Missouri State Agency Seeks Clean Up of Salvage Yard

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Clean Water Commission are calling on the Missouri Attorney General's Office to pursue legal action against Algiere Salvage for violations of Missouri's Clean Water Law and Regulations.

In early September, the DNR presented the case to the Clean Water Commission. At that time, the CWC voted to give George Algiere, owner of Algiere Salvage LLC, an additional 45 days to work with the department's enforcement staff to resolve the situation. To date, the department and Algiere Salvage have not been able to reach an agreement. Therefore, the department is referring the case to the Attorney General's Office to compel compliance and to seek an appropriate civil penalty for violations at the site.

During an inspection of Algiere Salvage, staff observed an unpermitted land disturbance site with Best Management Practices that were poorly maintained or not in place resulting in sediment deposits offsite and in the receiving stream. The department requires any land disturbance activity greater than one acre to obtain a general storm water permit for land disturbance activities. The general storm water permit requires the permittee to implement and maintain BMPs on-site to prevent uncontrolled runoff from depositing sediment into waters of the state. Excessive sediment loading in surface waters impairs aquatic ecosystems and uncontrolled runoff from land disturbance sites is a major source of sediment deposition.