Missouri DNR Advances Air Permits Without Public Data, Hearings | The Locally Times
In March 2026, Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources processed industrial air permits for two companies without holding public hearings or disclosing the specific pollutants and emission levels allowed.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Air Pollution Control Program is advancing industrial air pollution permits through a process that withholds key details from the public and bypasses community hearings. In March 2026, the agency conducted public comment periods for two companies seeking draft intermediate operating permits to release pollutants into the air. In both cases, the state explicitly noted that no public meeting would be held, leaving residents without a forum to learn about or question the potential impacts on their communities. concluded on March 8, 2026. A similar period for Consolidated Grain and Barge Scott City ended on March 1, 2026. The official notices for both permits, which ran for approximately 30 days each, stated that no public meeting or hearing was scheduled. This procedure moves the regulatory approval process forward without direct public engagement or scrutiny. ## Permit Notices Lack Key Data The public notices for the draft air permits for Superior Industrial Solutions Inc. and Consolidated Grain and Barge Scott City lack the fundamental information required for a meaningful public review. The documents do not specify the types or quantities of air pollutants the companies would be authorized to emit. The nature of the industrial activities at each facility and their physical locations are also absent from the state’s announcements. Without knowing what chemicals are being released, in what volumes, and where, it is impossible for residents or public health professionals to assess potential risks. Furthermore, records detailing any public comments that may have been submitted in writing are not publicly available, so the level of community concern, if any, remains unknown. ## No Hearings, No Explanation The decision by the Air Pollution Control Program to forgo public hearings for these industrial permits raises questions about the agency’s standards for community engagement. The public records associated with these permits do not include the criteria the department uses to determine when a hearing is necessary. A public hearing provides a formal venue for residents to ask questions directly of regulators and company representatives and to create a public record of their concerns. By eliminating this step, the regulatory process becomes a one-way exchange of undisclosed information between the state and the applicant. This practice of issuing permits without public meetings is not limited to these two cases, pointing to a systemic approach to environmental permitting. This process limits transparency in decisions affecting environmental quality and public health. By withholding details of industrial pollution from public view, the state prevents communities from weighing the potential health and environmental costs against the economic benefits of the industrial activity. ## Pattern Extends to Water Permits The state’s opaque permitting process is not confined to air quality. A separate public notice indicates Cole County Public Works is preparing an application, due by April 1, 2026, to seek coverage under a Missouri Department of Natural Resources general permit for its municipal storm sewer system. This comprehensive water permit, known as MOR04C, governs stormwater discharges. As with the air permits, the public notice serves as a procedural announcement but does not provide specific data on pollutants or potential environmental impacts that would be managed under the permit. For the air permits for Superior Industrial Solutions Inc. and Consolidated Grain and Barge Scott City, the next step happens behind closed doors. The Air Pollution Control Program will review any comments received before making a final decision on issuing the operating permits. The public records do not indicate if the final approved permits, including any specific emission limits and pollutant details, will be made publicly available.