by Caroline Pufalt
Ozark Chapter Conservation Chair, ExCom
New chip mills wanting to locate in Missouri will have a least a two year wait based on a moratorium approved by the state’s Clean Water Commission in its April meeting. The commission based its actions on concern for the state’s waterways that could be harmed if additional chip mills bring increased logging to Missouri. The commission heard testimony regarding the large scale clearcutting that often accompanies chip mill operations and the lack of best management practices (BMPs) in Missouri.
BMPs is a term used for minimal watershed protection measures that should accompany any logging. But such practices are not required in Missouri and, for a variety of reasons, are sometimes not practiced voluntarily on private lands. BMPs might include building waterbars to prevent erosion, avoiding stream side areas or steep slopes. BMPs do not preclude clearcuts but are designed to minimize soil disturbance, erosion and water runoff from any type of logging. BMPs are considered the very minimum requirement towards good forestry.
Missouri currently has three operating chip mills in the state. Their presence raised concern about the future of our state’s forests. In response to that concern, in December, 1998, Governor Carnahan appointed a special committee to review chip mill impacts on Missouri and provide suggestions for their management. That committee’s draft report was recently released. (see separate article)
The Clean Water Commission is a separate state entity. It is an ongoing commission with six members appointed by the governor. The commission meets monthly with most meetings held in Jefferson City. These meetings are open to the public.
The Clean Water Commission also recently took an important step toward protecting Missouri’s National Scenic River watershed from lead mining. The commission voted not to renew the permit Doe Run Lead Company was granted several years ago that would have permitted the company to discharge wastewater in the watershed. Mining operations use a large amount of water so this action will make lead mining expansion in the National Scenic Riverway watershed very difficult.
Missourians can be thankful that the members of the Clean Water Commission took action to protect our state’s forested watersheds. Industry lobbied against both these actions but the commission members were able to look beyond their shortsighted arguments and pass these two significant motions.