LEAD

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which is supervising an emergency cleanup of lead-contaminated streets near the Doe Run Co.'s lead smelter in Herculaneum, says the company isn't doing what it promised. Instead of thoroughly washing down the trucks that deliver lead ore to the smelter each day, some trucks are leaving dusted with ore residue that can further contaminate the town.

Doe Run has been operating under a cleanup agreement reached last year with state and federal environmental officials. But the timetable for that cleanup was accelerated from 18 months to 60 days when tests conducted by the state in August found extraordinarily high levels of lead - as high 300,000 parts per million - on the streets used by ore trucks. Experts agree that 750 parts per million is unsafe.

"The company made some commitments ... and they're not fully being kept," DNR director Steve Mahfood said Thursday. "I plan to use the full extent of Missouri law to protect our citizens."

Mr. Mahfood says he is considering fining the company, and that if Doe Run trucks aren't washed properly, he'll get a court order to stop the company from using trucks to haul ore. (At one time, the smelter used railroad cars, instead.)

For its part, Doe Run says it is doing what it was told to do. "If what they say is happening is happening, I'm not personally aware of it," said Cliff Gray, the smelter's general manager.

It's good that the DNR is talking tougher about holding Doe Run "accountable in everything." But if there is one thing that the past has made clear, it's that polluters don't take threats seriously. Talk - even tough talk - is cheap.

The smelter has been polluting Herculaneum for more than 100 years. It has never met federal clean air standards for lead emissions and is in violation of state clean water laws. The back yards and parks near the smelter are tainted with lead. The director of Missouri's health department said recently the amount of lead in the environment there is a serious health hazard, especially for young children and pregnant women.

Gov. Bob Holden needs to pick up the telephone and tell Mr. Mahfood to lower the boom: Impose the fines. Stop the dirty trucks. Clean up the streets and the dirt. Relocate the folks whose health is in jeopardy, and don't let them return until it's clean.

Regardless of its payroll and its importance to the state economy, any company that uses its community like an ashtray should be taught better manners. The DNR and the governor should see to it that they do.





Published in the Editorial section of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Saturday, October 6, 2001.
Copyright (C)2001, St. Louis Post-Dispatch