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Attorney General Chris Koster announced that Doe Run Resources Corp. of St. Louis, North America’s largest lead producer, has 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. As a part of the civil agreement, Doe Run will pay a $3.5 million penalty to the U.S. Government for EPA violations and $3.5 million to the State of Missouri school funds for Iron County (50 percent), Reynolds County (30 percent), Jefferson County (15 percent) and Washington County (5 percent). 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. Doe Run has made a business decision to shut down its lead smelter in Herculaneum by December 31, 2013. The agreement leaves open the possibility for Doe Run to implement newer and cleaner technologies for lead smelting that will significantly reduce hazardous emissions and the generation of slag. The company will provide an initial $8.14 million in financial assurance to guarantee cleanup work at the Herculaneum facility. Closing the Herculaneum smelter is expected to result in significant benefits to public health and the environment by reducing at least 42,000 tons of sulfur dioxide and approximately 30 tons of lead per year that had been released into the environment. The settlement will also provide other important benefits to the residents of Southeast Missouri.  Doe Run must continue its cleanup of contaminated properties in Herculaneum and will 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.

The Salem Police Department released their reports involving a counterfeit twenty-dollar bill, theft from a vehicle, a stolen wallet, a fight and active fugitive warrants. On Monday, October 4th at 2:36 in the afternoon, an officer was detailed to the Bank of Salem on West Fourth Street in reference to a counterfeit twenty-dollar bill. The investigation of the report revealed the bill was accepted in a deposit. On Tuesday at 7:30 in the morning, a wallet was turned in to an officer that was located on B Highway. The wallet had been reported stolen from a shopping cart on Wal-Mart parking lot. The wallet and contents were returned to the owner. The wallet was missing the cash that was in it but other contents were accounted for. On Tuesday night, October 5th at 9:26, an officer was dispatched to the Salem Bowling Center parking lot in reference to a theft from a vehicle. The investigation of the report revealed that a person or persons unknown entered a white unlocked 1996 Chevrolet and took a laptop computer valued at $1000.00. On Wednesday, October 6th at 10:27 at night, an officer was sent to the 200 block of South Hickory in reference to a fight. The investigation of the report led to the arrest of a 30-year old male and a 24-year old male, both of Salem, for disorderly conduct. Both were incarcerated and issued a summons to appear in court. On Thursday, October 7th at 11:00 in the morning, an officer made contact with a male and female both 24-years old and of Salem. The male had an active fugitive warrant from Shannon County and the female had an active fugitive warrant from St. Francois County. Both were taken into custody on the active warrants and incarcerated pending extradition.  Please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242 if you have any information regarding an investigation ongoing or previously mentioned.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has announced that contractor crews are scheduled to begin a surface-leveling project on Highway 19 in Shannon County starting on Wednesday, October 13^th. Weather permitting crews will be working on from Route EE to the Jack's Fork River Bridge from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Work will include 16.845 miles of resurfacing. While construction is underway, a lane reduction will be required. Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling through the area. This project was awarded to Pace Construction Company, LLC of St. Louis, Mo. during the January meeting of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission. For additional information regarding this or other transportation-related topics, call the MoDOT Customer Service Center toll-free, at 1-888-ASK MoDOT (275-6636). 

Do you have old tires beside the garage? Wondering what to do with that old computer and that television that are piled in the basement? There’s finally an answer. Meramec Regional Planning Commission, in partnership with the Ozark Rivers Solid Waste Management District, the City of Salem and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, will offer a tire and electronics collection on Saturday, October 16^th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the utility/construction department’s parking lot at corner of Third and Grand Streets in Salem. The event is hosted by the City of Salem. Hard drives, printers, phones, VCRs, microwaves and most other electronics may be dropped off free of charge. Fees will be charged for televisions and monitors. Televisions will cost $5 for households and $10 for businesses. Each computer monitor will cost $5. Fees will also be charged for tires. Passenger tires will be $1.50 each; truck tires will be $5 each; and tractor tires will be $10 each. Tires from businesses are not accepted. You must unload the items yourself. The collection is open to any households in the Ozark Rivers District, including Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties. The Ozark Rivers Solid Waste District is using its own grant program, funded through landfill user tipping fees, to sponsor these collections. MRPC is working with Midwest Recycling Center of Crystal City and Park Hills to recycle electronics, and tires will be recycled into tire-derived fuel. The solid waste management district will also have educational information available at the collection that will help residents deal with other types of waste, including household hazardous waste. For more information, call the MRPC at 265-2993.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce board is requesting nominations to honor businesses and individuals at this year’s awards banquet. The banquet and auction will be held on Thursday, November 4^th beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the Salem City Hall Auditorium. Awards will be given in six categories: Business of the Year, Non-Profit Organization of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Customer Service Award, Citizen of the Decade and Youth Visionary Award. Criteria, eligibility and nomination forms for these awards can be picked up at the Chamber office located at 200 S. Main St. or requested by e-mail from chamber@salemmo.com. Nominations will be accepted through Thursday, October 14^th. Completed nominations can be mailed, faxed or brought to the Chamber office. Banquet tickets can be purchased for the evening’s festivities at the Chamber office for $20 each. For more information, please call Genie, the Salem Chamber Director, at 729-6900.

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