AG Nixon, Carthage sue over odor

According to a news release from Nixon’s office, local residents allege that since the construction of the RES plant, the operation of the processing facility and associated waste storage and handling continue to cause odors.

RES is a joint venture of Changing World Technologies and Con-Agra Foods that operates a plant at 530 N. Main St. Using a thermal conversion process, the plant converts agricultural and animal waste into oil, gas, minerals and fertilizer.

“The people of Carthage deserve the right to enjoy their homes and their community without having to tolerate a rotten stench every time they walk out their front door,” Nixon said in the release. “RES has received numerous complaints and has had ample opportunity to find a remedy. Perhaps the court will get the company’s attention where the city and the public could not.”

The city and Nixon are hoping the court will declare the odor a public nuisance and will direct RES to take the necessary steps to eliminate it. In addition, RES is being asked to pay any associated legal fees.

Judge David Dally is assigned to the case. Plaintiff’s attorneys are Harry Bozoian and David Mouton. The defendant’s attorney has not yet been named.

RES also has received an air pollution exceedance notice from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Schreiber Foods, another Carthage company, also received a DNR exceedance notice. The DNR detected the exceedances during its ongoing investigation into the odor issues surrounding Carthage’s industrial area. According to a DNR news release, the department’s main goal in any enforcement action is to help the facility successfully achieve and maintain compliance with state standards.