Tue, Dec 02 2008
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Published August 01, 2008 04:22 pm - PURDY, Mo. — Ruby Wilks and Tracie Snodgrass are puzzled by a Missouri Department of Natural Resources decision to exempt part of Little Flat Creek from state bacteria standards for human uses such as swimming. Nearly 90 streams left off of clean-water list w/ link to list of proposed waterways, comment form By Wally Kennedy
aostmeyer@joplinglobe.com PURDY, Mo. — Ruby Wilks and Tracie Snodgrass are puzzled by a Missouri Department of Natural Resources decision to exempt part of Little Flat Creek from state bacteria standards for human uses such as swimming. Wilks, who lives in Purdy, thinks it has to do with a wastewater lagoon on the east side of Purdy that could become a source of bacteria for the creek in the future if there is a problem. The city, she said, recently retained a Joplin engineering firm, Allgeier, Martin and Associates, to respond to a letter from the DNR that identified several problems with Purdy’s wastewater-treatment system. Farmland taken to construct the lagoon once belonged to Wilks’ family, and she said she has watched the site closely ever since. “They say the lagoon is a no-discharge lagoon, but they take wastewater from the lagoon and use it to water farmland around the lagoon,” she said. “They call it land application, but isn’t that a discharge?” Snodgrass also thinks the decision to exempt a two-mile segment of Little Flat Creek from state bacteria standards might have something to do with the lagoon. She also wonders if the exemption might have something to do with the spreading of chicken litter in the watershed. She said the decision to exempt part of that stream and others around the state from bacteria standards will devalue property along the creek and possibly contribute to the bacterial loading by parties who think an exemption gives them free rein to do as they wish without DNR oversight. “I was born and raised on the creek, and just can’t understand why they want to do this. What’s the reason?” she said. “This is a watershed issue for everyone who lives downstream. Are we going to allow part of Little Flat Creek to be contaminated with bacteria?” Local exemptions For its part, DNR officials say those concerns are unfounded, and that the proposed exemption for part of Little Flat Creek from the federal Clean Water Act has nothing to do with the lagoon at Purdy. John Hoke, an environmental specialist with the DNR, said the city of Purdy did not seek the exemption. He also said his department has had no contact with Purdy. Ted McIntire, the city’s water and wastewater operator, confirmed he has had no conversation with anyone at the DNR about exempting part of Little Flat Creek from state bacterial standards. Concerns raised by Snodgrass and Wilks are part of much broader statewide issue involving segments of 90 streams the DNR wants to exempt from state standards. Also on the list proposed for exemption are: 
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