sue&mick@mail.tigernet.gen.mo.us

Jerry Toops
Superintendent, Taum Sauk State Park
Johnson Shut-Ins State Park
HC Route 1, Box 126
Middlebrook, MO 63656

Dear Mr. Toops,

The East Ozarks Audubon Society Board of Directors recently voted to oppose the development of a second pumped storage power plant in the Taum Sauk area. I'm sure you are as aware as I am of the very negative effects such a development would have on Taum Sauk State Park. It would diminish the best stretch of undeveloped terrain to be found anywhere in the State of Missouri, it would seriously degrade the best example anywhere in the State of a pristine high altitude stream, and it would remove Church Mountain and its rhyolite glades from the Park in an extremely permanent manner. The development, as proposed, would also directly impinge within the existing boundaries of the Park, including destruction within a State Natural Area. I hope, for these reasons and others, that the Department of Natural Resources will strongly oppose the proposed development.

Our most immediate concern is that a great deal of damage could be caused during the exploratory phase of the proposal. If core drilling is carried out on the top of Church Mountain, its status as a road-free wilderness area will be destroyed by the construction of access roads. Abuse of the area by ORV operators is already occurring via unofficial old logging roads; if these roads are upgraded, this will serve to further encourage access and abuse of the area. There is also the concern of direct damage to the rhyolite glades by drilling crews. Does the State have any standing to require appropriate environmental safeguards regarding exploratory drilling within the leased sections of the Park? We are also concerned over the potential of exploratory drilling to degrade water quality in Taum Sauk Creek whether through accidental spills, soil erosion, or in any other manner.

Ameren UE's plans for exploratory drilling seem to me extremely premature. It is obvious to me and to many others that the proposed destruction of State Park property, including a Natural Area, supposedly preserved for all time for future generations, cannot be permitted. That being the case, there is no need to risk damage from exploratory drilling.

One disturbing feature of this proposal has been the lack of public notice. I understand that there is a deadline to file objections to the initial proposal—could you let me know where objections should be filed and what the deadline for public comment is?

At the request of Dan Drees (DNR), our chapter has agreed to carry out assessments of possible karstic features and of bird life within the affected area. This process would be helped if you could you supply us with a map showing the State Park boundaries and showing which land is in DNR ownership or on lease. If that is impractical, a legal description of the boundary would be OK. We would also like a map if possible showing the site of the proposed lower dam and what the area of the reservoir would be.

I must also admit to a personal stake in this situation; my wife and I are the nearest neighbors to the proposed power-plant site, and we are very concerned about the noise, the traffic, and the potential for lowering the value of our property. But above all this we realize that the project, if built, would obliterate our favorite section of the Park and replace a beautiful mountain and valley with an enormous eye-sore.

Sincerely,

Michael Sutton (President, East Ozarks Audubon Society)

cc: Steve Mahfood, Director, DNR
David Bedan (Missouri Audubon)