MISSOURI—1992  307Halliburton, Du Pont, and seven other 
companies. Cleanup could reach the tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars.

 The Big River Mine Tailings/St. Joe 
Minerals Corp. site, located in the "Old Lead Belt" in the southeastern
part
of the State, is approximately 1 10 square miles in size. St. Joe Minerals
Corp. donated land containing mine tailings to St. 
Francois County, and a landfill is on part of the tailings. Elevated levels
of lead were detected in fish in the Big River, which bounds the site, and
in surface water. High levels of lead, cadmium, and zinc were detected in
the tailings, surface water, air, and soil in the area. Investigation to
determine the nature and extent of contamination and to make recommendations
for cleanup began late ~ in the year. 
 A number of workshops and training 
courses were sponsored by the Missouri Limestone Producers Association, National
Stone Association, and private companies to educate operators on environmental
regulations and to provide information on emissions control. 
 
LEGISLATION AND 
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS 
 
 A variety of legislation that would 
have an impact on the minerals industry was introduced. Some of the bills
passed, while others did not. Defeated bills could be reintroduced in subsequent
legislative sessions. 
 House bill 1006 provided appropriations for the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources. In February, the State legislature began consideration of a proposal
to eliminate the Division of Geology and Land Survey from the budget as a
result of proposed budget cuts by the Missouri General Assembly. The Missouri
Limestone Producers Association, the Mining Industry Council of Missouri,
and numerous other organizations and individuals were instrumental in ensuring
that the Division was funded and assisted in preventing two geologist positions
from being deleted from the budget. 
 House bill 1247 increases the fuel tax 
by $0.06, increasing $0.02 per year every other year until the full $0.06
is 
implemented in 1996. Revenues 
generated will contribute to the planned 
15-year Road and Bridge Program and 
nearly double available Federal matching 
funds. The bill contains provisions that funds will not be used for administration

purposes by the State Highway Department. If changes are made in the Federal
Surface Transportation Act such that the full $0.06 tax is not needed, or
if 
the General Assembly determines that funds are not being used for the intended

purposes, the voters may determine whether to continue implementing the tax
or if it should be repealed. 
 Senate Committee Substitute House 
bill 1732 revises the Missouri solid waste law in a variety of areas. Counties
are provided the opportunity to transfer to 
different solid waste management regions. 
Solid waste facilities must comply with local zoning requirements. The length
of time during which landfill operators are 
responsible for monitoring and caring for landfills is increased from 25
to 30 years after closure of the landfill. Fees 
collected for the transportation of infectious wastes for disposal will be
placed in the Solid Waste Management Fund for hazardous waste remediation.
The bill also revises the surface mining law. Operators who apply for permits
to mine less than 10,000 short tons per year must agree in writing to grant
access to the Department of Natural Resources or the Land Reclamation Commission.

 Senate Committee Substitute Senate bill 480 relates to hazardous substances
emergencies. Employers storing, using, or producing hazardous substances
are required to register annually with the local fire protection service,
local emergency planning committee, and the Department of Natural Resources.
Annual fees on such facilities will be placed in the Chemical Emergency Preparedness
Fund for use in chemical emergency planning, prevention, and training. State
departments and commissions are no longer required to encourage the location
of hazardous waste treatment facilities in the State. 
 Senate bill 544 revises Missouri's Air 
Conservation Law to comply with new Federal requirements under the Clean
Air Act Amendments of 1990. Guidelines concerning permits, fees, and penalties

are established. The bill establishes 
emissions fees of $25 per ton, requires 5year operating permits, and specifies
that the provisions of the State air quality 
compliance regulations be no stricter than 
Federal requirements.  Charcoal 
producers are protected from excessive 
fees through a provision allowing kiln operators to come into compliance
over 
the next several years. 
 House biil 924 did not pass. The bill would have established a mine map
repository in the Department of Natural 
Resources, Division of Geology and Land 
Survey. The repository would have contained mine maps of all closed underground
mines and mineral rights ownership maps for all active underground mines
in the State. The maps would be open for examination by all interested parties.

 House bill 1533 did not pass. The bill would have expanded the use of abandoned
mine reclamation funding to include surface coal mining operations if available
reclamation or abatement funds from bonds or other financial guarantees are
insufficient to adequately reclaim the site. 
 The U.S. Senate Finance Committee rejected a House-passed proposal to abolish
the depletion allowance for producing asbestos, lead, mercury, and uranium.
The elimination of the depletion allowance would have cost Missouri lead
producers millions of dollars annually and resulted in a loss of many jobs.

 The 115. Army Corps of Engineers stated that artificially created lakes
and ponds excavated from dry land, including those created by aggregate producers,
are not included under the definition of 
jurisdictional wetlands. With less 
regulatory restriction, operators are allowed greater flexibility in quarry
development and reclamation. 
 EPA and Congress considered a variety of approaches to reduce lead consumption
and the amount of lead in the environment and to encourage