Attorney General's News Release

Dec. 31, 1997

Nixon secures record $4.1 million enforcing state's environmental protection laws

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today announced his Environmental Protection Division has obtained a record $4.1 million in civil penalties, response costs, damages and restitution payments in 1997 through aggressive enforcement of the state's clean air, water and soil conservation laws. Nixon obtained 235 favorable dispositions in environmental cases this year.

"The environment is a precious resource that should not be taken for granted," Nixon said. "Our actions not only protect Missourians, but they send a clear message that Missouri will not turn a blind eye to polluters."

Nixon created the Environmental Protection Division within the Attorney General's Office in 1993 and since that time has obtained more than $15 million in civil penalties, response costs, damages and restitution payments against violators of state and federal environmental laws.

In 1996, the division recovered more than $3.8 million and secured the largest single environmental penalty in state history when American Smelting and Refining Co. paid $1.7 million to settle claims that it discharged lead into a tributary of the Black River.

"Aggressive enforcement of the state's environmental laws is one of my most important jobs as Attorney General," Nixon said. "A key to successful environmental enforcement is working cooperatively with the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Environmental Protection Agency, the FBI and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in bringing criminal charges against the state's most serious polluters."

Nixon's environmental action this year included:

• A lawsuit against Simmons Food Inc. for water pollution violations by the chicken processing company at its operation near Southwest City in McDonald County.
• A court order requiring a southwest Missouri underground storage tank operator to pay over $35,000 in civil penalties and clean up a dozen tank sites around the Springfield area.
• A settlement barring Midwest Environmental Technology, an environmental contractor, and its operator from operating in Missouri over the next five years. The operator had improperly spread contamination at an underground storage tank site near Columbia.
• A $35.602.86 settlement payment for a major fish kill resulting from the discharge of untreated sewage in Wilson's Creek near Springfield.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818