Koster
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced on Tuesday that he has filed a lawsuit against two men who allegedly violated the state's Air Conservation Law.
Stephen Uehlin and John Uehlin, both of Amazonia, Mo., allegedly operated an underground limestone quarry without a permit.
Under Missouri law, the defendants were required to have a construction permit for the quarry because of the potential for dangerous pollutants emitting into the air.
Koster alleges that the Uehlins also failed to submit proper reports of air contaminant emissions and never paid emissions fees, totaling $45,710, which was required under state law.
Although the Uehlins were given the opportunity to fix the problems, they never responded to Koster's request, he claims.
"Missouri's Air Conservation Law was enacted to protect both citizens' health and our environment," Koster said. "The attorney general's office will not look the other way when these violations occur."
Koster is seeking a court order against the two men to keep them from violating the laws. He also wants a $10,000 penalty assessed for each day the law was broken, money owed for past-due emissions fees plus interest, and all costs associated with the litigation.