Friday, Dec. 30, 2005
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Waives Transport Regulations to Hasten Taum Sauk Recovery
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today issued Executive Order 05-47 to ensure equipment needed to remove and properly dispose of flood debris in the Taum Sauk reservoir area and aid in cleanup efforts is immediately available.
"We will continue to be proactive to aide clean-up and recovery efforts however we can," Blunt said. "Temporarily waiving these requirements will ensure crews have quick access to the resources they need to help the Taum Sauk area and Johnson Shut-ins State Park recover from the reservoir failure."
Blunt has directed the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to issue permits for over-dimension and overweight vehicles and equipment to commercial motor carriers engaged in recovery efforts. This will potentially simplify procedures both when equipment needs to be brought in and when debris needs to be moved out.
Blunt has said he expects Ameren UE to pay for all the costs associated with cleaning up the Taum Sauk reservoir and restoring Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park to its pre-flood state.
An individual seeking to obtain a permit is required to supply MoDOT with the following information: year, make and license plate number of power unit and trailer; size, make and serial number of commodity being transported; origin, destination and consecutive routing; overall width, height, length and length of trailer and load only; and date of movement. The permit process can be expedited by calling (800) 877-8499, (573) 526-5314 or (573) 526-5312.
The executive order is effective today and remains in effect until March 1, 2006.
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