State Excludes Public Meetings for Two Permits | The Locally Times
State records show two industrial air permits were processed with public comment periods that explicitly excluded any public meeting or hearing, limiting resident feedback to written submissions.
## Two Industrial Permits Lack Public Hearing Option The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Air Pollution Control Program recently managed two industrial permit applications using public comment periods that offered no opportunity for a public meeting or hearing. A notice dated March 8, 2026, for a draft intermediate operating permit for Superior Industrial Solutions Inc. specified a public comment period from February 6 to March 8, 2026. The official notice for this air permit stated that no public meeting or public hearing was scheduled. Similarly, a separate notice dated March 1, 2026, for a draft intermediate operating permit for Consolidated Grain and Barge Scott City, outlined a public input window from January 30 to March 1, 2026. The record for this permit contained an identical provision indicating no public meeting or hearing was scheduled. Both documents identify the Air Pollution Control Program as the managing state entity. ## Input Limited to Written Comments The established process for both the Superior Industrial Solutions and Consolidated Grain and Barge permits restricted public participation to written correspondence. By forgoing public meetings, the state agency removed the venue for residents to ask questions in real time, hear from neighbors, and engage in a direct discussion about potential local impacts. The burden of participation falls entirely on individuals to discover the notices, analyze the draft permits, and formulate written comments without a public briefing. This prevents residents from fully assessing the potential consequences of the permits and providing informed feedback. ## Agency Criteria for Hearings Remain Undefined The absence of a clear policy on public hearings extends to other environmental permits managed by the state. A public notice issued by Cole County Government indicates its Public Works department intends to submit an application by April 1, 2026, for a stormwater permit renewal under the Missouri Department of Natural Resources General Permit MOR04C. The public notice for this application does not specify what mechanisms, if any, will be available for public input. Furthermore, the public notices for the Superior Industrial Solutions and Consolidated Grain and Barge permits do not outline the criteria the Department of Natural Resources uses to determine whether a public meeting is warranted. The documents also do not provide a process for residents to formally request a hearing, leaving the decision entirely within the agency's discretion. The basis for excluding public forums from these permit processes is not defined in the available records.