Attorney General's News Release

June 24, 2011

Attorney General Koster sues Caldwell County man for open burning violation

Jefferson City, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster said today he has filed a lawsuit against Scott Porter, of Polo, Missouri, for violation of Missouri’s air conservation laws.

Koster said an inspection by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) revealed that Porter was burning trade waste, construction waste, demolition waste, and salvage waste without a permit.

“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 permanent injunction requiring Porter 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 Porter to pay all court costs.