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The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (“MDNR”) issued a Notice and Order to Pay Administrative Penalties (“Order”) to Mid-State’s Recycling LLC (“MSR”) for alleged violations of the Missouri Clean Water Law. See Order No. 2018-WPCD-1500.

The Order describes MSR as a grease recycling company in Springfield, Missouri.

MDNR staff is stated to have visited the grease recycling facility on February 22, 2016. They are stated to have informed MSR’s personnel that a Missouri State Operating Permit (“MSOP”) must be obtained for the grease recycling operation.

An application for a General Operating Permit was stated to have been provided. Access to the grease recycling operation was stated to have been denied to MDNR staff.

The Greene County Sheriff’s Department is stated to have served a search warrant at the facility on February 25, 2016. Open drums and other containers filled with grease, several large storage tanks that contained grease material, and puddles of grease were stated to have been observed at the facility. The findings of the investigation were discussed with MSR personnel.

The Order states that MDNR contacted MSR personnel regarding resolution of past alleged violations. However, letters detailing such proposal are stated to have been unclaimed by MSR.

The Order alleges that MSR has violated Missouri Clean Water Law and its implementing regulations by having:

Operated, used or maintained a water contaminant source, food-grade grease processing business, which intermittently discharges to a tributary to the Sac River, waters of the state, without an MSOP in violation of the MCWL Sections 644.051.2 and 644.076.1, RSMo, and Missouri Clean Water commission regulation 10 CSR 20-6.010.

Corrective Actions mandated by the Order include:

• Submission of a Form E-Application for General Operating Permit to MDNR and obtain an MSOP prior to any grease operations from MSR.
• Comply with the MCWL, Chapter 644, RSMo, and its implementing regulations at all times in the future.

A $4,000 civil penalty is assessed.

A copy of the Order can be downloaded here.