MO DNR Seeks Comments on Draft Hazardous Waste Permit Modification for International Paper

MO DNR Environmental Newsroom

Published March 20th, 2026

Detected March 21st, 2026

Summary

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources is seeking public comments on a draft hazardous waste permit modification for International Paper Company's facility in Joplin. The modification proposes to remove a 0.48-acre access road from the permit and to remove 13 semi-volatile organic constituents from annual monitoring requirements.

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What changed

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a draft hazardous waste permit modification for International Paper Company's facility in Joplin, MO. The modification, submitted by International Paper on June 16, 2025, seeks to remove a 0.48-acre access road from the facility's Part I Hazardous Waste Management Facility Permit and to eliminate 13 semi-volatile organic constituents from the annual monitoring requirements. The DNR has completed its technical review and prepared a draft permit modification for public comment.

Public comments are invited until May 4, 2026, focusing on legal or technical issues related to the proposed changes. Only the conditions being modified are open for comment. Interested parties can review the draft permit modification and supporting documents online or at the Joplin Public Library. Written comments should be sent to Abby Sawyer at the Chesterfield, MO address or via email. The department also noted that public meetings or hearings can be requested during the comment period.

What to do next

Review the draft permit modification and fact sheet for International Paper's Joplin facility.
Submit written comments on the proposed changes by May 4, 2026.
Consider requesting a public meeting or hearing if significant concerns exist.

Source document (simplified)

Friday, March 20, 2026

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MARCH 20, 2026 –The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Waste Management Program invites the public to review and offer written comments on a draft hazardous waste permit modification for the International Paper Company until May 4, 2026.

International Paper operated a commercial wood treating facility at the site, located at 2609 Rangeline Road in Joplin. International Paper currently is performing long-term monitoring, maintenance activities and remediation activities at the site under a department-issued Missouri Hazardous Waste Management Facility Part I Permit and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-issued Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments Part II Permit. On June 16, 2025, International Paper submitted a permit modification request to the department, requesting to modify their Part I Permit to remove a 0.48-acre access road from the permit, and to remove 13 semi-volatile organic constituents from the annual monitoring requirements.

After a thorough technical review of the permit modification request, the department prepared a draft Part I Permit Modification for the International Paper facility. The draft permit modification proposes to allow International Paper to remove the 0.48-acre access road from the permit, as well as remove 13 semi-volatile constituents from the annual monitoring requirements.

The permit modification request, draft Part I Permit Modification and a fact sheet are available online at dnr.mo.gov/waste-recycling/what-were-doing/public-involvement/notices-comments. Some supporting documents are not available online due to their file size. The public can review and copy the documents listed above and other supporting documents at the Joplin Public Library, 1901 East 20th Street, Joplin during their normal business hours, or at the department’s Elm Street Conference Center in Jefferson City. To review or obtain copies of the department’s files, please submit a sunshine request at dnr.mo.gov/open-records-sunshine-law-requests.

Comments on the draft permit modification are more effective if they point out legal or technical issues or provide information that is not in the record. Only the conditions being modified are open for public comment. All other conditions of the existing permit will remain in effect for the length of the permit, until the department or International Paper propose another permit modification, or until a new permit is issued. Please send written comments to Abby Sawyer, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, 1390 Timberlake Manor Parkway, Suite 200, Chesterfield, MO 63017, or by email at abby.sawyer@dnr.mo.gov.

During the public comment period, anyone can request a public meeting or public hearing about the draft permit modification. For more information, please contact Abby Sawyer by telephone at 573-526-5397 or 800-361-4827.

You may call or write the department at any time to request to have your name placed on International Paper’s facility mailing list. You will receive written notice from the department or International Paper on any major permitting and cleanup activities at the facility.

For more information about the draft Part I Permit modification, or to obtain a written copy of the draft permit modification for review, please contact Sawyer by telephone at 573-526-5397 or 800-361-4827. Hearing- and speech-impaired individuals may reach Sawyer through Relay Missouri at 800-735-2966.