Public meeting on hazardous waste permit modification for International Paper Company scheduled

(From the Missouri Department of Natural Resources)

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Waste Management Program is extending the opportunity for the public to review and offer written comments on a draft hazardous waste permit modification for International Paper Company until June 29, 2026.

The department will hold a public meeting on the draft permit modification at 5:30 p.m. and a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. June 16, at the Joplin City Hall, located at 602 South Main St. in Joplin. This is an opportunity for the public to ask questions, share information and discuss issues with MoDNR and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

At the hearing, the public can have their comments about the draft permit modification entered into the official record. The department will not answer questions at the hearing, but will provide responses in writing, along with any written comments submitted during the public comment period. Written comments and oral public hearing testimony are treated with equal consideration. Individuals requiring special services or accommodations to attend the meeting or hearing can make arrangements by contacting Abby Sawyer at least 72 hours before the meetings at 573-526-5397 or 800-361-4827 or by email at abby.sawyer@dnr.mo.gov. Hearing- and speech-impaired individuals may reach Sawyer through Relay Missouri at 800-735-2966.

International Paper operated a commercial wood treating facility at the site, located at 2609 Rangeline Road in Joplin. International Paper currently is performing long-term monitoring, maintenance activities and remediation activities at the site under a department-issued Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Facility Part I Permit and an EPA-issued Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments Part II Permit. On June 16, 2025, International Paper submitted a permit modification request to the department, requesting to modify their Part I Permit to remove a 0.48-acre access road from the permit, as well as remove 13 semi-volatile constituents from the annual monitoring requirements. After a thorough technical review of the permit modification request, the department prepared a draft Part I Permit modification for the International Paper facility. The draft permit modification proposes to allow International Paper to remove the 0.48-acre access road from the permit, as well as remove 13 semi-volatile constituents from the annual monitoring requirements.

The permit modification request, draft Part I Permit modification and a fact sheet are available on the department’s website. Some supporting documents are not available on the website due to their file size. The public can review and copy the documents listed above and other supporting documents at the Joplin Public Library, 1901 East 20th St., Joplin, during normal business hours; EPA’s Information Resource Center, 11201 Renner Blvd. in Lenexa, Kan., during normal business hours; or the department’s Elm Street Conference Center, 1730 E. Elm St. in Jefferson City. To review or obtain copies of the files, please submit a sunshine request to the department.

Comments on the draft permit modifications are more effective if they point out legal or technical issues or provide information that is not in the record. Only the conditions being modified are open for public comment. All other conditions of the existing permit will remain in effect for the length of the permit, until the department or International Paper propose another permit modification, or until a new permit is issued. Please send written comments to Abby Sawyer, EIT, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Waste Management Program, P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176, or by email at abby.sawyer@dnr.mo.gov.

You may call or write the department at any time to request to have your name placed on International Paper’s facility mailing list. You will receive written notice from the department or International Paper on any major permitting and cleanup activities at the facility.

For more information about the draft Part I Permit modification, or to obtain a written copy of the draft permit modification for review, please contact Sawyer by telephone at 573-526-5397 or 800-361-4827. Hearing- and speech-impaired individuals may reach Sawyer through Relay Missouri at 800-735-2966.