Landfarm receives new requirements from DNR

ADVANCE, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has implemented new monitoring requirements on an Advance-area environmental cleanup facility, requirements the president of the company that owns the facility says will increase the cost of doing business.

DNR included the new requirements in an operating permit for the Smith and Company Landfarm, owned by Poplar Bluff, Mo.-based S.H. Smith and Company Inc., issued on June 29 and revised July 13. The facility came up for a regular review and renewal of its operating permit earlier this year.

A landfarm is a facility where soils contaminated with petroleum products -- gasoline, diesel fuel, fuel oil, kerosene and aviation fuel -- are placed in a lined pit and chemicals are broken down by bacteria and sunlight.

During the permitting process some people living near the landfarm lodged complaints that piles of contaminated soil were being left uncovered, creating the potential for contaminated runoff to reach nearby Wolf Creek.

Under the new requirements Smith and Company will be required to inspect the facility, which doesn't have regular staff on-site, every week to make sure stockpiled contaminated soils remain covered and storm-water collected doesn't overflow its containment basin. A log of those weekly reports must be maintained for three years, while the company's permit is good for five years.

DNR chief Doyle Childers said in a letter to U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson the inspections represent a "significant cost" to Smith and Company, but that the new requirements are being added to the permit to address public concerns, not because DNR has any indication the facility has caused any environmental problems.

The permit allows the facility to continue discharging treated storm-water collected from its soil pit with monthly testing.

Company President Paul Ridlen said he's not sure what increased cost will accompany the new rules, but costs will definitely be added.

Ridlen said that although the company understands the concerns of those living in the area, the new restrictions may go a bit too far. However, Ridlen said the company will comply.

"We wanted to be treated fairly, of course, and we certainly understand the concerns all the neighbors have, and we've tried from the very beginning to be responsive to those," Ridlen said. "We're trying to do good here, and it's been unfortunate that there have been some negative perceptions."

In addition to operating the landfarm, Smith and Company performs civil engineering for public works projects, surveying, drilling and environmental consulting.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182