Changes made in a Missouri House committee have probably killed a bill to stiffen odor regulations as lawmakers enter their last week of deliberations in 2008.

"Unless I can stick it on something else, I'm assuming it's probably dead," said State Rep. Steve Hunter, R-Joplin. (Carthage Mayor) Jim Woestman is pretty upset and I'm pretty upset."

The bill, as passed out of the Senate on April 28, would have changed odor rules to say that any recycling company that converts animal parts to petroleum that violates any state air, water or odor pollution standard at least six times in 12 months or 12 times in 36 months would forfeit any air or water related permits issued by the state department of Natural Resources.

The bill, which was introduced by State Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, would have also increased the cash penalty for any recycling company that violates any DNR regulation more than once in 36 months to between $10,000 and $30,000.
Nodler introduced the bill in response to the multiple odor violations committed by Renewable Environmental Solutions at its Carthage plant.

Carthage Mayor Jim Woestman said he didn't know the bill was coming up for consideration on Wednesday morning before the House Special Committee on Energy and Environment until late Tuesday, but he got up and made it to Jefferson City to testify.

"They asked me to testify, but the called me on Tuesday at 4 p.m. and I had to testify at 9 a.m. on Wednesday," Woestman said. "I gave them the same testimony I've always given. The committee members asked why RES wasn't there, so they went into recess and tried to contact them. Unfortunately Brian Appel (RES director) was in town to talk to the DNR, so when they came back in session Mr. Appel was able to testify."
Woestman said Appel did not deny that RES was the source of the odor.

Hunter said Appel's attorney complained that the scope of Nodler's bill was too narrow and aimed specifically at RES.

Hunter said the committee changed the bill completely so the fines for everyone increased if they are cited for odor violations.

"They expanded it and took off the odor part and made it so basically that any business that had any kind of odor would be fined at that rate which made everybody in the state open to the fines," Hunter said. "They expanded it so much that no one will vote for it. It's my understanding that some of the members of the committee had a meeting with RES and their lawyer prior to that meeting, so as far as I'm concerned, the fix was in."
The legislature adjourns for the last time in the regular session on Friday. Hunter said

he might be able to attach the bill to another bill as an amendment, or he might be able to reverse the committee's actions on the floor of the House, but he was not optimistic that those things might happen and the bill could be revived.