The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Forest Service, serving as the natural resource trustees, are seeking public input on two draft restoration plans that aim to restore fish and wildlife habitat across the southeast Missouri Ozarks area. The Viburnum Trend draft restoration plan is centered in Iron and Reynolds counties, but includes surrounding counties of Dent, Crawford, Washington and Shannon. The Meramec River Basin draft restoration plan includes the Big River. The projects are designed to restore resources that were injured by contaminants released into the environment during mining and smelting activities in the Viburnum Trend Mining District. The trustees invite the public to review and offer written comments on the proposed restoration plans until Dec 7, 2023. The public can review the proposed restoration plans below.
Written comments may be submitted by mail to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, ATTN: Leslie Lueckenhoff, 101 Park DeVille Dr., Suite A, Columbia, MO 65203 or by email to leslie_lueckenhoff@fws.gov. An informational meeting and public availability session about the draft restoration plans is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023. Please follow the meeting link below for more information.
Funding for the Viburnum Trend proposed restoration projects comes from multiple settlements in the Viburnum Trend Mining District for natural resource damages associated with the release of hazardous substances from the Buick Mine, Mill and Smelter, Magmont Mine and Mill, Sweetwater, West Fork and Glover facilities. Funding for the Meramec River Basin projects comes from a settlement with American Smelting and Refining Co. (ASARCO) for natural resource damages associated with the Federal Mine and Mill Complex in St. Francois County; and a settlement with Cyprus Amax Minerals Co. for natural resource damages associated with releases from the Buick Mine, Mill and Smelter in the Viburnum Trend Mining District.
After the public comment period has closed, the trustees will consider all comments and provide responses. Those responses will be incorporated into a final document and made available online on the department's What's New in NRDAR webpage.