chemical safety, nutrient reduction initiatives - US Environmental ...

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We operate a 24/7 spill phone to coordinate chemical accident response efforts within Region 7. EPA responders monitor the calls and coordinate with state and local response organizations to determine whether a response action is needed, and who will take the lead. When the response is beyond the capability of the local or state agencies, EPA can lead and manage the response action. A great example of response partnership occurred recently in the KC metro area. This summer, a tanker truck carrying hazardous chemicals crashed and caught on fire on I-70 just east of downtown KC, closing the highway in both directions for more than 20 hours. EPA, the KC Fire Department, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Missouri DOT, and the trucking company worked to safely remove the hazardous liquids from the compromised tanks, clean up spilled material, conduct air monitoring around the incident, and keep media and the public informed throughout the response. NOW LET ME TURN FROM SAFETY TO ANOTHER EPA PRIORITY: SUSTAINING THE HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY OF OUR HEARTLAND WATERS Ongoing efforts in the Midwest to reduce nutrients benefit from MO- AG’s advocacy on behalf of the “4R Program”: the right fertilizer, at the right rate, at the right time and the right place. 6
Nutrient pollution is one of America's most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems, and is caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus in the water and air. In excess, nutrients have impacted many streams, rivers, lakes, and coastal waters for the past several decades, resulting in serious environmental and human health issues, and impacting the economy. More than 100,000 miles of rivers and streams, close to 2.5 million acres of lakes, reservoirs and ponds, and more than 800 square miles of bays and estuaries in the United States have poor water quality because of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. The people of Missouri know best what land management practices will reduce nutrient loading in waters while maintaining a vital agriculture economy. EPA has not mandated specific strategies or solutions. Instead this agency continues to encourage Missouri to craft a nutrient reduction strategy. EPA and MO-AG are committed to research and innovation in the area of nutrient stewardship; both acknowledge that properly managed fertilizer applications provide for cropping systems that yield vital economic, social and environmental benefits; and both realize that poorly managed nutrient applications reduce profitability, increase nutrient losses, and degrade environmental quality. 7
Page 1 and 2: Missouri Agribusiness Association A
Page 3 and 4: As you know, 15 people died and 160
Page 5: Recently, EPA joined MO-AG, the Mis
Page 9 and 10: The willing involvement of these an

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