Moving the sensors

Last week's news reports about the Missouri State Highway Patrol's investigation into the collapse of AmerenUE's electricity-generating Taum Sauk Reservoir in Southeast Missouri prompted swift rebuttals from the utility company.

The stories, by Associated Press reporter Christopher Leonard, detailed how water-level sensors had been raised before the overfilled reservoir collapsed, wiping out much of Johnson Shut-ins State Park near Lesterville, Mo. The news stories also described how, according to the patrol investigation, the sensors had been removed after the dam collapsed and released millions of gallons of water.

The first AP story said Ameren had failed to disclose to patrol investigators who moved the sensors before the collapse and who took down the sensors after the collapse -- in effect removing vital information about where the sensors were located and to what extent the relocation contributed to the dam's failure.

Ameren's first news-release rebuttal said categorically that there was no "criminal tampering" with the water-level sensors. This is a fine point, since the company admits the sensors were moved. The claim that it wasn't "criminal tampering" is apparently based on the fact that, so far, no criminal charges have been filed against anyone.

The following day, the company said it had identified who took down the sensors. This week the AP issued a correction. Parts of the 2,000-page investigation included statements that the names had not been forthcoming, but among the report's documents was an Ameren letter containing that information.

But let's not lose focus in this PR barrage. It's clear that the crucial water-level sensors were moved. The highway patrol's report suggests they were moved so more water -- too much water? -- could be pumped up to the mountaintop reservoir in order to generate more electricity and create more profit for Ameren.

How critical a factor the raising of those sensors was will probably never be known for sure, because the sensors were taken down within hours of the dam's collapse. According to Ameren, they were taken down so they could be tested in a bucket of water to see if they were still working -- a point that misses the obvious fact that sensors raised too high aren't likely to be effective.

Ameren's costly efforts to clean up the mess left in the wake of the Taum Sauk collapse have been quick and thorough. But the nagging question that remains is which Ameren official ought to made to answer for the moving and taking down of the water sensors that were so crucial.