Attorney General's News Release

October 6, 2010

Attorney General Koster sues Butler County man for open burning violations

Jefferson City, Mo. - Attorney General Chris Koster said today he has filed a lawsuit against Ronald Eakes, of Qulin, Missouri, for violation of Missouri's air conservation laws.

Koster said in November 2008, the Qulin Chief of Police notified the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that Eakes was burning waste tires on his property. DNR referred the case to the Attorney General's Office in April 2010 after Eakes failed to cooperate with the agency to comply with the law. Koster said his office attempted to settle the matter out of court, but Eakes has been unresponsive.

"We all have not only a moral obligation, but also a legal obligation, to serve as stewards of our environment," Koster said. "When people violate our laws by polluting the air and harming our quality of life, this office will not stand idly by."

Koster is asking the court to issue a preliminary and permanent injunction requiring Eakes to comply with the Missouri Air Conservation Law; assess civil penalties not to exceed $10,000 per day for each violation of the law; and to require Eakes to pay all court costs associated with the proceedings.