Kansas City to Improve Sewers, Decrease Overflows

The City of Kansas City, MO, agreed to make extensive improvements to its sewer systems, at a cost of more than $2.5 billion over 25 years, to eliminate unauthorized overflows of untreated raw sewage and to reduce pollution levels in urban stormwater. A consent decree filed with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri requires the city to implement an overflow control plan.

When completed, the sewer system will be able to capture and convey combined stormwater and sewage to the city’s treatment plants. This will keep untreated sewage from reaching surface waters.

Under the agreement, Kansas City will pay a civil penalty of $600,000 to the federal government, in addition to the $2.5 billion it will spend to repair, modify and rebuild its sewer system. As part of the agreement, the city will spend $1.6 million on a supplemental environmental project to implement a voluntary sewer connection and septic tank closure program for income-eligible residential property owners who elect to close their septic tanks and connect to the public sewer.

Kansas City’s, sewer system collects and receives domestic, commercial and industrial wastewater from a population of approximately 650,000 people in the city and 27 neighboring satellite communities, including a portion of Johnson County, KS. The system covers more than 420 square miles, and includes seven wastewater treatment plants, 38 pumping stations and more than 2,800 miles of sewer lines, making it one of the nation’s largest.

Of the 420 square miles covered by the system, 58 square miles mostly within the city’s urban core are presently served by combined sewers, which carry both stormwater and wastewater, and the remainder of the system is served by separated sewers. Under the consent decree, Kansas City has agreed to expedite certain projects that are expected to provide more immediate relief to residences and other properties situated in under-served areas of the city.

Since 2002, Kansas City has experienced approximately 1,294 illegal sewer overflows, including at least 138 unpermitted combined sewer overflows, 390 sanitary sewer overflows, and 766 backups in buildings and private properties. The overflows are in violation of the federal Clean Water Act and the terms of the city’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for operation of its sewer system.

The settlement is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. A copy of the consent decree is available on the Justice Department Web site and on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 Web site.

You can read the original EPA news release here.

Water News

Water Rulemaking Anticipated in 2012
The Environmental Protection Agency has tentatively slated two rules for final issuance this year, the Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) in March and the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR) in November.

UCMR3 will apply to some water systems. As the name suggests, it will require monitoring for potential contaminants that are not currently regulated. The rule focuses on 28 contaminants and the monitoring will take place in 2013-2102.

RTCR will apply to all water systems. The rule will be similar to the existing TCR, but the indicator organism will be E. coli rather than total coliform. E. coli is used as an indicator of potential fecal contamination, and its presence in drinking water will trigger public notice and additional monitoring. Where the new rule will differ is that it will require additional monitoring for some systems and will bring more attention to finding and preventing potential bacterial contamination, especially in distribution systems.

Kansas to Take a Look at Fracking
The Kansas Water Office is planning to have a meeting about hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in February. There is a lot of demand for oil and gas exploration in Kansas and the state Division of Water Resources has approve nearly all of the 600 applications for temporary water permits it received in 2011 related to such explorations.

Find more at
Despite Drought, Fracking Causes Spike in Water Permits for Oil, Gas Exploration in Kansas
Fracking in Kan. Pushes Water Permits to New High
Fracking in Kan. Pushes Water Permits to New High
Fracking in Kansas Pushes Water Permits to a New High
Fracking Pushes Water Permits to New High
Water Permits Up Due to Fracking in Kansas

USDA Releases Emergency Funds for Response to Floods, Other Disasters

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will release $300 million in emergency funds to repair farmland and property damaged by the several natural disasters that occurred in the last year. Missouri will be one of the states where significant aid will be provided (about $50 million), mainly in response to extensive damages to farms from flooding.

Find more at
USDA Announces $308 Million for Disaster-Stricken States

Missouri Host Meeting on Kansas-City Area Rivers, TMDLs

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will hold a public meeting Monday, Oct. 29, to discuss draft plans to improve water quality in Blue River and Indian Creek in Jackson County. 

The plans are part of a total maximum daily load (TMDL) study, which describes pollutant reductions needed to improve water quality in four segments of Blue River extending from the Kansas state line to its confluence with the Missouri River, and Indian Creek from the Kansas state line to its confluence with Blue River. Both waterways are on the state’s list of impaired waters.

The meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the department’s Kansas City Regional Office, 500 NE Colbern Road, Lee’s Summit, MO.

Links to the studies and supporting documents are available online at www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/tmdl.

You can read the complete, original news release here→.

Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 Administrator Announced

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced President Barack Obama’s selection of Karl Brooks to be the Regional Administrator for EPA’s Region 7. This region encompasses Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and 9 Tribal Nations.

Brooks has taught history and environmental studies at the University of Kansas for the past decade. Previously, Brooks was the Executive Director of the Idaho Conservation League and served six years in the Idaho State Senate. Brooks holds a B.A. from Yale University, a Masters in International Relations from the London School of Economics, a law degree from Harvard University and a Ph. D. from the University of Kansas.

You can read the original EPA news release here.

Missouri Plans for SRF Funds from the Recovery Act

Missouri has released plans for more than $146 million for drinking water and wastewater made available by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Copies of the plans (one covers the clean water state revolving fund [SRF] and the other the drinking water SRF) are available here along with instructions for submitting comments. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is accepting comments on the plans until June 3.

Missouri is the only state in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 7 that has not received its portion of these funds. The other states in that region are Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.

Related articles and posts:
EPA Announces $24 Million Recovery Act Funds for Water Infrastructure Projects in Iowa to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health
EPA Announces $53 Million Recovery Act Funds for Wastewater Infrastructure Projects in Iowa to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect the Environment
EPA Announces $19.5 Million in Stimulus Funds for Water Infrastructure Projects in Kansas to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health
EPA Announces $35 Million in Recovery Act for Wastewater Infrastructure Projects in Kansas to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health
EPA Announces $19.5 Million in Stimulus Funds for Water Infrastructure Projects in Nebraska to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect Public Health
EPA Announces $20 Million in Stimulus Funds for Wastewater Infrastructure Projects in Nebraska to Boost Economy, Create Jobs and Protect the Environment

Kansas Ag Director Appointed Advisor to EPA Regional Administrator

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks announced the selection of Josh Svaty, recent Secretary of the Kansas Department of Agriculture, to be his senior adviser. As secretary, Svaty managed a $27 million budget, a 380-employee workforce and statutory duties for 17 programs.

He is the fifth-generation of his family to farm in Ellsworth County, KS. Svaty served as the State Representative of the 108th District in Kansas for seven years. His committee assignments included the committees for Energy and Utilities, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the joint committee on Energy and Environmental Policy. Svaty has testified before the U.S. Congress on agriculture, energy and water policy issues. He holds a B.A. from Sterling College in Sterling, KS.

You can read the original EPA news release here.

Energy & Transportation News

ENERGY

Missouri Municipal Electric Utilities, Governor Support Power Line Project

Earlier this year, the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) rejected a proposal for a power line that would carry electricity generated at wind farms in Kansas to the grid in Indiana. The PSC’s decision was based, in part, on the fact that no Missouri customers would use the line or the energy it carried.

Clean Line Energy, which proposed the project, has been looking to overcome this object. It has brokered a deal with the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission (MJMEUC), which represents a pool of municipal utilities that pool resources to by power. MJMEUC has 67 municipal utility member and 35 are expected to take part in the deal if it is approved.

In addition, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has expressed his support for the transmission line. In his statement, Nixon emphasized the energy savings and jobs that would be created the $500 million construction project.

The line must be approved by the Missouri PSC. It is likely to be opposed by affected landowners who campaigned against the original proposal. Official in Kansas, Illinois and Indiana have already approved the project.

What Are the Advantages of Microgrids?

This is the second in a series of posts on microgrids. See the previous post for a description of what is a microgrid.

Microgrids have several potential benefits. These include

-backup energy supply and improved reliability,

-environmental benefits,

-exploitation of local and alterative resources,

-increased energy efficiency and reduced energy consumption, and

-reduced cost.

Backup Energy Supply and Improved Reliability

Because microgrids can operate independently of the larger grid, they may be able to continue to operate when there is an outage elsewhere on the main grid.

Environmental Benefits

Microgrids are not inherently less polluting than large grids, but they may afford opportunities to manage energy resources in manners that may reduce pollution. Microgrids may be more easily able to exploit variable or small renewable sources including solar and wind energy. These smaller power supplies may also be able to address local peaks and reduce the need to ramp up production at larger, and potentially more polluting, power plants.

Exploit Local and Alternative Resources

Sometimes local energy resources are available that are not suitable for use on a large grid because they are not sufficiently powerful or reliable. Solar energy, an alternative energy source that is variable and relative low power, is an example of a resource that may be more easily exploited by a microgrid.

Reduced Cost

Microgrids might be managed in a manner to reduce costs. For instance, when prices are high during periods of peak demand, a microgrid might switch to a local power supply that is less expensive. This will also reduce the peak on the larger grid, meaning larger power plants do not have to ramp up production as much or be built to address large peaks.

If you’re interested in finding out more about microgrids, here are some resources to get you started.

How microgrids work (Lantero, A., Energy.gov, June 17, 2014)

What is a microgrid? (Infrastructure Watch, April 23, 2016)

TRANSPORTATION

60 Years of Interstate Highways

President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 on June 29 of that year. Though previous legislation had authorized interstate highways, it was under this act and the Eisenhower administration that our interstate system began in earnest.

Interstates have proven to be a safe way to travel (the fatality rate on interstates is less the rate on other routes).

Even so, the roads are showing signs of aging. Many sections are in poor condition and many bridges are structurally deficient.

Keeping up with the maintenance needs of the interstate system is an enormous task. The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that the backlog if needed improvements totals $189 billion.

Relate Posts and Articles

At 60, U.S. Interstate Highway System is Showing Its Age (Hill, C., Equipment World, June 28, 2016)

Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 (Weingroff, R. F., Federal Highway Administration, June 15, 2015)

Missouri Legislature Fails to Act on Transportation Tax

Though a bill passed in the Missouri Senate, the state’s General Assembly did not act on a proposed fuel tax increase before closing its session in May. You can read more about this issue here.

COMPLAINTS DEPARTMENT

Blogger Considers Career Change

That doesn’t mean I’ll quit blogging. I’ve never made a living (or even a dime) from blogging, and it has always taken a back seat to other things. By day, I’m an employee of a state that pays the lowest wages of any state (even our legislators are starting to complain about it). Maybe I should cross the river and go back to school where I can learn to be a brewmaster, or possibly a vintner. As I recall, looking through the fog of a couple of decades, I did reasonably well in my undergraduate food processing class, so maybe I can build on that.

Skywalk Memorial Close to Fundraising Goal, Construction of New Design Anticipated

When I was an undergraduate engineering student about 20 years ago, one of the events covered in the engineering ethics class I took was the 1981 collapse of the skywalk at the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City, Missouri.  Even 31 years after the collapse, the 114 people who were killed are remembered.

A nonprofit foundation was formed to create a memorial to the victims of the collapse.  It is now only $150,000 from having enough to start construction of the memorial.  It has also chosen a design.

You can visit the Skywalk Memorial Foundation at www.skywalkfoundation.org.

Related posts and articles

Redesign cuts cost of memorial to victims of skywalks collapse (Horsely, L., Kansas City Star, Dec. 2, 2012)

Kansas City Launches Infrastructure Blog

The Kansas City (MO) Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has started a blog to inform about infrastructure issues in the city. You can read the blog at http://kctransprotation.kcmo.org.

Barge Traffic Threatened on Missouri & Mississippi Rivers

Levels on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers continue to drop.  One of the consequences of low river levels is the dangers it poses to navigation, especially to barge traffic.  Low levels have exposed rocks and sand bars on both rivers.

Barges on these rivers transport a lot of goods, especially commodities.  This is a significant part of the economy of states along these rivers, especially those on the lower Mississippi River.  For instance, in Missouri the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center estimated that nearly $3 billion in Missouri commodities, mostly agricultural products, are shipped on water.  Water freight generates an estimated $388 million annually in gross state product (GSP) in Missouri.

To some degree, flow in these rivers is controlled by dams operated by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.  Officials and businesses along the Mississippi River have asked the Corp to release more water.  The Corp agreed, and on December 15 began releasing water Carlyle Lake (a little more than 50 miles east of St. Louis) on the Kaskaskia River, which flows into the Mississippi River a few a few miles downstream of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.

The Corp has tried to tame these rivers for more than a century, managing them for navigation, flood control, and other purposes.  It may not get any easier.  Many are predicting that climate change will result in more droughts and flooding along with more frequent extreme high and low levels of water in the rivers.

A couple of days ago, IW was quick to draw knives on a proposal to pump water from the Missouri River to the Colorado River through a pipeline that would run from Leavenworth, Kansas, to Denver, Colorado.  Recently Interior Secretary Ken Salazar admitted that this was not a practicable plan and that western states need to seek solutions elsewhere.

Related articles and posts

Climate Change Pits Sioux Against Barges for Scarce Water (Bjerga, A., Bloomberg, Dec. 17, 2012)

Drought expands, concerns mount about wheat and rivers (Gillam, C., Reuters, Dec. 6, 2012)

Four stories to keep an eye on in 2013 (Miller, M., Southeast Missourian, Dec. 18, 2012)

In Two Weeks, the Mississippi River Could Shut Down (Goldenberg, S., The Atlantic, Dec. 14, 2012)

Officials meet to tackle drought-ravaged Mississippi River, shipping concerns (Currier, J., St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Dec. 17, 2012)

Pump water from Leavenworth to Denver? Highly unlikely, U.S. concludes (Helling, D., Kansas City Star, Dec. 13, 2012)

Will the Missouri River be the Next Colorado River? (Infrastructure Watch, Dec. 14, 2012)

Missouri Communities Receive $1.36 Mill in Brownfield Grants

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced today the availability of an estimated $1,360,000 in grants, bolstered by funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to help communities in Missouri clean brownfields. The grants, which include $800,000 from the Recovery Act of 2009 and $560,000 from the EPA brownfields general program funding, will help restore former industrial and commercial sites to productive use.

Successful applicants in Missouri include:

-Kansas City which will receive $200,000 in Recovery Act funds to clean up the former Greyhound Bus Terminal as part of the East Village Project.

-Springfield which will receive $200,000 in Recovery Act funds to clean up the Jordan Valley West Meadows Site 4.

-Springfield which will receive $400,000 in Recovery Act funds to address community-wide hazardous waste and petroleum.

-Beacon Hill Homeowners Association (Kansas City) which will receive $160,000 in brownfields general program funds to clean up four lots in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.

-St. Louis Land Reutilization Authority which will receive $400,000 to clean up hazardous waste and the former ATCOM Site, and to clean up petroleum at the Former Porter Oil Site.

The grants will help to assess, clean up and redevelop abandoned, contaminated properties known as brownfields. Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

For more information on brownfields cleanup revolving loan fund pilots and grants, and other brownfields activities under the Recovery Act, go to: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/eparecovery/index.htm.

For more information on the EPA Region 7 brownfields recipients and their pilots, go to: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields.

EPA Accepting Applications for Environmental Education Grants until Nov. 21

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 will accept proposals from eligible schools and entities through November 21, 2012, for the its 2012 Environmental Education grants to develop new programs promoting environmental stewardship in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

EPA’s Environmental Education grants provide funding to local education agencies, state education and environmental agencies; colleges and universities; not-for-profit organizations; and non-commercial broadcasting entities. Tribal education agencies controlled by an Indian tribe, band or nation, including schools and community colleges, may also apply.

EPA expects to award one $216,000 grant in each of its 10 geographical regions, including Region 7, for a total of $2,160,000 in grants awarded nationwide.

Proposed projects should involve designing, demonstrating or developing innovative education tools and materials. Projects also should involve environmental education activities that go beyond disseminating information. A solicitation notice for the grants, and information about two webinars that will be held in September for interested applicants, are available online.

In EPA Region 7, all proposals for the 2012 grants must be received by 5 p.m. (CST) on Nov. 21, 2012. Through Sept. 30, 2012, proposals should be mailed to Denise Morrison, Environmental Education Coordinator, EPA Region 7, Office of Public Affairs, 901 N. Fifth St., Kansas City, KS 66101. After Oct. 1, 2012, due to relocation of the EPA Regional Office, proposals should be mailed to Denise Morrison, Environmental Education Coordinator, EPA Region 7, Office of Public Affairs, 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219. Applicants with specific questions about the grants may contact Ms. Morrison at morrison.denise@epa.gov.

Read the original EPA news release here.

New Missouri Transportation Commissioner Sworn In

Stephen R. Miller of Kansas City was sworn in this week as Missouri's newest Highways and Transportation Commissioner by Supreme Court Chief Justice William Ray Price, Jr. He was appointed earlier this month by Governor Jay “Boondoggle Bridge” Nixon.

Miller is an attorney with the law firm of Miller Schirger and has more than 25 years experience in construction law. He fills the vacancy left by the resignation of Mike Kehoe of Jefferson City and will complete his term, which runs through March 1, 2011.

You can see the original post from Missouri Department of Transportation blog here.

Energy, Transportation, Water & Missouri News

ENERGY

U.S. Military Agency Seeks to Protect Grid

The Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) has announced plans to develop systems for the protection of critical infrastructure from cyber-attacks. You can find out more in this article or the DARPA Web site. If you’d like to find out more about the vulnerabilities of the U.S. electric grid, you may be interested in Lights Out by Ted Koppel.

TRANSPORTATION

Could You Pay to Name a Missouri Road?

A bill introduced into the Missouri House of Representatives, HB 728, would allow the state Highways and Transportation Commission to sell naming rights to roads and bridges. You can find more about the bill here.

Hyperloop Considers Missouri

Missouri is one of the semifinalists for consideration for the construction of a Hyperloop, a high-speed transportation system that could go from Kansas City to St. Louis in 23 minutes. The Missouri Department of Transportation conceives of it as part of a reconstructed Interstate 70 corridor—the segment of I-70 that crosses Missouri is considered the first completed portion of the interstate system. You can find more about this proposal, about which there remain many questions, here or here.

Missouri Bill: Move Over for Utility Vehicles

A bill recently passed in the Missouri House, HB 85, that would require drivers to pull over or slow down when driving by a utility vehicle that is flashing lights. A similar requirement exists for emergency response vehicles such as fire and police. The bill will move on to the Senate. You can find more here.

Missouri and Illinois Rivers Could be Part of Trump Infrastructure Plan

Though President Donald Trump’s proposed infrastructure plan is not final, locks and dams on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers could make the list. Seven locks, five on the Upper Mississippi River and two on the Illinois River, aid barge transportation to Chicago and Minneapolis. A proposal to improve the seven locks and undertake related stream and habitat restoration projects was taken up by Congress in 2007, but never received an appropriation. If the project is supported by the Trump administration, it is not certain that the president would support the environmental aspect of the program, which would likely undermine the support it has received from major environmental groups. You can read more about this here.

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WATER

Trump Order Could Roll Back Federal Regulation of Streams

President Trump issued an executive order that lead to rescinding the 2015 Clean Water Rule. It is not clear what rule may replace it, but some suspect it will limit or eliminate federal regulation of intermittent streams.

The 2015 rule, promulgated under the administration of President Barrack Obama, clarified federal jurisdiction over certain waters. Opponents sued claiming that the rule actually extended federal jurisdiction. A federal court ordered federal agencies to not implement while it considered the case.

You can find more about this issue here.

Bill Quickies

The 10 Million Solar Roofs Act (S. 1108) would establish best management practices for solar permitting and provide grants to local governments to implement those practices.

A group of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska Congressmen sponsored a bill (H.R. 3719) that would make restoration of levees after the 2011 floods the top priority for the Corps of Engineers in its management of the Missouri River.

Congress finally passed an appropriations bill for the rest of fiscal year 2012 (H.R. 2055).

The Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2011 (H.R. 3680) would ease the permitting of small hydropower projects and fund workshops, pilot projects, and studies related to hydropower.

The Geothermal Exploration and Technology Act of 2011 (S. 1142) would fund geothermal exploration and the development of related technology.

President Obama signed into law the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (more information).

Federal News Brief

Hersman Floated as Potential Nominee for Transportation Secretary

National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Deborah Hersman has been rumored to be a top candidate to replace Ray LaHood as Secretary of Transportation.

LaHood Criticizes Congress, Republican on Highway Funding

Departing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood criticized Congress, and especially his former Republican colleagues, for failing to pass a long-term transportation bill. He anticipates bold moves from President Obama “when he gets around to it.”

Reactions to the State of the Union

As you might expect, infrastructure organizations were disappointed by President Obama’s State of the Union address.  ASCE gently criticized the president’s “Fix-It-First” plan because it does not address the long-term need to pay for infrastructure maintenance.

Supreme Court May Hear Interstate Water Dispute

Kansas has asked the Supreme Court to hear its case against Nebraska.  The Republic River is an important source of water for agriculture in both states, and the Wheat State claims the Cornhuskers are taking more than its fair share.

Missouri Governor Proposes Moving Energy Division

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed an executive order to transfer the Missouri Division of Energy from the state Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Economic Development.

The Division of Energy houses programs related to energy policy, resources, efficiency and education.  Specific program include low-income weatherization assistance, the energy revolving fund and certification of home energy auditors.

The General Assembly may reverse this decision if it acts before April 8 (60 days after the executive order was signed on February 4).  If this does not occur, the transfer will become effective on August 28.

Related post and articles

Executive Order 13-03 (State of Missouri, Feb. 4, 2013)

Gov. Nixon signs three Executive Orders to make government more efficient and effective (Viehman, R., Three Rivers Publishing)

Governor reverses $8.5M in cuts to Missouri higher education (Lieb, D. A., Kansas City Star [Associated Press], Feb. 4, 2013)

Nixon Adds More Money to Higher Education & Shifts Some State Programs (Mahoney, M., 20 Pounds of Headlines)

Nixon announces reorganization of some state functions (Yokley, E., Missouri News Horizon, Feb. 4, 2013)

Nixon moves forward with government efficiency measure (Yokley, E., PoliticMO, Feb. 5, 2013)

Nixon reverses $8.5M in cuts to higher education (Lieb, D. A., Dunklin Daily Democrat [Associated Press], Feb. 4, 2013)

Nixon reverses $8.5M in cuts to higher education (Lieb, D. A., St. Louis Post-Dispatch [Associated Press], Feb. 4, 2013)

State laws that could be affected by the change include

Sections 8.800-8.851 RSMo. –energy efficiency in public buildings

Sections 135.300-135.311 RSMo. – tax credit for wood energy

Section 143.121 RSMo. – tax deduction for home energy audits

Sections 393.1020-393.1030 RSMo. – Renewable Energy Standard

Sections 414.400-414.471 – reduction of state vehicle fuel consumption

Section 640.150 RSMo. – various energy policy, information and education duties assigned to Department of Natural Resources director

Section 640.153 RSMo. – certification of home energy auditors

Sections 640.155-640.219 – various provision related to energy programs, education and funding

Sections 640.651-640.686 RSMo. – establishing the Energy Set-Aside Program fund and an energy loan program

New Environmental Services Director Appointed in Region 7

On February 19, 2008, Ron Hammerschmidt will take over leadership of the Environmental Services Division at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 7 where he will oversee field activities and a testing laboratory. Hammerschmidt previously served as director of the Division of the Environment at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). He has a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. In addition to his service at KDHE, he has been active in the Environmental Council of the States. You can find out more about Hammerschmidt and his appointment here.

Settlement Announced in Taum Sauk Reservoir Collapse Case

AmerenUE of St. Louis, Mo., has agreed to pay the State of Missouri almost $180 million for damages caused by the collapse of its Taum Sauk reservoir in 2005. About $118 million will go to projects in around Reynolds County, where the reservoir is located. Most of this is for the restoration of the Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park and Goggins Mountain Wildlife Area ($103 million).

Additional projects include additions to the state parks system. One project will extend the Katy Trail into the Kansas City area. Another will develop a state park on the Current River at the former Alton Club/Jerry J. Presley Conservation Education Center.

More information on this story is available from
Engineering News-Record
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Missouri Governor’s Office
This site

EPA Introduces Water Bug to Kansas City (Not as Bad as it Sounds)

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 7 has released an app called KCWaterBug.  The app allows users to get estimated E. coli levels in Kansa City area streams updated hourly.  You can find out more about the app at Region 7’s Big Blue Thread blog.