Sunday, January 07, 2007

We're Waiting?

In the December 30, 2006, The Joplin Globe article, State Awaits RES' Reply, Missouri Department of Natural Resource employees are quoted as saying that they will "wait until next week for a response" from RES. I'm confused, does a company have 15 days or 'whatever they want' to respond to MDNR following a on odor citation?
Following the November 14 odor violation, and subsequent $25,000 fine, MDNR spokeswoman, Renee Bungart, is quoted as saying "RES needs to be more proactive and aggressive in discovering and eliminating potential problems before excessive emissions result". OK, less than thirty days later(December 12, 2006), guess what, another citation. According to my calendar, December 29 was the 15th day. We're Waiting?

"We Are Still Having Problems With RES"

Missouri Department of Natural Resources(MDNR) Director, Doyle Childers was in town (Friday, Jaurary 5, 2007) for what he called his 75th public forum. The headlines from the two local papers said it all, The Joplin Globe, Crowd Raises Stink, Saturday, January 6, 2007, and The Carthage Press, Sunday, January 7, 2007, Residents Raise Stink About RES.

Carthage City Mayor, Jim Woestman is quoted as saying, "We are still having problems with RES. We want it all to be taken care of." The response from MDNR Childers wasn't what we wanted to hear, "I understand that it is better, but it is still not perfect. I don't know if it will ever be perfect. I don't know how you're going to deal with that kind of material and not have a smell." Curiously, Director Choldress added that he hopes 'technological advancements made through the US Department of Homeland Security, may result in scent measuring tools better that the MDNR's current scent-o-meter.'

Timing is everything. There were several reports of excessive ommissions coming from Renewable Environmental Solutions LLC (RES) on Thursday, Jaurauy 4, 2007. According to MDNR spokeswoman, Renee Bungart, "there were odors, but not enough to detect using the scent-o-meter". Mayor Woestman reminded Director Childers, "But don't forget, this is the Show-Me state".