Commission to challenge new EPA standards

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- The Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission at Dexter, Mo., is marshaling its forces to make a stand against new EPA standards.

Steve Duke, executive director of the BRPC, advised Mississippi County commissioners during their regular meeting Thursday that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has joined the state of Mississippi in a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"The EPA is coming out with some new standards," Duke said. "Ninety percent of counties [in Missouri] would be out of compliance with the new standards."

Duke said EPA's new standards have stricter requirements on emissions from lawnmowers, cars, industry and even chicken operations. "It's going to affect everything," he said.

The new standards would, for example, require dust-control measures on all haul roads for ethanol and biodiesel plants, Duke said.

Duke said the BRPC is forming an air-quality commission and asking the six counties within their service area -- Mississippi, Scott, New Madrid, Stoddard, Dunklin and Pemiscot -- to each appoint a

representative.

"So if we need to do something we have people who are aware of what's going on," Duke said. "You are the first county I've asked to make that appointment."