Springfield plant fined for chemical discharge

Kerr-McGee Chemical, formerly at 2800 W. High St., and demolition contractor Hydrovac Industrial Services together will pay $143,000 to the state of Missouri and the city of Springfield.

In 2003, Kerr-McGee hired Hydrovac to dismantle, decommission and demolish its Springfield plant. A Department of Natural Resources investigation found that creosote, a chemical mixture used as a wood preservative, and a creosote/diesel mix were discharged into sanitary sewer lines while Hydrovac performed the demolition in March 2004.

The sewer lines flow to the Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant, and the untreated creosote and creosote/diesel fuel-mixed wastewater directly discharged into the Little Sac River.

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon helped negotiate the agreement between Kerr-McGee, Hydrovac, DNR, the city of Springfield and the Attorney General’s Office.

As part of the agreement, Kerr-McGee and Hydrovac will pay $68,000 in civil penalties; $33,414 for costs and expenses incurred by the DNR and the city of Springfield; and $41,586 to the Missouri Natural Resource Protection Fund.