Wait Just a Minute!

I can't believe that the Missouri Clean Water Commission is considering an exemption for Hudson Creek in Barry County, from meeting the clean water standards set by the Federal Clean Water Act of 1982. Something is not right here. Hudson Creek runs into Capps Creek, which runs into Shoal Creek (a part of the water supply for Neosho and Joplin), which runs into Spring River. Hello, this is all part of the Spring River Watershed.

Wait just a minute! Don't you think that EPA Region 6, EPA Region 7, United States Geological Survey, United States Army Corps of Engineers, United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife ConservationMissouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Office of Attorney General, Kansas Department of Health & Environment, Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, and the Cherokee, Eastern Shawnee, Miami, Ottawa and Wyandotte Indian tribes might have a little input into this decision. They are all involved in trying to stop the polution and contamination of the Spring River and its tributaries.

Why in the world would the Missouri Clean Water Commission be even considering an exemption of any creek, stream or waterway in the State of Missouri. Don't they know the concept of a watershed? What happens upstream ends up downstream. Those interested parties concerned about protecting the Spring River Watershed, need to get their voices heard, in front of the Missouri Clean Water Commission, immediately.

The Joplin Globe, Wednesday, July 6, and Thursday, July 7, 2005, report that people who want to comment about Hudson Creek or any other stream that has been targeted for exemption may submit their comments to: Marlene Kirchner, Clean Water Commission Secretary, PO Box 176, Jefferson City, MO. 65102. Comments will be accepted until August 24. http://www.joplinglobe.com/story.php?story_id=195175, http://www.joplinglobe.com/archives/story.php?story_id=104008

Let's get this 'exemption' stopped now! This is absolutely contrary to everything positive that is going on in the Spring River Watershed.