Wednesday, Jan.18, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Calls on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to Account for Oversight at Taum Sauk
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt wrote Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher calling for an investigation into whether the commission failed to provide the regulatory oversight required by federal law.
FERC is charged with regulating the Taum Sauk reservoir. Officials from the commission visited and inspected the reservoir in August 2005 and did not report any problems. Newspaper accounts report that evidence exists of erosion around the reservoir prior to the December disaster.
An investigation by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources further supports that AmerenUE experienced overtopping of the reservoir well before it collapsed causing massive flood damage and putting the Toops family at risk. Blunt has asked Attorney General Jay Nixon to file civil or criminal penalties if necessary against AmerenUE.
"I am deeply disturbed by the shocking lack of oversight on the part of both AmerenUE and FERC," Blunt said. "This disaster put lives at risk and could have been significantly worse had it occurred in the summer with a park full of campers. I expect nothing less than the full and immediate cooperation from the federal government to give Missourians the answers they deserve."
A copy of Blunt’s letter to Kelliher is attached.
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View copy of Gov. Blunt's letter to FERC here