What Comes Next?

1. Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is waiting for a response from Renewable Envioronmental Solutions (RES), following MDNR letter dated Oct. 24, 2005.
2. RES will remove bio filter and redirect it to the wet scrubber.
3. RES conducted its own thermal oxidizer test on Sept. 22-23.
4. RES will install a permanent ozone generator by the end of November.
5. RES will install a steel fabricator building.
6. RES has purchased a street sweeper with wet scrubber, to be used at least 3 x per week, beginning Nov. 15. The Carthage Press, November 9, 2005, www.carthagepress.com

This is all fine and good, but what about the smell?

Smells Bad as Ever. Who Stinks, me?

It seems that RES continues in their strategy of denial, Who Stinks, me? Scott Holste, a spokesman for Missouri Attorney General, Jay Nixon, said that the meeting Monday was "part of the litigation process to check up on what has been done to this point and what we believe needs to be done from here on out". He continued, "But we want to make certain that if additional steps need to be taken, they are taken." The Joplin Globe, Tuesday, November 8, 2005

Tricia Orr, a local resident who lives northeast of the RES plant, said, "But today, it smells as bad as it has ever smelled." It is curious that the meeting was held in Springfield, and not in Carthage at a location downwind from the RES plant. As Carthage residents, we can't go to Springfield to rent a room to sleep in, or eat breakfast, or dinner, every time we want to avoid the RES smell. How can the litigants effectively evaluate the 'evidence' in the case, if they're 70 miles away?

Tricia Orr doesn't need a "scent-o-meter" to know that her life (and property value) has been decimated by RES. She deserves better, the City of Carthage deserves better. How long should this go on? Who is really in charge here? My nose knows!

Meeting in Springfield, MO Today

The Joplin Globe, Monday, November 7, 2005, reported that a meeting was to be held today in Springfield, MO, including: Carthage City Attorney David Mouton, Carthage Mayor Kenneth Johnson, Carthage City Administrator Tom Short, officials with Missouri Attorney General's Office, officials with Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and representatives from Renewable Environmental Solutions LLC (RES). The purpose of the meeting was to get updates on odor-control efforts by RES. http://www.joplinglobe.com/story.php?story_id=211205&c=87

I want to know when RES is going to pay the fine. I resent the fact that my/our taxes are going to pay for all of this litigation, monitoring, staff time and inconvenience, and RES hasn't paid $1 in fines. The last time I looked, they had six pending $10,000 fines for previous violations. If they were paying fines, I bet that they would be more interested in solving the problem(s) quickly. I say enough odors and excuses, MAKE THEM PAY!

Missouri Air Conservation Commission Thinks RES Stinks, too.

The Missouri Air Conservation Commission (MACC) thinks that RES is significant enough of a problem to want to tour RES, tentatively scheduled on December 7, 2005.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) acknowledges that the Carthage industrial bottoms has a bad smell. The problem is documenting it with a scentometer, the measuring tool of emissions and violations. MDNR made 21 "official" visits in September 2005, and another 21 in October, and was able to smell an odor, but not document it. The Carthage Press, Monday, November 31, 2005, www.carthagepress.com .

All they have to do is to ask Carthage City Attorney David Mouton, or Carthage City Mayor, Kenny Johnson. The Carthage residents that live and work around or downwind from RES don't need a scentometer. Click on the MDNR Complint Form Link to report the smell, http://www.dnr.state.mo.us/concern.htm .

It's time to put a STOP to RES's smell.

It's Getting Out of Hand, Again!

(1) Renewable Environmental Solutions (RES) is causing Carthage harm. (2) "I have personally noticed odors today, last night and last week". (3) Phone calls from residents who are distraught about the smell and its lack of abatement. (4) A new deadline from the Attorney General's Office to curb the odors. These are all statements made by City Council members, the City Attorney and Mayor at the City Council meeting, October 25, 2005. The Carthage Press, Wednesday, October 26, 2005.

Doesn't this sound like the historic community, with maple trees lining the streets of grand Victorian style homes? It doesn't to me either. It sounds (and smells) like a dump!

The Missouri Department of Resources (MDNR) issed RES a state storm water discharge permit. Why, so that they can continue to operate, business as usual? The Joplin Globe, Wednesday, October 26, 2005, states that RES previously had a general storm-water discharge permit . Why bother, they obviuously continue to polute the air and the environment. Why not Just Say NO. Shut them down. RES is not the neighbor I want! Do you?