JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Congressman Jason Smith was among one of many Southeastern and Southern Missourians expressing their disapproval of a proposed land purchase by the Department of Natural Resources.
The Conservation and Natural Resources Committee heard testimony from Smith and others about a bill from Rep. Robert Ross, R-Yukon, which would sell land obtained by the DNR at the Eleven Point River in Oregon County using funds from the ASARCO settlement which dealt with lead mining contamination in areas in Southeast Missouri.
Smith represents this area, which includes portions of St. Francois, Crawford, Dent, Iron, Madison, Reynolds, and Washington Counties, dubbed the “Lead Belt,” and called the process by which the land was obtained opaque and inaccessible.
“We should always make sure that we have government as open as possible for the taxpayer,” he said, noting that the only places public hearing notices were posted for Oregon County were the federal register and on the DNR’s website.
Ross concurred in the defense of his legislation.
“This has been done in a shroud of secrecy,” he said. “There were never any public hearings held, announcing their plans, soliciting public input.”
Smith also argued that the reason for buying the land, that migratory birds may create a link between the Oregon County plot and the Lead Belt, was flawed.
“We’re seeing things done how they’re not supposed to be done,” he said.
Rep. Jay Barnes, R-Jefferson City, filed an identical piece of legislation. He chaired an interim committee in the fall which first investigated the purchase and he, blames Gov. Jay Nixon for the project’s continued existence.
“Gov. Nixon found a bright, shiny object in Oregon County,” Barnes said. “He wanted to steal money from areas of this state that were actually harmed… and give it away for something else so he could build a state park and take credit for that state park.”
Former state Rep. Mike Dethrow from Oregon County called the reallocation of funds tantamount to theft.
“From time to time, it is necessary for this General Assembly to right a wrong, and this is one of those times,” Dethrow said. “Ten million or more dollars has been stolen from the Southeast Missouri lead mining districts. It has been moved to my county. The leadership of DNR is trying to please their boss by transferring this money… This is yet another story of flawed government, where it is all about money.”
However some did speak in opposition to the bill. Susan Flotter, director and former president of the Missouri Parks Association said that preserving land held value for the state and its people.
“We acknowledge the very legitimate concerns of people in the lead belt and people in this state… but also think that all parties in this case are trying to do what they think is best for the people of Missouri,” she said. “A park in this part of the state has genuine merit because it is a part of the state in which there are few other state parks.”
