February 12, 2012

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McCaskill gets unsatisfactory answers from Corps. (AUDIO)

February 10, 2012 By

Senator McCaskill tells the General in line to become commander of the Corps of Engineers she wants some answers from him before she votes on whether he should get the job. McCaskill has used a meeting of the Senate Armed Services committee to ask Lieutenant General Thomas Bostick a basic question…    

                                   AUDIO: McCaskill :18

She notes the Corps budget includes $5 million for flood management and more than $70 million for habitat work on the Missouri River…

                                   AUDIO: McCaskill :13

But when she asked Bostick he thinks the disparity between flood management and habitat work, she didn’t get a satisfactory answer.

                                  AUDIO: Bostick & McCaskill :31

North east Missouri also is recovering from 2011 flooding, the most severe part of it affecting land behind the Bird’s Point Levee that was blasted open to relieve river threats to Cairo, Illinois. 

                                        AUDIO: McCaskill & Bostick :31

She says she need sto know from Bostick before she votes on his confirmation “that what the Army Corps blew up they will put back to the way it was before they blew it up.”  

 AUDIO: entire exchange 13:42

Filed Under: Agriculture, Environment & Conservation, Featured, Flooding, Human Interest, News

Senator McCaskill heads up energy talks throughout Missouri (VIDEO / AUDIO)

January 17, 2012 By

Senator McCaskill is taking an energy tour throughout the state to see how researchers, utilities and energy stakeholders are moving our state forward.

From pond-scum farms, miscanthus grass, nuclear rods and more … McCaskill says she’s learning a lot on this tour. She says technology and research are key to protecting the environment but doing it with affordability and reliability.

McCaskill says she wants Missouri to be competitive in the energy sector as well as create new jobs and keep costs in check.

McCaskill is visiting St. Louis, Kansas City, Cape Girardeau, and the Springfield and Hannibal this week, speaking with energy researchers and stakeholders. The Missourinet caught up with the Seantor in Columbia, where she took a tour of the plant that has supplied power for that city for 100 years.

The plant uses a mix of 20 percent wood chips-from scraps of oak wine barrels made in Missouri-with 80 percent coal to produce power. This summer, the plant will do a test-burn on biomass.

She says there are some voters who think research should be left to the private sector … she says that’s not possible. Professors and researchers at the University of Missouri, Missouri S & T in Rolla and Washington University have been a part of the talks … all of whom she says are making huge strides in sustainability and renewable resources.

She says moving forward in the energy sector will help grow and expand Missouri businesses, such as opening up alternative forms of energy production and focusing on energy efficiency.

AUDIO: Jessica Machetta reports (1:10 min.)

Filed Under: 2012 Campaign, Education, Energy, Environment & Conservation, News, Politics & Government, Science & Technology

Conservation groups oppose commission change (AUDIO)

January 12, 2012 By

Representatives of at least ten wildlife and outdoors organizations tell state senators to leave the conservation department alone. Senator Brian Munzlinger of Williamstown wants to double the size of the conservation commission with one commissioner from each of the eight conservation districts.  He says the change, which will require voter adoption of a constitutional amendment, would improve communications with the public.”. 

Munzlinger also says some production agriculture people should be on the commission, a position voiced by the Farm Bureau which wants at least half of the commissioners to be people directly involved with or knowledgeable about farming.

Executive Director Dave Murphy of the Conservation Federation of Missouri says 75 years of success by the department proves the commission needs no changes. He says it would be wrong for regional commissioners giving deference to constituents to people in the region instead of making statewide management of forest, fish, and wildlife as a top priority. Another federation official says the proposal is a Farm Bureau power grab. 

Other opponents of Munzlinger’s bill say the Missouri conservation department is the envy of many states—because a four person commission with a statewide view avoids political manipulation that an eight-member regions-based board would face.

Listen to the committee hearing 54 mins mp3

 

 

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, Environment & Conservation, Politics & Government

USDA closing ten Missouri offices (AUDIO)

January 10, 2012 By

Ten  United States agriculture department offices are being shut down in Missouri as a budget-reallocation move.  They’re among 259 USDA offices closing nationwide.  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says employees won’t lose their jobs although their offices are closing.

Farm Services Agency offices are closing in Jefferson, Dallas, and Morgan Counties.  Food and Nutrition Services offices are closing in St. Louis County and in Jackson County.  The USDA is closing the Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Stoddard County.  Rural Development offices are being closed in Hillsboro, Jefferson City, Carthage, and in Jackson, in southeast Missouri. 

AUDIO: Listen to Ag Secretary Vilsack :23 mp3

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Agriculture, Environment & Conservation, Featured, Human Interest, News

Nixon: Grant funding to help repair seven Missouri River levee districts

January 6, 2012 By

Gov. Jay Nixon was in Buchanan Co. today to announce more than $3.3 million to assist seven levee districts along the Missouri River.

The $3,316,925 in community development block grants will pay to repair and rebuild levees damaged by last year’s floods — the districts are in Buchanan, Carroll, Holt and Platte counties.

“Throughout the summer, levees in northwest Missouri that protect valuable farmland, homes and communities were damaged by historic flooding,” Nixon says. “Today, I’m pleased to announce that my administration is making more than $3.3 million available to help local communities meet their share of the costs associated with Army Corps of Engineers efforts to repair and rebuild these levees. Protecting valuable farmland, communities and vital infrastructure are critical priorities, and we are following through on our commitment to provide the resources to rebuild. This funding will ensure that communities and farmers have the protection they need to move forward.”

The levee districts to receive the funding include:

  • The Bean Lake Levee Association, which protects approximately 7,250 acres of land in Platte County that includes more than $116 million worth of structures; dozens of miles of highway, rail, bridges and roads; an electrical power plant; and 421 acres within Little Bean Marsh Wildlife Reserve. The association will receive a community development block grant of $224,000.

 

  • The Big Tarkio Drainage District which protects the communities of Craig and Bigelow and more than 20,000 acres of prime farm land in Holt County. Interstate 29 and the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad line, along with numerous county and state routes, lie within the area protected by this district. The district is not part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintenance program, and the $667,317 in CDBG funds represents nearly the entire cost of rebuilding its levee system.

 

  • The Corning Levee District protects the area between the Big Tarkio River and Mill Creek Drainage District. As part of this levee system, the district helps protect a number of assets in Holt County, including the city of Craig, the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad line, Interstate 29 and numerous county and state highways, including Missouri 111. This district also is not part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintenance program, and the $1,220,707 in CDBG funding represents nearly the entire cost of rebuilding of the levees there.

 

  • Holt Levee District #10 is a crucial component of the Holt County levee system and sustained 16 breaches during last year’s flooding. The district, located in the central part of the county, protects the cities of Craig and Big Lake, the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad line, Interstate 29 and numerous county and state routes. The district also protects approximately 15,000 acres of prime farmland, along with many homes and farmsteads. Holt Levee District #10 will receive $484,571 in community development block grants.

 

  • The Rushville-Sugar Lake Levee Association protects 7,000 acres of productive farm land. Additionally, this levee protects the Louis and Clark State Park, and a portion of US 59, which supports an average of 9,500 daily motorists. The association will receive $349,992 in community development block grants.

 

  • The Union Township Levee District, which is a mainline levee and the first line of defense for much of northwestern Holt County. The levee protects the low-lying communities of Craig and Big Lake, Big Lake State Park, and the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad line. Interstate 29 and several Missouri state routes are also protected by the district, along with thousands of acres of fertile farm land. The district will receive $197,355 in CDBG funding.

 

  • The Wakenda Levee District, which protects 22,900 acres of prime farm land, dozens of homes, and several businesses in Carroll County. This levee district also protects an airport, 14 miles of railroad track, more than 80 miles of roads and four highway routes. The Wakenda Levee District will receive $172,983 in community development block grants.

Eleven levee districts applied for community development block grants to cover either the 20 percent local cost share required under the Army Corps of Engineers’ maintenance program, or for the entire cost if the levee district is not part of the Corps’ system. One of the districts withdrew its request because it was able to get full funding. Nixon says the remaining three applications are still pending approval, but are expected to be awarded their requested funds after the approval process is complete.

Filed Under: Agriculture, Environment & Conservation, Fires/Accidents/Disasters, Flooding, News
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