assist the public in submitting comments as well as a video that further explains the process.

Citizens also may submit comments by mail to: UAA Coordinator, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Water Protection Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176.  All comments received during the Recreational UAA public comment period, and any revised department recommendations, will be posted on the department’s UAA website.

The public comment period for this process runs through Dec. 31.

Attend the annual Rock Swap June 10-12 at Missouri Mines State Historic Site

 JEFFERSON CITY, MO., MAY  31, 2011 – You can buy, sell, swap or just admire rocks, minerals and fossils at the Missouri Mines Rock Swap June 10-12 at Missouri Mines State Historic Site in Park Hills.  Sponsored by Missouri State Parks, the event will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday and is open to the public.

            This event will bring together rock hobbyists from across the Midwest and beyond.  Participants will be selling, swapping or buying mineral specimens, fossils, rock jewelry and other rock-related items. There is no charge to attend.

            Also during the three-day event, there will be free admission to the historic site museum, which interprets Missouri’s mining history and displays restored old mining machinery and an outstanding mineral collection.

            The event is co-sponsored by the Mineral Area Gem and Mineral Society and the Greater St. Louis Association of Earth Science Clubs. 

            Missouri Mines State Historic Site is located in Park Hills, on the south side of Highway 32 at the Flat River Drive overpass, 1.5 miles west of U.S. Highway 67.  For more information about the event, call the historic site at 573-431-6226 or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419(Telecommunications Device for the Deaf).  For more information about Missouri’s state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com.

Missouri Air Conservation Commission to discuss pollution reducing actions

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MAY 25, 2011 – The Missouri Air Conservation Commission will meet on May 26 in Jefferson City to discuss air quality issues and conduct public hearings.

The Air Pollution Control Program worked with stakeholders to create a single, consolidated statewide indirect heating rule to replace four area-specific indirect heating rules. The consolidated rule will be presented for public hearing as well as the recession of the four area-specific rules. The consolidated rule keeps particulate matter emission limits for indirect heating units, which mainly include utility and industrial boilers, process heaters and smelters, at the same level as the area-specific rules it is proposed to replace.   

The purpose of a public hearing is for the commission to hear public comments on the amendments. No actions on these amendments will be taken at this meeting. The department also will accept written or email comments for the record until 5 p.m. on June 2. Information on these amendments is available on the department’s website at dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/rulemaking.htm.

The commission will also vote on adopting a change to Missouri’s plan to meet federal air quality standards and the state’s recommendation for designating which areas of the state are not meeting the federal standard for sulfur dioxide.

Program staff will also provide routine updates on the functions of the Air Pollution Control Program.

The meeting will start at 9 a.m. and will be held in the Elm Street Conference Center, 1730 East Elm in Jefferson City. The meeting will also be streamed live over the Internet from the department’s website at dnr.mo.gov/videos/live.htm.

The Department of Natural Resources requests people intending to give verbal presentation on the proposed public hearing items also provide a written copy of their testimony to the commission secretary at the time of the public hearing. People requiring special services or accommodations to attend the hearing can make arrangements by calling 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4871. Hearing-impaired individuals may contact the program through Relay Missouri at 800-735-2966.

Public hearing items may be adopted by the Missouri Air Conservation Commission as provided for under authority of 643.050 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri.

The Missouri Air Conservation Commission, made up of seven members appointed by the governor, was created by the Missouri General Assembly in 1965. The commission’s primary duty is to carry out the Missouri Air Conservation Law.

For more information or a complete meeting agenda, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Air Pollution Control Program at 573-751-4817 or visit dnr.mo.gov/env/apcp/macc.htm.

MDC’s Sedalia Office Earns EPA ENERGY STAR® award

MDC Sedalia facility joins MDC Kirksville office and 27 other office buildings in Missouri recognized for environmental stewardship through energy efficiency.

SEDALIA Mo -- The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Sedalia office at 2000 S. Limit Ave. recently earned U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) prestigious ENERGY STAR award. It joins the Department’s Northeast Regional Office at 3500 S. Baltimore in Kirksville, which received ENERGY STAR recognition earlier this year.

The Sedalia office received the ENERGY STAR award for incorporating energy-efficient technologies and practices into its construction, operation and maintenance. These include geothermal heating, maximizing the use of natural daylight, efficient fluorescent lighting, an outside air recovery unit, window tinting, good insulation and a commitment by staff to practice energy conservation.

ENERGY-STAR certification is the national symbol for protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. To qualify, buildings must perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency. The MDC facility joins only 28 other office buildings in Missouri to receive ENERGY-STAR designation.

The Sedalia facility received a rating of 76 on the ENERGY-STAR performance scale. The Kirksville facility received a rating of 79. This measurement helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a 75 or higher on EPA’s 1-100 scale is eligible for the ENERGY-STAR certification.

“The Conservation Department is pleased to accept the EPA’s ENERGY STAR award in recognition of our energy-efficiency efforts,” said MDC Director Bob Ziehmer. "This achievement highlights our continued commitment to conservation stewardship and wise use of funds through lowering energy costs.”

MDC Design and Development Division Chief Jacob Careaga added that the state agency is broadening its efforts to improve energy efficiency at other MDC offices and nature centers throughout Missouri by 20% over the next five years.

These energy-reduction efforts include simple actions, such as reminding employees to turn off lights, computers and other equipment when not in use. Other efforts include improved energy efficiency of heating-ventilation-air-conditioning (HVAC) systems and installing more energy-efficient lighting. Larger-scale efforts include maximizing energy efficiency for new MDC facilities and for renovations of existing facilities.

“We use energy-conservation measures as much as possible in new construction and in renovations,” said Careaga. “These measures range from making sure that existing systems are operating as efficiently as possible to drilling wells for geothermal heating, utilizing natural daylight as much as possible, installing motion-sensor lighting and selecting more energy- efficient equipment for replacement.”

Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is critical to protecting the environment, explained Jean Lupinacci, chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial and Industrial Branch. “From the boiler room to the board room, organizations are leading the way by making their buildings more efficient and earning EPA’s ENERGY STAR.”

Commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR award use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings. 

Commercial buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR include offices, bank branches, financial centers, retail stores, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, houses of worship and warehouses.

The EPA introduced ENERGY STAR in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved nearly $17 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 30 million vehicles.

For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov/buildings.

For more information about the MDC, visit www.missouriconservation.org.

 - Joe Jerek -