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Barges on the Loose

On April 21 the U.S. Coast Guard notified the department’s Environmental Emergency Response section that up to 87 barges broke loose from their moorings near Mississippi River mile marker 172 near Lemay. The count of barges was later reassessed at 114 with nine barges missing. Four barges hit the I-255 Bridge, also known as the Jefferson Barracks Bridge, causing a temporary closure at that time. At total of 10 barges sank, including nine coal barges. Four barges carrying hazardous materials, or hazmat, were secured at the bank with no reported leakage. The rest of the barges were pushed into the bank along the river. Emergency responders reported that no surface water intakes for drinking water can be affected if a leak should occur.

The hazmat barges were assessed, with none found to be leaking. One of the barges carrying dry caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), never lost its mooring. Another barge carrying caustic soda was located in good condition and returned to river mile 171. A barge carrying mono ethyl glycol was located in good condition. That barge was attached to an empty naphtha solvent barge which was damaged but not leaking. Those barges were also returned to river mile 171.

The Environmental Emergency Response section is the department’s front line of defense against significant and imminent hazardous substance releases, natural or man-made disasters, or homeland security threats that impact public safety and the environment. Responsibilities include responding to any chemical, petroleum, or other material spilled on to the land, or into the water or air, that may impact the public health and safety and the environment.

The Environmental Emergency Response section is called to the scene of more than 300 emergencies each year, including fires, traffic accidents, leaking storage tanks and other incidents that could have a negative environmental impact. The department’s 24-hour spill line receives more than 1,600 incident reports annually.

To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the spill line at (573) 634-2436. You can report a suspected environmental concern through the department’s online reporting form.

Posted on Apr 22, 2013

Why particulates matter

You cannot always see particulates but they matter because no matter what you may have heard, what you can’t see can still hurt you!

Smoke, soot, dust and dirt particles are included in a group known as particulate matter, one of the six common air pollutants  monitored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Particulate matter, abbreviated PM, is an airborne mixture of liquid droplets and solid particles made up of organic chemicals, metals, acids or dust particles.

There are two groups of PM that matter the most since they can easily be inhaled. PM10, are particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometers and are frequently found near roadways and dust-creating industries. Fine particles, or PM2.5, are 2.5 micrometers and smaller. PM2.5 lurks in smoke from burning oil, coal, wood or residential waste; smog, haze and vehicle exhaust.

To give you an idea of the sizes of particulate matter, an average hair from your head is about 70 micrometers which would be seven times bigger than the largest PM10 and 30 times bigger than the biggest PM2.5.

Although these particulates are tiny their effect on human health can really matter. Whether inhalable or fine, particulates that are 10 micrometers or smaller can enter the lungs from the throat and nose creating serious health issues in some individuals, such as:

  •         Increased respiratory problems.
  •         Aggravated asthma.
  •         Decreased lung function.
  •         Irregular heartbeat and nonfatal heart attacks.
  •         Premature death.

Even healthy people may experience symptoms from exposure to particulate matter. Particle pollution can also damage the environment.

The Department of Natural Resources maintains a system of air monitors across the state as part of a network to monitor air pollutants known to affect people’s health. So the next time smoke gets in your eyes; limit your exposure because particulates matter.

Posted on Apr 10, 2013

The shady side of trees

Arbor Day in Missouri is the first Friday in April, or April 5 this year, so it seems like a good time to talk about trees. Most of us probably think trees are great for air quality but just like people, trees have their good side and their not so good side.

Trees are beneficial to the air quality because their shade is cooling which reduces the need to generate air conditioning. The surface area of leaves allows for the removal of nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter. Trees and plants use carbon dioxide in the air along with sun, soil and water to make food and release oxygen for us to breathe in the process. Trees store carbon dioxide in their trunk and roots.

Turn that leaf over though and you will see that trees release volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which can react with nitrogen oxides from cars and power plants to form ozone and particulate matter. In some rural areas with low nitrogen oxide concentrations though, the VOCs from trees can actually remove ozone. When you start looking at a tree from different angles, you can really get in some deep weeds!

The earth’s vegetation is responsible for about two-thirds of the VOCs emitted around the world, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.  In their computer simulation model, removing man-made pollutants created a 50 percent drop in tree pollutants. When we reduce our pollutants we help trees reduce their pollutants.

We can plant trees and then help trees pollute less by reducing our own pollution. In return trees will shade and protect us. As Chief Seattle said, “All things share the same breath – the beast, the tree, the man…the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.”

For more information about air quality, visit the Air Pollution Control Program or the Environmental Services Program’s Air Quality Assurance and Air Quality Monitoring websites.

 

 

 

 

Posted on Apr 03, 2013

Asbestos is nothing to sneeze at

Don’t blow off the possibility of asbestos in your surroundings. Before demolishing or renovating structures, excluding some residential buildings, the structures must be inspected by a Missouri-certified asbestos inspector for the presence of asbestos. Debris should be kept wet to minimize potential asbestos emissions.

Although newer structures may have fewer asbestos-containing building materials used in them, asbestos may be present in any structure.

Asbestos can be found in:

  • Attic insulation.
  • Wall insulation.
  • Vinyl floor tiles.
  • Roofing shingles
  • Siding shingles
  • Textured paint and patching compounds.
  • Walls and floors around wood-burning stoves.
  • Hot water and steam pipes.
  • Oil or coal furnaces and door gaskets.
  • Heat-resistant fabrics.
  • Automobile brakes and clutches.

Even worse, disturbing asbestos can release the fibers into the air. Exposure to asbestos can cause scarring of the lungs, mesothelioma or lung cancer.

Learn more about asbestos:

Posted on Mar 26, 2013

Ozone season starts April 1

No fooling! The start of ozone season is just around the corner. The reason for the season is ozone is good up high and bad nearby. 

Summer heat can bring some lovely days for a dip in the swimming pool but the heat and sunlight can also produce ground-level ozone – commonly known as smog. Smog is a gas created when the pollution from business, power plants and vehicles mix in the presence of sunlight. Higher temps and sunlight speed up the formation of this ground-level ozone.

Exposure to ground-level ozone contributes to health and environmental problems. Adults and children can experience problems breathing, especially those who exercise or work outdoors. Ground-level ozone may also damage trees and agricultural crops.

Simple everyday steps can help reduce the emission of harmful ozone-causing pollutants:

  • Keep vehicle tires properly inflated. (Under-inflated tires also increase gasoline consumption.)
  • Use public transportation, carpool, bike or walk.
  • Stop at the first click when filling up gas tanks. Do not top off the tank. Resist the urge to squeeze that nozzle!
  • Don’t use gas-powered lawn equipment on hot, sunny days with little or no wind. Consider waiting until early evening to mow your lawn.
  • Conserve energy by turning off lights and appliances when leaving a room to reduce emissions from power plants.
  • Set a goal to reduce your utility bill by two percent. You will save money and protect air quality.

Ozone monitoring data for ozone season, which begins April 1 and runs through Oct. 31, is available from monitors placed around the state. For more information on ozone, visit the department’s Ozone webpage. You may also want to read the article The Darker Side of Ozone in the summer 2011 edition of Missouri Resources’ magazine. 

Posted on Mar 25, 2013

Check faucets and showerheads for leaks during Fix a Leak Week

During Fix a Leak Week, March 18-24, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources encourages consumers to check their household fixtures for leaks.

Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter changes at all, you probably have a leak.  One potential source could be your faucet or showerhead.  Examine faucet gaskets and pipe fittings for any water on the outside of the pipe to check for surface leaks. Old worn out washers and gaskets in faucets and showerheads frequently cause leaks. They may need to be replaced.

Some leaky showerheads can be fixed by making sure there is a tight connection between the showerhead and the pipe stem and by using pipe tape to secure it. Pipe tape, also called Teflon tape, is available at most hardware stores, is easy to apply, and can help tame unruly leaks. For more complicated valve leaks in showers that drip when not in use, contact an experienced handyperson or licensed plumber.

If you’ve determined you have leaks and you find these solutions aren’t enough to stop them, it might be time to replace your leaking fixtures. Look for the WaterSense label if you are considering new fixtures.  You could increase your home’s water efficiency.

Posted on Mar 22, 2013

Check your toilet during Fix a Leak Week.

During Fix a Leak Week, held March 18-24, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources asks consumers to do a little detective work to find household fixtures that may be leaking.  One possible source of a leak could be your toilet.

Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring in the toilet tank. If any color shows up in the bowl after 15 minutes, you have a leak. (Be sure to flush immediately after the experiment to avoid staining the tank.)

A common reason why toilets will leak is an old or worn out toilet flapper (sometimes called a “valve seal”). Flappers are inexpensive rubber parts that can build up minerals or decay over time. Replacing them can be a quick and easy fix for your water woes. To fix this leak, consult your local hardware store, home improvement retailer, or licensed plumber.

If your leaky toilet is beyond repair and the time has come to replace it, look for the WaterSense label on a new toilet to increase your home’s water efficiency.

 

Posted on Mar 20, 2013

Census of public water systems available online

Have you ever wondered how many public water systems are in Missouri?  Well, you can find the answer in the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Census of Missouri Public Water Systems.

This annual census provides detailed information regarding the volume, sourcewater type, population served and other characteristics of Missouri’s 2,738 public water systems.  In addition, test results for selected chemicals are included along with the types of treatments used by Missouri water systems.

We hope this report will serve as a helpful reference for anyone needing information about a Missouri public water system, or who is simply interested in learning more about the water coming out of their tap. The census is available online and can be found at: http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/census.htm

Posted on Mar 19, 2013

Celebrate Fix a Leak Week, March 18-24

As an EPA Watersense partner, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources reminds  consumers during Fix a Leak Week to find and fix leaks to save water in our community

Leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water in an average home every year – enough water to wash nearly 10 months’ worth of laundry.  Nationwide, more than 1 trillion gallons of water leak from U.S. homes each year.  Fix a Leak Week is March 18-24.  Take this opportunity to check your household fixtures for leaks, and if you have one, repair it.  It could prevent wasting thousands of gallons of water, and help your pocket book too!

Posted on Mar 12, 2013

March 4-8 is Missouri Severe Weather Awareness Week

In Missouri spring means barbecues, dogwoods and fishing expeditions. Unfortunately, it can also mean hail, lightning, strong winds and even floods. If your home, business or community is affected by severe weather, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources can help. The department’s Natural Disaster Resources webpage offers publication and fact sheet links provides information on how to dispose of disaster debris, facts on open burning, reducing the impact of flooding, restoring drinking water and disaster response guidance for public water and wastewater facilities. Additional resources are also available.

If you need to report an environmental concern, the department offers an easy on-line form.  

Call the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Spill Reporting Hotline at 573-634-2436 for environmental emergencies, such as:

Environmental Emergency Responder truck at disaster scene

 

  • Oil and chemical spills.
  • Radiological and biological discharges.
  • Accidents causing releases of pollutants.
  • Fish kills.
  • Hazardous material incidents.
  • Leaking abandoned containers. 

Emergency responders staff the Spill Reporting Hotline 24/7 to provide technical assistance regarding spilled chemicals and necessary cleanup actions; work with the person or company responsible for the spill to ensure that proper cleanup is completed and impact to public health and the environment is minimized; conduct notifications to various agencies; and determine if an on-site response is needed by program staff.

Posted on Mar 04, 2013

Resist the urge to squeeze that nozzle!

Question: When is making a splash or topping off a bad thing?

Answer: When you are at a gas station!

Save yourself some money and stop trying to wring out a few more drops of gasoline when the nozzle automatically clicks off when you are refueling your vehicle. The tank is full and reached its limit. This is definitely one time you do not want to go with the flow!

Topping off may cause you to pay for gasoline that is actually fed back into the station’s tanks via the pump’s vapor recovery system. The vapor recovery system prevents gas vapors from escaping into the air and adding to air pollution. Once you hear the first click at the gas pump, it’s time to put the nozzle away.

Your gas tank also needs some wiggle room to allow the gasoline to expand. Without that space the extra gas could evaporate into your vehicle’s vapor collection system and damage it leaving you with transportation that runs poorly and stinks up the air.

Evaporating gas fumes and spillage also adds to bad ozone days. Although there are some folks who like the smell of gas (yes, they exist!) the fumes are harmful to breathe and a source of toxic pollutants like benzene.

Topping off the tank can lead to gasoline splashing on the ground. You already know that the fumes are toxic and carcinogenic. Gasoline can seep into our groundwater. Gasoline is flammable. And you are paying for spilled gas!

Resist that urge to squeeze the trigger at the pump! You will save yourself money, potential car troubles and avoid contributing to air and water pollution.

Vapor recovery is the capture of gasoline vapors released from various activities into the atmosphere. Common Air Pollutants offers information on six common air pollutants.

Posted on Mar 01, 2013

AA Quarry hosts public meeting March 7 in Johnson County

AA Quarry LLC informational public meeting to be held March 7 in Lone Jack
AA Quarry LLC will hold an informational public meeting about its Johnson County mine permit application on Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m. at the Lone Jack Civic Center at 509 Bynum Road in Lone Jack in Jackson County.  During the meeting, the public is invited to comment concerning the proposed 214-acre limestone mining operation. 

Property owners from three subdivisions adjacent to the proposed site have already held multiple informational meetings about the proposed quarry with approximately 80 people attending those meetings.

Representatives from the department’s Land Reclamation Program and MoDOT are scheduled to attend the meeting as well as members of the department’s Kansas City Regional Office for air and water issues. The meeting will be videotaped and posted online for people to view who cannot attend in person. The department’s Land Reclamation Program received 180 letters concerning this application. The public notice comment period ended on Jan. 25, 2013.

Posted on Feb 28, 2013

Make a poster to honor your tap water

Contest entries are should be postmarked by March 25, 2013.

In recognition and celebration of Drinking Water Week, May 5-11, 2013, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the American Water Works Association are holding a poster contest for Missouri students in the fifth grade.

A safe, reliable water supply is critical to the success of any community. It creates jobs, attracts industry and investment, and provides for the health and welfare of citizens in ways ranging from disease prevention to fire suppression. We often take water resources for granted unless we are living through a drought or when depleted water supplies threaten a community’s future. Water plays a vital role in our daily lives, and this year we are celebrating what only tap water can deliver.

The artwork size can be no larger than 11 by 17 inches. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners:  $300 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third place.  Contest entries should be postmarked by March 25.

Each entry should have the student’s name, the teacher’s name and the school name, address and telephone number on the back. Students should also be sure to sign the front of the artwork.

Entries will be judged on three criteria: how original the entry is, how well the concept is executed, and how well the poster relates to public water supplies. The poster should convey a message celebrating tap water!

Mail entries to: Susan Bloomer, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Water Protection Program, P.O. Box, 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176.  For more information, call 1-800-361-4827 or 573-526-1825 or visit www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/dw-index.htm.

Posted on Feb 28, 2013

Open Burning Dangers

Open burning can be hazardous to your health and your environment

Did you know that in addition to posing a fire hazard during times of drought, the open burning of one household’s trash releases dangerous pollutants in higher levels than burning the trash of thousands of homes by a municipal waste incinerator? The open burning of certain trade wastes and tires also produces toxic emissions harmful to human health; therefore, the open burning of these types of wastes is strictly prohibited. Visit Facts on Open Burning Under Missouri Regulations or waste disposal for more information.  

 

 

Posted on Feb 28, 2013

Submissions sought for Earth Day 2013 Slogan Contest

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is out to tap one of the state’s most abundant resources — the imaginations of fifth graders.

The department is looking for fifth-grade teachers whose classrooms would like to participate in the Earth Day 2013 Slogan Contest. Students are asked to  submit a slogan using this year’s theme of Energy Efficiency. The winning entry will be used as the Earth Day 2013 slogan.  The winner will be recognized during the Earth Day 2013 celebration April 19 in Jefferson City and receive a $50 gift card donated by Central Bank of Jefferson City.

The contest is open to Missouri Fifth-graders ONLY.  No purchase is necessary.  Deadline for entries is Feb. 28, 2013.  The winner will be announced in March.  Submissions should be submitted using the 2013 Earth Day Slogan Contest Entry Form.

More on Earth Day 2013 is available online at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/earthday/.

Posted on Feb 07, 2013