Just How Do You Measure Stink?

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) uses a device called a Scentometer. This device uses an actvated charcoal filter to allow an investigator to compare clean air with the odor being evaluated. For a violation to be logged, the investigator must smell the odor twice in less than an hour, but the two samples must be taken at least 15 minutes apart.
Even if the investigator detects an odor, the plant suspected as the source would not immediately be issued a Notice of Violation, regulators said. Instead, the company would first receive a Notice of Excess Emission, or a NOEE.
Paul Vitzthum, Chief of Air and Solid Waste Unit for MDNR in Springfield said, "There's probably not been a NOEE written in the last three years". (The Joplin Globe, Sunday, March 20, 2005)

The same article states that in a 5-year period of time, MDNR fielded 216 odor complaints throughout the region. There have been 0 violations cited. Something is wrong here! Obviously, the way myself and 216 other Southwest Missouri residents measure stink is with our nose. Maybe it's time for the MDNR to throw away the Scentometer, and take a sniff.

We're In This Together?

On March 16, 2005, Renewable Environmental Solutions, LLC placed a 3/4 page ad in The Carthage Press. The headline reads, We're In This Together. We Live and Work Here, too. We (RES) will continue to investigate all complaints and to focus on any that appear to originate with our plant. We take every complaint very serviously - after all, we live and work here, too. /signed/ Peter J. Samson-President /signed/ Don Sanders-Plant Manager

That's curious because not one Director appears to live downwind from Renewable Environmental Solutions, LLC. Have you seen any of them on the Carthage Square, at church on Sunday, at peewee baseball, outside mowing their grass or attending their children's band concert at Carthage Junior High School? Of course not, they don't live here!

They are: Brian S. Appel-Chairman and CEO, Changing World Technologies, Inc.; Howard G. Bruffet-Senior VP, BioImages, President-Bruffet Farms; Phillip J. James-Sr. VP/Environmental Health & Safety, ConAgra Foods, Inc.; Davit Katz-VP, Sterling Equities, Inc.; Saul B. Katz-President, Sterling Equities, Inc.; Alan Libshutz-President and COO, Changing World Technologies, Inc.; John S. McKeon-President & COO/Venture Development Group, ConAgra Foods, Inc.; Ira Silver-VP, Max Finkelstein, Inc., and Michael D. Walter- Sr. VP/Commodity Procurement Economic, ConAgra Foods, Inc.

What has happened?

Carthage Mayor Kenneth Johnson said, "When the concept of this plant was first presented to the City, assurances were made by the company (RES) that there would be no adverse environmental impact from their operations."

Carthage City Council Member, Bill Johnson said, "They (RES) accepted responsibility at first. If there was complaint, they would shut it down. They don't do it anymore".

Carthage Mayor Kenneth Johnson said " they (RES) promised us an odor-free operation."

Missouri Department of Natural Reseources (MDNR) has received 68 complaints from Carthage area residents complaining about the odor.

The Director of Missouri's Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), Doyle Childers, and State Senator Gary Nodler were in Carthage on March 25. US Congressman Roy Blunt was in Carthage on March 23. US Senator Kit Bond's Representative, Patrick Morrow, was in Carthage on March 17. I think that we can assume that they each got an ear full of odor complaints. Do you think that they also got a nose-full, too?

Who Else Can You Call?

Everyone is asking, what else can you do?
Who else can you call?

Here are some ideas:
1. Renewable Environmental Resources, LLC -Carthage 417-358-4922
2. Renewable Environmental Resources, LLC Downers Grove, IL.
630-512-1238
3. Missouri Department of Health, 753-751-6400
4. American Lung Association (Western Missouri), 816-842-5242
5. Jasper County (MO) Health Department, 417-358-0494,
jascohd@ipa.net
6. US Environmental Protection Agency (Region 7) 913-551-7020
7. Missouri Department of Natural Resources - Air Pollution Control
Program, 573-751-4817

Nauseating, Nasty, Foul, Offensive, Vomit...

The smell has been described as nauseating, nasty, foul, offensive, like vomit, like a "dead cow on your porch", "goes beyond stink", "it's not like anything else", rotting meat, something burnt, musky, a "dead, rotting carcus smell", a nuisance odor violation, and bad!

Q: Do you know what Renewable Environmental Resources LLC calls it?
A: Thermal Conversion Process Technology (TCP)

What do you think that it smells like? How would you describe it?

Report an Environmental Problem with MDNR

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) has an electronic form to complete if you want to report an environmental problem, http://www.dnr.state.mo.us/concern.htm. Fill out all of the information, then don't forget to push 'Submit'.

The Headlines

State Delves into Stinky Situation, Joplin Globe, Saturday, March 26, 2005 http://www.joplinglobe.com/archives/story.php?story_id=92685

Odor Gripes Receive Airing, The Joplin Globe, Thursday, March 24, 2005 http://www.joplinglobe.com/archives/story.php?story_id=92428

Blunt Pressures DNR on Odor Issue, The Carthage Press, Thursday, March 24, 2005 http://www.carthagepress.com/articles/2005/03/24/news/news1.txt

Southwest Missourians: When it Comes to Regulating Odors, State Agency's Track Record...Just Stinks, The Joplin Globe, Sunday, March 20, 2005
http://www.joplinglobe.com/archives/story.php?story_id=91889

Residents Speak Out on RES, The Carthage Press, Friday March 18, 2005 http://www.carthagepress.com/articles/2005/03/18/news/news1.txt

RES Officials Respond to Letter, Say They Investigate Complaints, The Carthage Press, Tuesday, March 15, 2005 http://www.carthagepress.com/articles/2005/03/15/news/news2.txt

Carthage Threatens 'Stink' Suit, The Jopolin Globe, Saturday, March 12, 2005 http://www.joplinglobe.com/archives/story.php?story_id=91010

Mayor Give RES 30 Days to Find a Solution, The Carthage Press, Friday, March 11, 2005

City Seeks RES Answer, The Carthage Press, Wednesday, March 9, 2005

RES Cited for Wastewater Violations, The Carthage Press, Monday, February 28, 2005

Waft Stinks Up Carthage, The Joplin Globe, Friday, February 25, 2005
http://www.joplinglobe.com/archives/story.php?story_id=89134

I'd like your input, too. What do you think? Does it really stink? Who is responsible?

RES the company

Here is the web page link for Renewable Environmental Solutions LLC, http://www.res-energy.com/index.asp. It says that they are owned by Changing World Technologies and Conagra Foods, Inc.

Renewable Environmental Solutions, LLC.
2001 Butterfield Road
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Tel: 630.512.1238
Fax: 630.512.1121
www.res-energy.com

Changing World Technologies, Inc.
460 Hempstead Ave.
West Hempstead, NY. 11552
516-486-0100
www.changingworldtech.com

Conagra Foods, Inc.
One Conagra Drive
Omaha, NE. 68102
402-595-5392
www.conagrafoods.com

Renewable Environmental Solutions - They Stink!

Renewable Environmantal Solutions (RES) says that they are comitted to being a good neighbor. Is that what it means when the Carthage Mayor Kenneth Johnson says "We've had it!" ? The Joplin Globe reported March 12, 2005 that 'The City recently sent a letter to company headquarters in Chicago notifying officials that the city will take them to court if the odor problem is not addressed in the next 30 days, Johnson said.'
Julie Gross Gelfand, RES Spokeswoman is quoted as saying 'This has been very frustrating for us as well as for the community'.
That is an understatement!