Friday, April 14, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Calls on Agencies to Ensure Missourians are Compensated for Taum Sauk Failure
Natural Resources, Conservation, Attorney General to Safeguard Public Interest
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today called on the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Attorney General to work together to ensure the citizens of Missouri are fully and appropriately compensated for the impacts from the Dec. 14 Taum Sauk Reservoir breach.
“We realize AmerenUE has stepped forward to work with the communities surrounding Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, but we must also consider the interests of all Missouri citizens who enjoy the benefits of this unique Missouri treasure,” Blunt said. “This was one of Missouri’s most beautiful and popular state parks. While the state will require AmerenUE to rebuild it, park opportunities and wildlife habitat belonging to the citizens of Missouri are forever changed. While the park is being rebuilt, it will likely take several generations before it reaches its previous condition, if at all.”
Blunt directed the agencies to creatively consider all options to compensate citizens through park and recreational opportunities, such as railbanking the Rock Island Railroad and donating Church Mountain to the State of Missouri. Both the former Rock Island Railroad line, which could connect the Katy Trail to the Kansas City area, and Church Mountain, located adjacent to Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, are properties owned by AmerenUE.
“These very valuable properties hold great recreational potential for Missouri citizens,” Blunt said. “The value of an 80-year-old forest simply cannot be translated into a dollar amount. Compensating the citizens may be better focused on compensating citizens with recreational and wildlife opportunities.”
If AmerenUE were to railbank the Rock Island Railroad, the State of Missouri could move forward on extending the Katy Trail into the Kansas City area. This would leave only one small portion of the trail to be completed before Missouri would have a cross-state trail from St. Louis to Kansas City.
Opportunities on the Rock Island Railroad, on the west side of Missouri, and Church Mountain, on the east side of the state, could reach a larger portion of the citizens who took advantage of the benefits of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park, according to DNR Director Doyle Childers.
“Church Mountain has long been sought after because of its unique natural and cultural heritage,” said Childers. “Adding the mountain to Missouri’s state park system would be a significant addition to the state’s current 83 state parks and historic sites.”
Regardless of whether or not litigation occurs as a result of the Dec.14 reservoir failure, AmerenUE will have to compensate the citizens of the state of Missouri for their loss at some point, according to Gov. Blunt.
In the early morning hours of Dec. 14, the AmerenUE Taum Sauk hydroelectric plant’s upper reservoir near Lesterville breached, flooding Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park with approximately 1.3 billion gallons of water.
The state holds AmerenUE responsible for the incident and any subsequent damage and cleanup, and will require AmerenUE to pay for and reimburse the state for any expenses, including Missouri Department of Natural Resources oversight and assistance.
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