Doe Run settles with Missouri over environmental violations
Jefferson City, MO (KSDK) — Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster says Doe Run reached a settlement with the State of Missouri over environmental violations.
Doe Run agreed to spend approximately $65 million to correct violations of several environmental laws at ten of its lead mining, milling, and smelting facilities in Southeast Missouri. The settlement also requires the company to pay a $7 million civil penalty.
The $7 million civil penalty includes $3.5 million to be paid to the United States for violation of a number of federal environmental laws, with another $3.5 million going to Missouri for violation of the Missouri Air Conservation Law, Clean Water Law, and Hazardous Waste Management Law. In addition, Doe Run will establish trust funds of from $28 million to $33 million to clean up facilities at Herculaneum, Brushy Creek, Buick, Fletcher, Sweetwater, Viburnum, and West Fork.
Koster said when pollution controls are installed and operational changes are implemented, the reduction in dangerous pollutants, such as lead and carbon monoxide, will result in significant health and environmental benefits to the Herculaneum and St. Louis areas, which are currently violating federal air standards for lead, ozone, and particulate matter. In addition to improved air quality, the settlement will result in significant improvements to the water quality of streams adjacent to the Doe Run facilities, all of which are currently considered impaired because of pollution.
Doe Run plans to shut down its lead smelter in Herculaneum by December 31, 2013. The smelter has been at the center of controversy for years. According to Koster’s office, the smelter released 42,000 tons of sulfur dioxide and about 30 tons of lead per year into the environment.
The settlement also requires Doe Run to continue its cleanup of contaminated properties in Herculaneum and perform stream mitigation activities on 8.5 miles of Bee Fork Creek at a cost $5.8 million. Doe Run will also pay for $2 million in community projects over 4 years, including clean diesel retrofits, school lab clean outs, school energy efficiency projects and ground source heat pumps.
