Interview with Doyle Childers, Director MDNR

The Joplin Globe, OP-ED, Sunday May 27, 2007 included an interview between Carol Stark-Editor, The Joplin Globe and Doyle Childers-Director, Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). There is also a link to the audio of the interview.

Regarding Renewable Environmental Solutions, LLC (RES), Childers said that he hopes RES can stay in Carthage because of its ground-breaking technology. On the other hand, he says if the company can’t operate without violating odor laws, then it can’t continue to exist in a town of 14,000 people. He added that it’s a problem he says has gone on too long. Part of the reason behind that, he says, is because everyone would like to see RES succeed.

Regarding CAFO's, very few, if any, CAFO permits are ever turned down by the DNR. Childers says if the laws aren’t being broken, then the DNR has to issue the permit. Changing those laws doesn’t fall to him but to legislators. In essence, Childers’ message is that we have more control over the fate of our environment than the DNR does.

Stark concludes that unfortunately, Childer's department doesn’t appear to have the power or the money to fix the problems.